Letter of Medical Necessity for a Fitness Tracker: Whoop, Garmin, Fitbit and More
Whoop, Garmin, Fitbit, Coros and Polar trackers can qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement with a letter of medical necessity. Brands, prices, conditions, and how Burst files the claim.
8 minute read
Short answer
A fitness tracker is sporting goods to your plan until a licensed clinician ties it to a diagnosed condition in a letter of medical necessity. With the letter, the device and, in many cases, the membership that runs it can qualify for reimbursement from your FSA, HSA or HRA. Without it, the receipt says "Whoop" or "Garmin Forerunner" and the claim is denied.
Burst gets you the letter for $35 after a clinician reviews your request, and files the reimbursement claim for you. Not approved, or claim denied, and the $35 comes back.
Get the letter first, then buy. We handle the rest.
$35 once, about two minutes, and a licensed clinician signs your Letter of Medical Necessity, usually the same day if approved and always within 24 hours. Then buy from any store with any card, and Burst files the reimbursement claim for you, start to finish. If your administrator pushes back, we write the appeal.
20,000+ letters issued. Works with every FSA/HSA administrator.
Get reimbursed for my fitness tracker →
No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back.
About two minutes to request · usually the same day · we file the claim for you.
Brand by brand: what the letter can cover
Brand | Typical price | What the letter covers |
|---|---|---|
Whoop | Membership from about $199 a year; the strap comes with it | There is no hardware to buy separately, so the letter is about the membership. A monthly or annual charge can be claimed from the letter date forward. |
Garmin | About $200 (Forerunner, Venu, Vivoactive) to $1,000 (Fenix) | The watch is the claim. Garmin Connect+ is optional and can ride along when the letter names a monitored program. |
Fitbit and Pixel Watch | Fitbit Air about $100, Charge and Inspire $100 to $160, Sense and Pixel Watch $250 to $400 | The device is the claim. Fitbit Premium can be added when the letter describes ongoing monitoring. |
Coros, Polar, Amazfit | About $150 to $600 | Same as Garmin: the watch is the claim, any subscription is secondary. |
Oura Ring | About $350 plus a $6 monthly membership | Covered in its own guide, linked below. Same letter, same process. |
Prices are approximate and change with each release. The letter names a condition and a device type, not a price.
What condition does the letter need to name?
A heart rhythm disorder, where continuous heart rate and irregular rhythm alerts are the monitoring
Hypertension managed with daily heart rate and activity data
Sleep apnea, insomnia or another sleep disorder tracked nightly
Obesity or a weight management plan with activity and recovery targets
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes managed with a prescribed exercise program
Anxiety or a stress disorder monitored through heart rate variability
Recovery from surgery, injury or a cardiac event where a clinician wants exertion tracked
Chronic fatigue or long COVID, where strain and recovery data guide pacing
The clinician is documenting why this device is part of managing that condition. General fitness is not a diagnosis.
What is not covered, even with the letter
Bands, screen protectors, chargers and extended warranties
Running shoes, apparel and other gear bought at the same time (a tracker letter covers the tracker)
A second device for someone who does not have their own letter
Charges billed before the letter's date. For a membership, the letter covers the next charge onward.
Membership brands: what changes
Whoop, Fitbit Premium, Garmin Connect+ and Oura Membership are recurring charges. Nothing changes at the merchant; you keep paying the way you do today. Once the letter exists, each charge after its date can be claimed. A letter is usually written for twelve months, so request a new one before it lapses if you plan to keep claiming.
What a fitness tracker really costs with Burst
Say the fitness tracker is $299 and your combined federal and state marginal rate is about 30%. Paying for it from a pre-tax account means roughly $90 of income tax you never pay. The letter is $35, once, and covers the item for 12 months.
Fitness tracker price | $299 |
Tax you skip at 30% | about $90 |
Your letter | $35 |
What the fitness tracker really costs you | about $244 |
Your actual savings depend on your plan and your bracket. This is an estimate, not a quote.
How to get a letter of medical necessity for a fitness tracker
Fill out the form at app.getburst.com/request-lmn. It asks about the condition you are managing and the a fitness tracker you have in mind. Under two minutes, $35 once.
A licensed clinician reviews the request. If a letter is appropriate, it is signed and in your inbox, usually the same day. If it is not, the $35 is refunded without you having to ask.
With the letter dated, buy the a fitness tracker wherever the price is best, with any card. Keep the itemized receipt that shows the model.
Send the receipt to Burst and Burst files the claim. Your administrator pays you out of your FSA, HSA or HRA by deposit or check. A denied claim means the $35 comes back to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Whoop HSA eligible?
The Whoop membership can qualify with a letter that names your condition and describes the monitoring. The strap ships with the membership, so the membership charge is what gets claimed, from the letter date forward.
Is Garmin FSA eligible?
A Garmin watch can qualify with a letter. Pay with any card, keep the itemized receipt showing the model, and Burst files the claim with the letter attached.
Is the Fitbit Air HSA or FSA eligible?
Yes, on the same terms as every other tracker: a letter that names your condition, bought after the letter date, itemized receipt. At about $100 it is the least expensive tracker most people ask about.
Can I use my HSA card at Best Buy or on the brand site?
It will almost always be declined, because trackers are not coded as medical items at the register. Pay with a regular card and Burst files for reimbursement with your letter.
Will my HSA or FSA administrator accept it?
Yes. Administrators want a signed letter from a licensed clinician that names your condition and the item, and that is exactly what you get. Burst works with every FSA/HSA administrator, including HealthEquity, Fidelity, WEX, HSA Bank, Inspira, Optum and Further. If one pushes back, we write the appeal. If the claim is denied, you get your $35 back.
Do I need to see a doctor?
No. Answer a few questions online and a licensed clinician in the Burst network reviews them. No appointment, no copay, no waiting room.
What if I am not approved?
You pay nothing. No letter, no charge.
Who files the reimbursement claim?
We do, start to finish. Send us the receipt and Burst files the claim with your administrator; the money comes back to your bank account.
Get reimbursed for my fitness tracker →
Brands above are the ones people ask us about most. They are examples, not partners.
Keep going: Letter of Medical Necessity for Apple Watch, Letter of Medical Necessity for Oura Ring, Is Whoop HSA eligible?, How to get a letter of medical necessity online.
If you are not sure whether your situation fits, hit reply on any Burst email or write to support@getburst.com. We read every one.
Thanks,
Shubhi
Co-Founder at Burst
Last updated: September 2026
This guide is not medical advice. Your eligibility depends on your specific situation and your plan administrator's interpretation of IRS rules. Burst's clinicians make eligibility decisions on a case-by-case basis.
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