How to use your HSA/FSA to cover your personal training expenses at Hixon Fitness & Athletics (HFA).

Many employers around the world have given their employees access to a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA). Employees are able to allocate “pre-tax” income from their annual earnings to an FSA or HSA, and then use the same funds throughout the year for health-related expenses.

Not only are items such as lip balm, suncreen, and toothpaste allowed, with a few simple steps your personal training fees may be included!

So just how are we able to access our FSA/HSA accounts for fitness services?

How does a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) work?

Also known as a Flexible Spending Arrangement, and FSA is a unique tax-free spending account. An FSA allows you to contribute portions of your annual earnings to cover expenses related to healthcare. It should be noted that money allocated to your FSA is “PRE-TAX” and not subject to the typical tax rate as your additional incomes are. Depending on the type of FSA that your employer provides, you may even receive an annual stipend from your employer towards your FSA!

Your FSA funds can be used for many eligible purchases such as dental, vision, or even medical expenses for yourself, your spouse, and qualifying dependents. In most cases an FSA can be utilized with a debit card issued for any FSA related expenses.

The catch is usually the fact that a majority of FSA funds are “use it or lose it” and don’t have a “roll over” feature associated. This isn’t always the case, but a majority of FSAs will reset at the end of the calendar year and begin anew on January 1st. All this means is the best strategy for many would be to use all of the funds in a FSA prior to the end of a year, or risk the money essentially vaporizing into the depths of the digital world.

How does a Health Savings Account (HSA) work?

Similar to an FSA, your HSA will allow you to set-aside pre taxed dollars for eligible healthcare expenses. The largest difference in the 2 are that HSAs are typically only available to people with a high-deductible health plan that exceeds the IRS’s current minimum deductible amount.

If your employer provides you with an HSA, you and your employer can collaborate on how to fund the account using your pre-taxed income. If your employer does not provide you one, there is always the private sector you can lean on for an HSA! With a private HSA you can simply choose the amount you wish to contribute, and reduce your taxable income by the amount you used to fund the HSA.

Unlike the FSA, your HSA funds will not put you in a “use it or lose it” situation and will roll over to the next calendar year, and in some cases even if you have changed employers.

Source: The Center for Disease Control (CDC 2022)

What makes Personal Training fees Eligible for FSA or HSA spending?

Regardless of whether you have access to an FSA or HSA, they both limit your purchasing power to “qualifying healthcare expenses”. This does include medical, vision, or dental expenses and it extends to your spouse or eligible dependents. Many times this will even include such things like chiropractic work, but would deny claims for expenses that are not deemed a “medical necessity” such as teeth whitening or general holistic treatments. So how exactly does Personal Training qualify?

A qualifying healthcare expense can be defined as “any expense includes the treatment and/or prevention of disease.” A good majority of the leading causes of death in Americans can be prevented, or at the very least alleviate the symptoms, by adopting an active lifestyle. Personal opinion, it would be a shorter list of what CAN’T be made better or prevented with the right fitness and nutrition plan in place. So how will you know if you qualify for FSA or HSA spending? That’s a question for your doctor.

Visit your Physician for a “Letter of Medical Necessity”

If you believe you have a condition or ailment that could be made better with guidance from a personal trainer, speak with your doctor about whether your condition could be improved. If you qualify, you will be given a “letter of medical necessity” which should include:

Patient ID - name, DOB , insurance information
Date for most recent evaluation
Patient History & Diagnosis - physician should specify the physical/mental condition and any past information that could be an underlying cause of the condition
Recommended treatment(s) - physician should detail the course of action for treatment and any medications or equipment necessary.
Treatment Timeline - not to exceed 1 year.
Physician Summary - recap of the physician’s recommendations .
Physician Signature - doctor’s signature, license number, and contact info.
Documentation - any supporting documents or evidence such as lab results or tests should be attached.

Let’s review. You have met with your doctor and your condition qualifies you for FSA/HSA spending towards personal training. Your doctor has provided you with your letter of medical necessity. You’ve saved a copy for yourself, and have also sent one to your FSA/HSA administrator. Everything is in place. What now?

Hixon Fitness is home to a variety of different fitness levels. From beginner gym enthusiasts to Olympian finalists, we can get you to your goal. Our team has over 40 years of collective experience!

Getting Started with a Trainer

Once your eligibility is established, choosing a gym and a personal trainer who is dedicated towards helping you achieve your goals is the last piece of the puzzle. We recommend meeting with a PT who has specialties in line with your condition. At Hixon Fitness we track all of your appointments and expenses to provide our members with comprehensive reports monthly. Providing that data to your FSA/HSA administrator has never been easier!

To get more information about using your FSA/HSA for personal training at Hixon Fitness & Athletics, contact us at info@hixonhealth.com and a team member will get back you as soon as possible. Our team specializes in a variety of fitness formats such as corrective exercise, weightloss, strength training, mobility, nutrition, and much more. You can also schedule a consultation with a Hixon Fitness trainer at no cost, and roadmap a plan together.

In health,

Jake Hixon

Using your FSA or HSA for Personal Training?