Hi, I'm Anthony, co-founder at Burst. This guide is the practical walkthrough — not what's eligible, but how the actual flow works once you know.

Short answer. Buying pre-tax with an LMN is a four-step process: (1) get the LMN before you buy, (2) pay for the product with any card, (3) submit the receipt + LMN to your plan administrator, (4) receive reimbursement to your bank account from your FSA or HSA balance. Per IRS guidelines, LMNs must be for purchases made on or after the LMN request date — so the first step has to happen before the second. Below is the complete walkthrough with examples for each major plan administrator (Optum, HealthEquity, Fidelity, HSA Bank, PayFlex, Navia, WEX, FSAFEDS, Bank of America).

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

Request my LMN →

Step 1: Get the LMN

Before you buy, request the LMN. Most clinicians who specialize in LMNs (Burst, others) deliver the document within minutes via email. The LMN is dated as of when it's issued; the IRS treats purchases made on or after that date as eligible.

What the LMN looks like: a one-page document on clinician letterhead, signed and dated, naming the health situation and connecting it to the specific product or category you're buying. Most plan administrators want a PDF.

Step 2: Buy with any card

Pay the merchant with whatever card you'd normally use. Credit, debit, Affirm, Klarna — the merchant doesn't need to know the purchase is FSA/HSA-bound. The reimbursement happens later between you and your plan administrator.

Save the receipt. Specifically:

• The product receipt from the brand (Peloton, Tonal, Saatva, etc.), not the financing statement.

• An itemized receipt if buying through Amazon — plan admins want the specific product clearly identified.

• The order confirmation email as a backup.

Step 3: Submit to your plan administrator

Each plan admin has a slightly different submission portal. The process is the same — receipt + LMN — but the interface varies.

• Optum. Log in at optumbank.com → Submit a Claim → Upload receipt and LMN. Reimbursement typically 3-5 business days.

• HealthEquity. healthequity.com → My Account → Submit a Claim. 3-5 days.

• Fidelity. netbenefits.fidelity.com → HSA Reimbursement. 2-4 days.

• HSA Bank. hsabank.com → File a Claim. 3-5 days.

• PayFlex. payflex.com → Get Reimbursed. 5-7 days.

• Navia Benefit Solutions. naviabenefits.com → Submit Claim. 3-5 days.

• WEX. wexinc.com → Members → Submit Claim. 5-7 days.

• FSAFEDS (federal employees). fsafeds.com → Quick Claim. 5-10 days.

• Bank of America. myhealth.bankofamerica.com → Reimbursement. 3-5 days.

Step 4: Reimbursement lands in your bank

The reimbursement comes from your FSA or HSA balance into your bank account via ACH. Your taxable income drops by the reimbursed amount (effectively a 22-32% pre-tax saving for most W-2 employees, depending on bracket).

Common pitfalls

• Buying before the LMN. The most common mistake. Per IRS rules, the LMN has to be dated on or before the purchase. Get the LMN first, then buy.

• Submitting the financing statement instead of the receipt. Affirm or Klarna installments aren't the eligible expense — the original receipt is.

• Letting the LMN expire mid-subscription. Memberships (Peloton All-Access, Whoop, Tonal+) reimburse recurring while the LMN is current. Refresh annually.

• Forgetting that the LMN fee itself is FSA/HSA eligible. The Burst LMN (or any LMN provider's fee) reimburses too.

• Generic LMN language. "For wellness" gets denied. The LMN has to name the specific situation. Burst's clinicians write in approval-tested language.

FAQ

How long does the reimbursement actually take?
Once submitted, most plan admins process within 3-7 business days. Some are faster (Fidelity often 2 days), some slower (FSAFEDS up to 10 days).

Can I batch multiple receipts on one submission?
Most plan admin portals let you upload multiple receipts. Some require separate claims per receipt. Check your specific portal.

What if my plan admin denies the claim?
Plan admins occasionally deny claims that should be approved. The most common reason: vague LMN language. Burst clinicians write LMNs in approval-tested format and will rework one if denied.

Can I submit a year of claims at once?
Yes — within plan deadlines. FSA claims typically need to be submitted by March 31 of the following year. HSA claims have no deadline.

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

Get your LMN

If you're shopping for any LMN-eligible product, get the LMN first. Burst clinicians review and issue under 5 minutes. If our clinician decides your situation doesn't fit, you get a full refund.

Request my LMN →

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.