How to Get Your FSA/HSA Funds Eligible for Reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity for Nutrition
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are fantastic tools for managing medical expenses, as they allow you to pay for qualified healthcare costs with pre-tax dollars. However, when it comes to nutrition-related expenses, many people need clarification on what is eligible for reimbursement. If you're dealing with a specific medical condition or dietary need, there is a way to get nutrition-related expenses reimbursed: through a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). Here's how to navigate the process and ensure your nutrition expenses qualify.
Understanding FSAs and HSAs
Before diving into the letter of medical necessity, let’s clarify what FSAs and HSAs are.
FSAs are employer-sponsored accounts that allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible medical expenses. Funds typically need to be used by the plan year's end, though some plans may allow a short grace period.
HSAs are similar but linked to high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). The funds in an HSA roll over from year to year. They can be used for various medical expenses, including medical, dental, and vision costs.
While these accounts are often used for standard medical expenses like doctor’s visits or prescriptions, many nutrition-related expenses aren’t automatically covered—unless you can prove they are medically necessary.
When is nutrition eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement?
Nutrition-related expenses must be deemed medically necessary to be reimbursed through an FSA or HSA. This means the cost must be required to diagnose, treat, or prevent a medical condition. Some common scenarios where nutrition may be considered medically necessary include:
Specialized Diets for Medical Conditions: If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, celiac disease, or obesity, your doctor may prescribe a specific diet to help manage the condition.
Nutritional Counseling: If a doctor recommends seeing a registered dietitian or nutritionist to treat a health condition, that consultation may be eligible for reimbursement.
Meal Delivery Services: In some cases, medically necessary meal delivery services designed to support a prescribed diet can be reimbursed.
Supplements: Certain vitamins or supplements that are part of a treatment plan for a diagnosed condition may also be eligible.
However, not all nutrition-related expenses qualify, so getting the right documentation to support your claim is essential.
The Role of a Letter of Medical Necessity
A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is a document from your healthcare provider (TruMed) that explicitly states why a particular treatment or service is essential for your health. For nutrition-related expenses, the LMN should outline how the specific dietary intervention or nutritional service is required to treat or manage your condition.
Here’s how you can go about obtaining an LMN to get your nutrition-related expenses reimbursed:
Step 1: Consult Your Healthcare Provider or (TruMed)
The first step in securing reimbursement is to discuss your nutrition-related needs with your healthcare provider. Depending on your situation, this could be your primary care doctor, a registered dietitian, a nurse practitioner, or a specialist. Please explain why you need a specialized diet, nutrition counseling, or a specific supplement and ask for their professional opinion on how it is medically necessary for your condition.
For example, if you have diabetes, your doctor may recommend a low-carb diet and regular consultations with a nutritionist to manage blood sugar levels. Your healthcare provider must confirm that this approach is medically necessary to treat your condition.
Step 2: Request the Letter of Medical Necessity
Once your doctor or healthcare provider understands your dietary needs, ask them to provide a Letter of Medical Necessity. The letter should include the following information:
Your Diagnosis: The specific medical condition that requires dietary intervention.
Treatment Plan: How will the prescribed diet, nutrition counseling, or supplements help manage or treat the condition?
Specific Nutritional Needs: A description of the specific diet or nutrition-related services that are medically necessary (e.g., gluten-free meals, counseling sessions with a dietitian, nutritional supplements).
Duration: The expected length of time that the dietary intervention will be required.
Healthcare Provider’s Contact Information: The name, title, and contact information of the provider issuing the letter.
This detailed documentation helps substantiate that the nutrition-related expense is not just for general health or wellness but for a medical condition requiring specific dietary care.
Step 3: Submit the LMN Along with Your Expense Claim
Once you’ve obtained the Letter of Medical Necessity, submit it with your FSA or HSA reimbursement claim. Each FSA and HSA plan for submitting claims may vary, but generally, you’ll need to provide the following:
A copy of the Letter of Medical Necessity.
Receipts or invoices for nutrition-related expenses (e.g., seeing a dietitian or purchasing prescribed supplements).
Any other supporting documentation required by your FSA/HSA administrator.
If you’re using an online portal for reimbursement, you’ll likely need to upload a scanned copy of the LMN and receipts. You may need to include tangible copies of all documentation for paper submissions.
Step 4: Follow Up if Needed
Sometimes, FSA/HSA administrators may request additional information or clarification regarding your claim. Be sure to follow up if your submission is delayed or if you’re asked for more details. Keep records of all correspondence to ensure everything is processed smoothly.
Common Nutrition-Related Expenses That May Be Eligible for Reimbursement
Here are a few examples of nutrition-related expenses that could be eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity:
Nutritional supplements: vitamins, minerals, or other supplements a healthcare provider prescribes to treat a medical condition.
Nutrition counseling: Consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist for managing conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, or food allergies.
Specialized diets: Costs associated with meal plans or specialized diets for conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or other food-related health issues.
Medical meal delivery services: These services deliver medically tailored meals designed to treat a specific health condition, such as ketogenic meals for epilepsy.
Final Thoughts
While nutrition-related expenses are often seen as outside the scope of FSAs and HSAs, the proper documentation—a detailed Letter of Medical Necessity—can help you get the reimbursement you deserve for necessary dietary interventions. Work closely with your healthcare provider, ensure your nutrition needs are well-documented, and submit the correct paperwork to maximize your FSA/HSA benefits.
By following these steps, you can offset the cost of nutrition-related treatments and services, making it easier to manage and improve your health while saving money on eligible expenses.
Don't Let Your FSA/HSA Funds Go to Waste!
Great news! You can now use your FSA/HSA to access organic superfood nutrition and join the Ultimate Lifestyle Transformation Nutrition Program—the program I’ve been recommending for over two years to help you nourish, detox, repair, and thrive!
Here’s How It Works:
Check your eligibility for a Letter of Medical Necessity (just $15). Purium has partnered with TruMed
Get fully reimbursed through your FSA/HSA account provider
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If you’re about to lose your FSA funds by December 31st, don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to invest in your health!
Important: Filling Out the TruMed Form
When you fill out the TruMed form, you will be asked, "Do you want to add more information to your documentation about the conditions you are working to mitigate, treat, or prevent your health condition?"
Be specific—they will use this information in your Letter of Medical Necessity. For example, you can write:
“I’m using the Ultimate Lifestyle Transformation from Purium to aid my body's response to regulate my blood glucose and the Pineal Clear with Revive it All to support my nervous system and manage anxiety.”
If you’re using other products for specific health needs, mention them here. The more detailed you are, the more accurate your letter will be!
Here are a Few Things to Keep in Mind:
Purium can’t change our merchant services code to accept FSA/HSA cards directly, so you’ll need a credit or debit card to pay for your product(s).
Then, submit the Letter of Medical Necessity with your receipts for reimbursement through your FSA/HSA provider's online portal.
Places like optometrists and orthodontists accept FSA/HSA debit/credit cards as pre-approved vendors. Certain items at stores like Target (e.g., Zyrtec, Advil, Tylenol, or other eligible FSA/HSA-approved products) can also be used.
Nutrition and supplements, however, are not pre-approved. That’s why we need a letter of medical necessity to confirm the medical need for your products or program for your health condition.
I hope this clears up any confusion!
Scan the QR codes or click on the links below to begin your journey:
Let’s make this year the year you invest in your health—and give yourself the gift of transformation!
View more information about a letter of medical necessity from TruMed here: TruMed Blog
Best regards,
Phillip Rocha
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