Massagers and Massage Guns: FSA and HSA Eligibility
Massage guns and handheld massagers are reimbursable from your FSA, HSA or HRA when a licensed clinician ties them to treating a diagnosed condition. Here's how.
6 minute read
Short answer
Massage guns and handheld massagers are reimbursable from your FSA, HSA or HRA account when you get a letter from a clinician stating they treat a diagnosed condition. They fall under IRS Publication 502's definition of medical expenses when prescribed for a health reason, not just general wellness.
Reimbursement requires that a clinician tie the purchase to treating a specific condition. General wellness or stress relief on its own won't qualify. But if a clinician connects the massager to a diagnosed condition like arthritis, back pain, or muscle tension from an injury, it can be reimbursed.
Massage guns and handheld massagers need a letter for FSA and HSA reimbursement
Massagers are reimbursable from your FSA, HSA or HRA only with a letter of medical necessity. The IRS rule is clear: personal items must treat a diagnosed medical condition, not just general wellness. Medical expenses are "the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease." A clinician's letter confirms your massager meets this standard.
What a letter of medical necessity covers
The letter names a diagnosed condition and explains in one sentence how the massager treats it. Examples: tight muscles from an injury, chronic back pain from arthritis, or muscle tension from fibromyalgia. The clinician doesn't need to prescribe a specific brand or model, just confirm that a massage device is medically necessary for your condition.
How to buy a massager and claim reimbursement
You can buy a massage gun or handheld massager from any retailer with any card. There's no pre-approval needed. The letter must be dated on or before the purchase date, so request it before you buy.
Step-by-step process
Talk to your doctor, chiropractor, or other licensed clinician about using a massager for your condition.
Request a letter from the clinician stating your condition and how the massager treats it.
Once you have the letter, you can buy the massager from any store or online retailer.
Pay with any card: credit card, debit card, or BNPL.
Keep your receipt showing the date of purchase and the amount paid.
Provide your receipt and letter to Burst. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account.
Timing: request the letter first
The letter must be dated on or before the purchase date. This is a hard rule. If you buy first and then get a letter dated after the purchase, your administrator won't reimburse it. Always get the letter before you buy the massager.
When you need a letter, when you don't, and when it's not reimbursable
Item | Reimbursement Status |
|---|---|
Massage gun for a diagnosed condition (back pain, arthritis, injury recovery) | Reimbursable with a letter |
Handheld neck or back massager for muscle tension from a diagnosed condition | Reimbursable with a letter |
Massage chair for pain relief from a diagnosed condition | Reimbursable with a letter |
Massage gun for general wellness or general stress relief | Not reimbursable |
Massager for relaxation or pampering | Not reimbursable |
Massager without a clinician's diagnosis | Not reimbursable |
The key difference is whether a clinician has diagnosed a condition and linked the massager to treating it. IRS Publication 502 bars reimbursement for "health club dues or amounts paid to improve one's general health." Wellness on its own, even if it feels good, isn't a medical expense. But the same massager becomes reimbursable when it's treating a real health condition.
What the letter needs to say
The letter is simple. It names your condition and explains how the massager treats it. Here are examples of language that works.
[Your name] has chronic back pain from lumbar arthritis. A handheld massager is medically necessary to manage this condition.
[Your name] has muscle tension from a rotator cuff injury. Massage therapy via a massage gun improves function and reduces pain.
[Your name] has fibromyalgia with widespread muscle pain. A percussion massage device is part of their pain management plan.
The clinician doesn't choose the brand or model. You pick the massager you want, and the clinician confirms that a massager is medically necessary. Burst then files the claim for the purchase you made.
Other massage and recovery tools in the same category
Massage guns, handheld massagers, and massage chairs all follow the same rule. Other recovery tools with the same requirement include foam rollers and percussion devices. All are reimbursable with a letter for a diagnosed condition.
Massage guns like Theragun
Back and neck massagers
Massage chairs
Percussion massage devices
Handheld vibration tools
All of these are purchased the same way: get a letter for your condition first, then buy the tool and claim reimbursement. The device itself doesn't matter, only that a clinician has confirmed it's medically necessary.
Getting massager reimbursed with Burst
Here's the practical route. Request a letter of medical necessity from Burst ($35 once, about two minutes). A licensed clinician reviews it and it's typically in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, who pays you out of your account by deposit or check. If there's no letter there's no charge, and a denied claim means your money back. The letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so do this step first.
Get reimbursed for my massager
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a massage gun with my FSA?
Yes, if you have a letter. Massage guns are reimbursable from FSA, HSA or HRA when a licensed clinician has diagnosed your condition and confirmed that the massager treats it. Without the letter, it's not reimbursable.
Do I need a doctor's prescription for a massager?
No prescription is required. But you do need a letter from a clinician (doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, etc.) stating your condition and how the massager treats it. The letter is simpler than a prescription.
Can I buy the massager first and get a letter afterward?
No. The letter must be dated on or before the purchase date. Always request the letter from your clinician before you buy the massager.
What if my massager is just for relaxation?
A massager purchased purely for relaxation or general wellness won't qualify for reimbursement. Your administrator requires a clinician to diagnose a condition that the massager treats. That's when reimbursement is approved.
Can I use my HRA for a massage gun?
Yes. Massage guns with a letter are reimbursable from FSA, HSA or HRA accounts. The same letter requirement applies across all three account types.
Who can write a letter of medical necessity?
Any licensed clinician who has diagnosed your condition can write the letter. This includes doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other qualified practitioners.
What happens if my administrator denies the claim?
If your administrator pushes back, Burst writes the appeal. No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back.
Are massage chairs covered under the same rule?
Yes. Massage chairs are reimbursable with a letter for a diagnosed condition, just like massage guns and handheld massagers.
Keep reading: 75+ Surprising FSA/HSA Eligible Items, What Can I Use My FSA Funds On?, What Can I Use My HSA Funds On?, HSA and FSA Eligible Items in 2026: Complete Guide, Is a Theragun HSA eligible?, and all guides on this topic.
Sources
IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (medical expenses definition, personal-use items rule, cost ordinarily used for personal purposes unless used to prevent or alleviate disability or illness, health club dues and general health exclusion)
IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (FSA, HSA, and HRA account rules, eligible medical expenses, reimbursement processes)
Healthcare.gov Glossary (FSA and HSA account types and definitions)
