Best HSA-Eligible Water Filters (2026): AquaTru, Boroux, Atla and More

A water filter can qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement when a licensed clinician ties it to a documented contamination concern or condition in a Letter of Medical Necessity: lead or PFAS in home water, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy, an immunocompromised household, eczema. Buy the system you want from any store with any card, and Burst gets you the letter for $35 and files the reimbursement. Below: which systems fit and what your letter needs to say.

Hi, I'm Shubhi, one of the co-founders at Burst. Water filters are one of the more interesting letter categories because eligibility hinges on the specific contaminants you're filtering and why. The IRS treats most water filters as dual-purpose under Publication 502 and Notices 2006-69 and 2007-2: general home equipment by default, medical equipment when documented.

If that already describes you, the request takes about two minutes.

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Brand-by-brand fit

• AquaTru. Countertop reverse osmosis. Strong fit for documented PFAS, lead, or fluoride concerns; chronic kidney disease.

• Boroux (formerly Berkey). Gravity-fed countertop filters. Strong fit for general contamination concerns and emergency-preparedness contexts paired with health conditions.

• Atla Water. Mineralized RO systems. Strong fit for kidney disease where mineral balance matters.

• Canopy shower filters. Chlorine and chloramine reduction. Strong fit for documented eczema, atopic dermatitis, and chemical sensitivities.

• Medify Air filters. Air filtration (technically not water but adjacent). Strong fit for documented respiratory conditions, asthma, MCS.

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.

15,000+ letters issued. Works with every FSA/HSA administrator.

Get reimbursed for my water filter →

No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back.
About two minutes to request · usually the same day · we file the claim for you.

What a water filter really costs with Burst

Say the water filter is $450 and your combined federal and state marginal rate is about 30%. Paying for it from a pre-tax account means roughly $135 of income tax you never pay. The letter is $35, once, and covers the item for 12 months.

Your actual savings depend on your plan and your bracket. This is an estimate, not a quote.

What's eligible with an LMN

• The filter system itself

• Replacement filter cartridges over the device's lifetime (recurring)

• Installation when on the same receipt

• Water testing kits to document the contamination context for the LMN

What's not eligible, even with an LMN

• Whole-home filtration as plumbing infrastructure. The IRS doesn't typically reimburse home upgrades.

• Bottled water subscriptions. These are food/beverage purchases, not medical equipment.

• Generic Brita filters. Without a documented contamination concern, basic carbon filters don't usually qualify.

Common reasons people get a water filter LMN

• Documented lead contamination in home water (especially with children)

• PFAS contamination concerns paired with documented health conditions

• Chronic kidney disease (mineral content)

• Pregnancy (contamination risk amplified)

• Immunocompromised contexts (transplant, chemotherapy)

• Atopic dermatitis or eczema (shower filtration)

A few common water filter FSA/HSA pitfalls

• Submitting without a water test. Plan admins are more likely to approve when there's documentation of the specific contamination concern. A home water test report attached to the LMN strengthens the case.

• Forgetting recurring filter replacements. The cartridges reimburse alongside the system. Set up the LMN to cover the full year of replacements.

• Buying through Amazon without an itemized receipt. Plan admins want the specific filter model documented.

Water filter FSA/HSA FAQ

Is AquaTru HSA eligible?
With an LMN naming a specific contamination context tied to a health condition, yes.

Are replacement filter cartridges covered?
On the same LMN as the system, yes. Recurring while the LMN is current.

Is a Brita pitcher FSA eligible?
Generally no without a strong medical context. The standard for plan-admin approval is higher contamination filtration.

Is a shower filter FSA eligible?
With an LMN naming eczema, atopic dermatitis, or chlorine sensitivity, Canopy and similar shower filters reimburse.

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

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.

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.

Stop paying full price for your water filtration

If you've got a documented contamination concern or condition where filtered water is medically relevant, the letter is what lets you pay for it from your pre-tax account. $35 once, about two minutes, and your letter usually arrives the same day. No letter, no charge.

Get reimbursed for my water filter →

Brands above are the ones people ask us about most. They are examples, not partners.

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,
Shubhi
Co-Founder at Burst

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

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.