Quick Answer: Yes! Gym memberships are HSA/FSA eligible when a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, PA, NP) determines they're medically necessary for treating or preventing a specific condition. You'll need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), which is exactly what Crates Health provides.
Why Gym Memberships Qualify
The IRS doesn't automatically consider gym memberships a medical expense — they view them as "general health." But here's the key: when a gym membership is recommended by a licensed healthcare provider to help prevent, manage, or reverse a specific health condition, it becomes a qualified medical expense under IRS Publication 502.
The medical evidence is overwhelming: - Exercise reduces chronic disease risk by up to 40% (JAMA) - 150 minutes/week: 31% lower heart disease risk, 58% lower diabetes risk, 30% reduction in depression (AHA) - Exercise interventions perform equally to drug interventions for heart disease and diabetes prevention (BMJ)
Conditions That Qualify
If you have any of these conditions, your gym membership can be eligible:
Metabolic: Obesity (BMI >30), overweight with risk factors, Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, PCOS
Cardiovascular: Hypertension, heart disease, post-cardiac rehab, family history of cardiovascular disease
Mental health: Depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, chronic stress
Musculoskeletal: Chronic back pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, post-surgical rehab
Other: Sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, autoimmune conditions
Over 90% of adults have at least one qualifying condition.
How to Get Your Gym Membership Covered
Through Crates Health (Recommended)
Sign up at crateshealth.com
Complete the 2-3 minute health assessment
Select "gym membership" as a product you want covered
Receive your LMN (usually within hours)
Pay for your gym membership with a personal card
Upload your itemized receipt to your Crates dashboard and submit for reimbursement with your LMN
Through Your Own Doctor
Schedule an appointment (copay: $50-150+)
Ask for an LMN specifically for your gym membership
Wait for the letter (could take days to weeks)
Submit to your HSA/FSA admin with the LMN + itemized receipt
Which Gyms Are Covered?
All of them. The LMN covers the medical necessity of your gym membership - not a specific gym brand. Whether you go to Equinox, Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Orangetheory, a local studio, or any other gym, it's covered.
Popular gyms our members use: - Equinox, Life Time, 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, Crunch, Planet Fitness, EOS, Anytime Fitness - Orangetheory, F45, Barry's Bootcamp, SoulCycle - CorePower Yoga, Club Pilates, Solidcore - Local independent gyms and studios
"Can I Use My HSA/FSA Card at the Gym?"
Usually no. Most gyms aren't set up as medical providers in the card network, so your HSA/FSA card will likely be declined. The solution: pay with a personal card, save your itemized receipt, and submit for reimbursement. This is the standard approach and works every time.
Common Questions
"How much can I save?" If your gym membership is $100/month ($1,200/year), using pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars saves you your tax rate - typically $360-$480/year (at a 30-40% effective rate).
"Does this work for monthly billing?" Yes. You can submit for reimbursement each month, or batch your itemized receipts and submit quarterly/annually.
"I don't have a diagnosed condition - can I still qualify?" Our health assessment evaluates your full health profile. Many people qualify based on conditions they didn't realize were relevant - family history, BMI, stress levels, sleep issues, etc.
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Still Need Help?
Want to know if your specific gym situation qualifies? Chat with us or email [email protected]!