Letter of Medical Necessity for Exercise Equipment: Home Gym Gear That Can Qualify for HSA/FSA
Treadmills, bikes, rowers, Tonal, NordicTrack, Hydrow, weights and more can qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement with a letter of medical necessity. Brands, prices, conditions.
9 minute read
Short answer
Exercise equipment is sporting goods to your plan until a licensed clinician connects it to a diagnosed condition in a letter of medical necessity. With the letter attached, a treadmill, bike, rower, strength system or set of weights can qualify for reimbursement from your FSA, HSA or HRA. Without it, the receipt says "NordicTrack" or "Concept2" 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 is refunded.
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 exercise equipment →
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 |
|---|---|---|
NordicTrack and ProForm | Treadmills, bikes, rowers, ellipticals, about $700 to $3,000; iFit membership about $40 a month | The machine is the claim. iFit can ride along when the letter describes a supervised exercise program. |
Peloton | Bike, Bike+, Tread, Row, about $1,400 to $3,000; All-Access about $44 a month | Covered in its own guide, linked below. Same letter, same process. |
Hydrow | Wave about $1,700, Pro about $2,500; membership about $44 a month | The rower is the claim; the membership can follow from the letter date forward. |
Tonal | About $4,000 plus a monthly membership | Covered in its own guide, linked below. |
Concept2, WaterRower, Echelon, Bowflex, Schwinn | Rowers and bikes about $700 to $2,000 | The machine is the claim. |
Rep Fitness, Rogue, Bells of Steel, Bowflex SelectTech | Racks, benches, adjustable dumbbells, kettlebells, about $100 to $2,500 | Strength equipment qualifies on the same terms when the letter names resistance training. |
Walking pads and under-desk treadmills | About $200 to $600 | Covered in the walking pad guide, linked below. |
Prices are approximate. The letter names a condition and a category of equipment, not a brand or a price.
What condition does the letter need to name?
Obesity or a weight management plan with a prescribed exercise program
Hypertension or high cholesterol managed with regular aerobic exercise
Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes where exercise is part of the treatment plan
Chronic back pain, arthritis or a joint condition where low-impact cardio and strength work are prescribed
Cardiac rehabilitation after a heart event, with home exercise between sessions
Depression or anxiety where a clinician prescribes exercise alongside other treatment
Osteoporosis or low bone density managed with resistance training
Recovery from surgery or injury with a home program from physical therapy
What is not covered, even with the letter
Apparel, shoes, gloves and water bottles
Flooring, mirrors, lighting or other room build-out
Delivery and assembly fees that appear as separate lines (ask the retailer to itemize the machine)
Equipment bought before the letter's date. Get the letter first, then buy.
Memberships and apps
iFit, Peloton All-Access, Hydrow, Tonal and similar memberships are recurring charges. When the letter describes a supervised or structured exercise program and names the platform, each charge after the letter's date can be claimed. Nothing changes at the merchant.
What a rowing machine really costs with Burst
Say the rowing machine is $1,700 and your combined federal and state marginal rate is about 30%. Paying for it from a pre-tax account means roughly $510 of income tax you never pay. The letter is $35, once, and covers the item for 12 months.
Rowing machine price | $1,700 |
Tax you skip at 30% | about $510 |
Your letter | $35 |
What the rowing machine really costs you | about $1,225 |
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 exercise equipment
Fill out the form at app.getburst.com/request-lmn. It asks about the condition you are managing and the exercise equipment 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 exercise equipment 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 a treadmill HSA eligible?
A treadmill can qualify with a letter that names your condition and a walking or running program. Pay with any card, keep the itemized receipt, and Burst files the claim with the letter attached.
Is Hydrow HSA eligible?
A Hydrow rower can qualify on the same terms as any other machine, and the membership can follow from the letter date forward.
Is NordicTrack FSA eligible?
Yes, with a letter. NordicTrack does not take FSA or HSA cards at checkout; pay normally and claim.
Can one letter cover a treadmill and a set of weights?
When the letter describes a program that includes both aerobic and resistance training, both can be claimed. A letter that names one machine and a receipt with five items will draw questions.
Can I use my HSA card at Dick's or on Amazon?
It will almost always be declined, because exercise equipment is not coded as a medical item. Pay with a regular card and Burst files for reimbursement.
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 exercise equipment →
Brands above are the ones people ask us about most. They are examples, not partners.
Keep going: Peloton HSA/FSA eligibility, Is Tonal HSA eligible?, Best HSA-eligible walking pads and treadmills, Use your HSA or FSA for a gym membership.
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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