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Are Massage Guns FSA Eligible? Which Ones Can I Use My HSA or FSA With?

Are massage guns FSA eligible

Are Massage Guns FSA Eligible
Are Massage Guns FSA Eligible?

Are massage guns FSA eligible? Or HSA eligible? Can I buy a massage gun using my HSA or FSA card? The answer is, it depends. You MIGHT be able to. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at massage gun FSA eligibility, which ones ARE eligible, and how to go about buying one.


What is FSA and HSA?

FSA

FSA (or flexible spending account) is an account you can put money into to pay for eligible health care costs. This money is tax-free, saving the money you would have paid on taxes on that sum. Some employers make contributions to your FSA, but they aren’t required to.  FSA accounts are limited to $2750 per year and the funds must generally be spent during the plan year.  Depending on your plan, some employers offer a grace period (up to 10 extra weeks to spend the money) or they may allow you to roll over a sum up to $550 until the following year. If the money isn’t spent within the allotted time, you lose any money left in the FSA account. Funds can be spent on prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, medical equipment, supplies, or devices as long as they are FSA eligible.

HSA

HSA (or health savings account) is an account that can be used to contribute money for eligible medical expenses. It’s like a personal savings account (that you have control over, not your insurance company or employer) but can only be used for health care expenses. This is on a pre-tax basis so it may lower your healthcare costs. You must have an HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan) to contribute to an HSA. For 2022 you will be able to contribute up to $3650 for self-cover and up to $7300 for family coverage. HSA funds roll over from year to year if not spent and the money is yours indefinitely.

Can you use FSA for massage?

Massage therapy can definitely qualify as a medical expense. Massage therapy must however be prescribed by your doctor for it to be eligible. Massage can be used to treat a range of different medical issues including back pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and more. It can also be used to treat mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. If you would like to use massage therapy as the treatment you will need to explain to your doctor that you would like to use your FSA funds to pay for massage. Your doctor may then give you a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity detailing therapeutic necessity, number of sessions, and duration of treatment, which can be used to verify the expense.

Are massage guns FSA/HSA eligible?

Yes, a massage gun can be FSA eligible. Not all are considered suitable to be used as medical devices to treat medical conditions, but some are. You will need to check with your plan provider to find out if they will cover the purchase of a massage gun to treat your particular condition.

Which massage guns can I buy with my FSA or HSA card?

There are very few brands of massage guns that are officially eligible for use with an FSA or HSA card. The following are two places you can buy one:

FSA Store

Our top pick is the Aura Revive Heated Deep Muscle Pain Relief Device available on the FSA Store. This store, run by Health-E Commerce is one of the top health and wellness online retailers supplying the US tax-free healthcare market. They sell products that help consumers improve their health by utilizing their health savings.

Hot Selling Handheld Massager

Check the Aura Revive price on the FSA Store

We’ll write a full review of this product at a later stage, but here are some of the features and specs:

  • It’s one of the few massage guns that has a heated tip which speeds up healing
  • It has 8 interchangeable attachments for massaging different parts of the body
  • 3 hours of battery life between charges (a typical massage session would last about 15 minutes)
  • Carrying case and AC adapter included
Aura Revive Heated Massage Gun
Aura Revive Heated Massage Gun

For more info (& to read the customer reviews) check it out on the FSA Store

Zarifa USA

Zarifa USA is another company whose products are advertised as being HSA/FSA eligible. Their products are FDA-approved Class I and II devices. Because they are DME certified and classed as medical equipment, they can be used to treat a medical condition.

Their massage gun, the Z Smart Massage Gun (in red or black) can be purchased using an HSA, FSA, or HRA card. Just add the massage gun to the basket and checkout as normal. Instead of entering your credit card details, enter the details of your health card.

If you’re looking for something a bit smaller, the Z Smart Mini Massage Gun is also FSA Eligible and available at Zarifa USA.

Note: Zarifa USA products are generally quite a bit more expensive than the average. There are massage guns with similar specs & similar quality for $100 cheaper on Amazon etc. 

Don’t purchase without following your FSA provider’s guidelines!

You need to have a valid medical reason to purchase a massage gun using HSA or FSA.

You can’t just buy a massage gun because you want to enjoy a relaxing massage. They are only eligible for medical spending. A massage gun can be used to treat muscle issues, circulation problems, or pain and stiffness. You should see your doctor to get a prescription before you buy as some FSA providers (but not all) require a doctor’s prescription.

If your provider doesn’t ask for a prescription they may require a medical necessity statement instead. This is a statement detailing your medical issue and how a massage gun might help to treat it. Along with an itemized receipt for your purchase, this may be enough to satisfy their requirements. The company you purchase from may provide FDA documentation that can also be forwarded to your insurance provider.

Is Theragun FSA eligible?

The Theragun range by Therabody is one of the most popular on the market today. It consists of 4 different massage guns – the Theragun Pro, Theragun Elite, Theragun Prime, and Theragun Mini. While they call themselves the World’s Leading Percussive Therapy Devices, there is no mention of FSA or HSA on their official website. Because of this, we must assume they are not officially FSA or HSA-approved. You won’t be able to use your funds on their website.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use your FSA to buy a Theragun. Approval depends on your insurance company and the type of plan you’re on. Recovery For Athletes is a retailer that sells Theragun products that accept FSA and HSA card payments so it may be possible to buy one there. Contact your insurance company to find out if you’re eligible, and what steps you need to take to purchase.

Conclusion

So the answer to the question of are massage guns FSA or HSA eligible is, yes – but only some. You might not get a specific brand or model that you want, but you CAN get a massage gun with your FSA or HSA funds. You just need to be careful where you buy, and which product you buy and make sure you follow your insurance provider’s guidelines correctly.

Remember, there is usually a deadline to spend your FSA. Some accounts will allow a limited rollover into the next year, but for most, you will lose your FSA if you don’t spend it on time.

The FSA Store is a great place to find FSA-eligible items that you can buy. They sell one massage gun, the Aura Review Heated Massager. It’s reasonably priced AND it gets great reviews.

Handheld Massager With Parts

Check out the Aura Revive here

Also, Amazon has a whole FSA | HSA section dedicated to eligible products that you can buy with your FSA or HSA card. There aren’t any massage guns listed in this section, unfortunately, but there are some other massage devices and gadgets available that you might find useful for pain relief. Alternatively, you could just buy a cheap massage gun on Amazon and then keep your FSA money for another purchase.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links, this means that at no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases.
About James Hall

James H is the main author of Handheld Massager Guide. He is a self-confessed "fitness freak", currently spending his time blogging and training for a marathon. He is passionate about the benefits of massage for muscle recovery and loves testing & reviewing gadgets to improve performance.