Hi, I'm Anthony, co-founder at Burst. We get more questions about home gym equipment than any other category, so this guide covers all the major brands at once.

Short answer. A Tonal, Mirror, NordicTrack treadmill, Hydrow rower, Bowflex, Concept2, Echelon, Rep Fitness rack, Life Fitness machine, or Bells of Steel rig can all be FSA or HSA reimbursable with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The IRS treats general-purpose exercise equipment as dual-purpose under Publication 502 and Notices 2006-69 and 2007-2: not eligible by default, but eligible when a licensed clinician documents that the equipment is part of how you're managing a specific health situation. Memberships and subscriptions (Tonal+, NordicTrack iFit, Echelon Premier) reimburse alongside the hardware on the same LMN. Below is the brand fit guide and what your LMN needs to actually say.

If that already describes you, the request takes about three minutes and you can skip the rest of this guide.

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Why home gym equipment qualifies with an LMN

The IRS framework is consistent: any product that treats, mitigates, or alleviates a specific medical condition is eligible. General fitness doesn't qualify. Specific cardiovascular reconditioning, weight management tied to a comorbidity, chronic pain physical therapy support, post-surgical recovery, or anxiety-related exercise prescription all do.

The LMN is what bridges "I bought a Tonal" and "my plan administrator approves the reimbursement." Plan admins are looking for two things: a specific medical situation and the equipment's role in addressing it.

Brand-by-brand fit

• Tonal. Wall-mounted resistance training. Strong fit for post-surgical strength rebuilds, chronic back pain (resistance training is part of most modern PT plans), osteopenia and osteoporosis. Tonal+ membership reimburses alongside.

• Mirror by Lululemon. Smart mirror with on-demand classes. Strong fit for general cardiovascular reconditioning and depression/anxiety treatment plans where exercise is documented. Membership reimburses alongside.

• NordicTrack. Treadmills, bikes, rowers across the lineup. Strong fit for cardiac rehab, hypertension management, type 2 diabetes management. iFit membership reimburses alongside.

• Hydrow. The rower. Strong fit for low-impact cardio (knee issues, joint pain), back pain (rowing builds posterior chain), post-surgical reconditioning. Membership reimburses alongside.

• Bowflex. Adjustable dumbbells, home benches, treadmills. Strong fit for general strength rehabilitation and weight management with a comorbidity.

• Concept2. The rower the Olympics uses. Strong fit for back pain, post-surgical recovery, cardiac rehabilitation.

• Echelon. Bikes, rowers, treadmills, smart mirrors. Strong fit for cardiovascular reconditioning. Membership reimburses alongside.

• Rep Fitness. Power racks, barbells, plates. Strong fit for orthopedic rehabilitation and bone density support (osteopenia, osteoporosis).

• Life Fitness. Premium ellipticals and treadmills. Strong fit for cardiac rehab and joint-friendly cardiovascular work.

• Bells of Steel. Strength equipment. Strong fit for orthopedic rehab and resistance training in PT contexts.

Memberships, subscriptions, and accessories

The hardware isn't the only thing that reimburses. On the same LMN you can also get covered:

• Memberships: Tonal+, iFit (NordicTrack), Hydrow membership, Echelon Premier, Mirror membership. Recurring monthly. As long as the LMN is current (12 months typical), the membership reimburses on a rolling basis.

• Heart rate monitors and accessories: Polar or Wahoo straps purchased to use with the LMN-covered equipment.

• Delivery and assembly fees: When on the same receipt as the eligible hardware, they reimburse together.

• Resistance accessories: Bands, cables, attachments that ship with the platform.

What's not eligible, even with an LMN

• Branded apparel and merchandise. Tonal hoodies, Peloton apparel, NordicTrack-branded clothing. Consumer goods.

• Replacement parts purchased as upgrades. A repair to keep eligible equipment working is eligible. A cosmetic upgrade isn't.

• Gift cards. Reimbursement runs on actual receipts for actual products.

• Equipment for someone else. The LMN covers the person whose name is on it.

What your LMN needs to say for home gym equipment

Plan administrators have seen thousands of these. The LMNs they approve name a specific medical situation and tie the equipment to managing it. "Recommended for general fitness" gets denied. "Required for cardiovascular reconditioning following hypertension diagnosis and consistent with prescribed exercise plan" gets approved.

Common health situations on home gym LMNs:

• Cardiovascular reconditioning (hypertension, post-cardiac event)

• Type 2 diabetes management

• Weight management with a comorbidity

• Chronic low back pain (resistance training and rowing)

• Post-surgical recovery (strength and conditioning rebuild)

• Osteopenia and osteoporosis (resistance training for bone density)

• Depression and anxiety where movement is part of the treatment plan

Common home gym FSA/HSA pitfalls

• Forgetting the membership. Many people get the bike or rower reimbursed and don't realize the monthly subscription reimburses too on the same LMN.

• Submitting the financing statement instead of the receipt. If you finance through Affirm, the reimbursement is on the original purchase receipt, not the monthly installments.

• Letting the LMN expire mid-membership. Refresh annually to keep recurring memberships covered.

• Generic LMN language. "For exercise" gets denied. The condition has to be specific.

Home gym FSA/HSA FAQ

Is Tonal HSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN. Tonal hardware and Tonal+ membership both reimburse on the same LMN as long as the LMN is current.

Is NordicTrack iFit FSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN naming the medical context. The hardware and the membership reimburse together.

Can I cover both a Tonal and a Hydrow on the same LMN?
If both are part of the same documented treatment context, yes. Most LMNs name a single primary equipment, but a treatment plan involving both cardio and strength can name both.

What if I bought my equipment last year?
Per IRS guidelines, LMNs must be for purchases made on or after the LMN request date. So an LMN you request today won't cover hardware you bought last year. The membership going forward, however, can be covered.

Is the LMN fee itself FSA/HSA eligible?
Yes.

Stop paying full price for your home gym

If you've got a health situation that fits and you're already paying for any of the equipment above, the LMN turns it into pre-tax spend. Around 30% savings. Get yours from Burst in under 5 minutes.

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If you're not sure whether your situation fits, hit reply on any Burst email or write to support@getburst.com. We read every email ourselves.

Thanks,
Anthony
CEO and Co-Founder at Burst

For the underlying rules, see IRS Publication 502, IRS Notice 2006-69, and IRS Notice 2007-2.

Last updated: May 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.