Hi, I'm Shubhi, one of the co-founders of Burst. This guide is for anyone managing chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, long COVID, post-viral fatigue, or persistent low energy from a related condition.

The reason chronic fatigue is one of the most common conditions on Burst is that the management toolkit is wide and the spend adds up. Sleep wearables. Recovery tools. Supplements. Light therapy. Compression. Most of it is FSA/HSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), and most people don't realize it. I'd rather you not pay out-of-pocket for things your FSA/HSA would cover.

Below is a quick walkthrough of what qualifies, how Letters of Medical Necessity work, and how Burst handles the part most people get stuck on.

What FSA/HSA actually covers for chronic fatigue

The IRS standard is "products used to treat, mitigate, or alleviate a specific medical condition." Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), long COVID, and post-viral fatigue are all recognized conditions. So a wide range of products that help you manage them qualify, even when they're sold as wellness or fitness gear.

The catch is documentation. Your FSA/HSA administrator wants a Letter of Medical Necessity on file before reimbursing categories like supplements, wearables, recovery tools, and light therapy. The LMN is a short note from a licensed clinician saying the product is being used to treat your specific condition. That's what makes the difference between "rejected" and "reimbursed."

Two things worth knowing. The fee for the Burst LMN request is itself FSA/HSA eligible. And if our clinician decides your situation doesn't qualify, you get a full refund.

Categories of chronic fatigue products often eligible with an LMN

These are the categories I see most often in real Burst LMN requests for chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, and long COVID. Brands are illustrative, not endorsements, not affiliate.

Sleep tracking wearables

Oura Ring, Whoop, Apple Watch, Fitbit Sense, Garmin Venu, and similar sleep trackers are heavily used for chronic fatigue management because they surface what your sleep quality and recovery actually look like day to day. With an LMN that names chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, or long COVID, the device is reimbursable. The Oura Ring has a deeper single-product guide here if you want it: Letter of Medical Necessity for Oura Ring & Wearable Health Devices.

You can buy these at Amazon, Best Buy, Apple, or directly from the brand. The LMN works the same either way.

Recovery wearables and HRV trackers

Recovery-focused wearables (Whoop, Polar H10 chest straps for HRV, Lief Therapeutics) and percussion recovery tools (Theragun, Hyperice) qualify with an LMN. The category overlaps with the wider recovery toolkit (massage guns, foam rollers, vibration plates) and one LMN can cover several of these for the same condition.

B12, iron, CoQ10, electrolytes, and other fatigue supplements

The supplement category for chronic fatigue is large: B12 (especially methylated B12), iron (when ferritin is low), CoQ10, magnesium, ribose, NAD+, electrolyte mixes (LMNT, Liquid IV, Drip Drop), and B-complex are all common. None of them are FSA/HSA eligible by default. With an LMN naming chronic fatigue or a related condition, they all become reimbursable. One LMN covers the supplement (any brand) for 12 months.

Light therapy

Red-light therapy panels (Joovv, Mito Red, Hooga) and bright-light/SAD lamps (Verilux, Carex) are increasingly used for chronic fatigue and circadian regulation. With an LMN, the category is reimbursable. Light therapy is one of the higher-ticket fatigue purchases ($150 to $1,500+) where the LMN math really matters.

Compression therapy

Pneumatic compression boots (Normatec, Therabody RecoveryAir, Hyperice Normatec series) and graduated compression garments (Bauerfeind, CEP) are eligible with an LMN. The category is most relevant for people whose fatigue includes post-exertional malaise or circulation-related symptoms (long COVID, POTS-adjacent presentations).

Ergonomic equipment

Standing desks, ergonomic chairs, lumbar supports, and adjustable monitor arms qualify with an LMN that names chronic fatigue. The connection is straightforward: posture and energy management while working are part of the management plan. The LMN should connect the specific equipment to the condition, which is what we write into it.

Sleep environment tools

Cooling mattress toppers (Chilipad, BedJet, Eight Sleep accessories), white-noise machines, blackout curtains, sleep masks, and weighted blankets are all eligible with an LMN where sleep dysregulation is part of the picture. For chronic fatigue, sleep environment is rarely optional.

Pajamas and clothing for thermoregulation

Specific moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating pajamas (Cool-jams, Dryft Sleep) are eligible with an LMN where thermoregulation is part of the condition picture (long COVID, perimenopause-adjacent fatigue, hyperhidrosis-related fatigue).

How Burst gets you reimbursed (3 steps)

Step 1: Request an LMN at app.getburst.com/request-lmn

Under 5 minutes. List the products. Describe your condition (chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, long COVID, post-viral fatigue). Submit.

Step 2: A Burst clinician reviews and signs

Most LMN requests come back in under 24 hours. A licensed clinician on our network reviews. If your situation qualifies, you get the signed LMN. If it doesn't, you get a full refund.

Step 3: File the LMN with your administrator

Log into HealthEquity, Optum Financial, WEX, Inspira, Lively, or whoever runs your plan. Upload the LMN plus your receipt. Submit. Reimbursement usually lands in a week or two.

The Burst team wrote a step-by-step walkthrough: How to file your LMN for reimbursement.

We don't care which brand or store you buy from. The LMN covers the product, not the storefront.

One LMN, 12 months, any store

A single LMN from Burst covers that product for 12 months. Approved once, you can keep buying the same B12, the same compression boots, the same Oura Ring subscription, the same red-light panel, all year, and keep using your FSA/HSA for them.

People I talk to who manage chronic fatigue tend to shop everywhere: Amazon for supplements and electrolytes, the brand site for the wearable, Costco for the bigger compression and light gear, Best Buy for the smaller electronics. The LMN doesn't care where you bought. It cares about the product and the condition.

FAQ

Is the Oura Ring FSA eligible?
Yes, with a Letter of Medical Necessity. The device, the subscription, and replacement parts are reimbursable when the LMN names a sleep-related condition like chronic fatigue, insomnia, or sleep apnea.

Is Whoop FSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN that names chronic fatigue, ME/CFS, or a related sleep or recovery condition. The membership is reimbursable along with the strap.

Are B12 and other fatigue supplements FSA eligible?
Supplements are FSA/HSA eligible only with an LMN. With an LMN naming chronic fatigue or a related condition, B12, iron, CoQ10, magnesium, ribose, NAD+, and electrolyte mixes all become reimbursable.

Are electrolyte mixes (LMNT, Liquid IV, Drip Drop) FSA eligible?
With an LMN, yes. Electrolyte mixes are commonly LMN-covered for chronic fatigue, POTS, dysautonomia, and post-viral conditions.

Is red-light therapy FSA eligible?
Yes, with an LMN. The category is reimbursable for chronic fatigue, circadian disruption, and pain conditions.

Can I use my FSA card directly, or do I have to file for reimbursement?
Either works. Most fatigue-related LMN purchases (supplements, wearables, recovery tools) are pay-out-of-pocket and file-for-reimbursement. The LMN attached to your receipt is what makes the claim go through.

What if my administrator rejects the claim?
Reply with the LMN PDF and your receipt. If they still reject, email support@getburst.com and we'll help you appeal.

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

Stop paying out-of-pocket for fatigue management

If you're managing chronic fatigue and shopping across multiple brands or stores for things that help, I'd rather you stop paying out-of-pocket for purchases your FSA/HSA would cover. Get an LMN from Burst in under 5 minutes. If our clinician doesn't approve it, you get a full refund.

Request my LMN →

If you're not sure whether something specific qualifies, hit reply on any Burst email or write to support@getburst.com. I read every email myself. I'd rather sanity-check for you up front than have you guess.

Thanks,
Shubhi
Co-founder at Burst