Can You Buy a Smartwatch With Your HSA/FSA? (Yes, Here's How)

If you’ve been eyeing a smartwatch for easy health tracking, but can’t quite justify that steep price tag, we have a loophole for you: you could pay for that smartwatch with pre-tax dollars from your HSA or FSA, making the cost more manageable while helping you maximize the benefits of your account. Smartwatches aren’t automatically eligible, but can be made eligible with a little help from Trumed and the Stridekick HSA/FSA Shop. 

Read on for a complete overview of using your HSA or FSA for a smartwatch, with bonus tips from a certified personal trainer to help guide your shopping. 

The Expert

• Joe Ghafari, NASM-certified personal trainer, co-founder and head coach of LGBTQ+ fitness retreat Visiting Wrld

Are Smartwatches HSA/FSA-Eligible?

While not automatically HSA/FSA-eligible like more conventional medical purchases (like meds and first aid products), smartwatches can be deemed HSA/FSA-eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity, or LMN. In this document, a doctor establishes your need for a product for a specific condition (you can check out our complete guide to LMNs here).

Seeking eligibility for your device might sound a tad daunting, especially if your schedule is packed. But it’s as easy as finding the watch you want and filling out a quick online questionnaire with Truemed. No commute, no waiting room, no having to speak to a human. *Bliss*

As for conditions that a smartwatch can help with, there are actually several. “The IRS views smartwatches as general wellness devices unless a doctor says you need one for a specific condition,” says Ghafari. “But if you’re actively managing conditions like obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, or even chronic stress-related issues, a smartwatch is an absolute game-changer.”

Keep in mind that this isn’t a comprehensive list, and you may be able to receive reimbursement from your HSA or FSA to manage a variety of other conditions. 

How a Smartwatch Can Support Weight Management

Weight management is one of the single best habits we can adopt to live a longer, healthier life. Reducing body weight has been linked to the greatest life expectancy gain among people with type 2 diabetes, according to the CDC, and it’s known to support a better quality of life. And while maintaining a healthy weight is easier said than done, a smartwatch can act like your weight loss sidekick, helping you stay on track toward your goals. 

Ghafari helped us break down how exactly a smartwatch can support your weight management efforts:

• Encourages burned calories through everyday activities: “When you lose weight, your body naturally starts burning fewer calories through both your resting metabolism and NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). Your body doesn't like losing weight—it's a defense mechanism. A smartwatch helps you do the opposite of what your body wants; it reminds you to stay active through NEAT, like walking, chores, and pacing, which actually matters for keeping your metabolism firing,” says Ghafari. 
• Prevents scale obsession: "Weight fluctuates. Water retention is the biggest culprit for fluctuations. If you only rely on the scale, you'll freak out and put yourself in nutrition prison. A device like an Apple Watch or Garmin helps you track progress beyond the scale. It provides actionable health data, not judgment,” says Ghafari. 
• Convenience that supports consistency: “Fat loss sucks. It takes time, discipline, and patience... all without quick results. Your mindset is a muscle, and it needs training. Investing in a tracker with your FSA funds adds convenience to your routine, and that convenience makes it easier to stay consistent, which is a huge factor in long-term success,” says Ghafari. 

Smartwatches for Stress and Heart Conditions

We’ve all heard that stress is the “silent killer”, and at least 48% of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease. A smartwatch can help you manage these major health concerns through heart rate and sleep tracking.  

“For stress and heart-related conditions, we have to look at cortisol. Stress spikes cortisol, and that can cause massive water retention. A smartwatch that tracks your heart rate and sleep helps you monitor those stress levels. It gives you the data to understand how your body is reacting to stress and lifestyle changes, keeping you informed and in control of your health,” says Ghafari. 

And the proof is in the research: A BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making review found that heart rate variability, measured via smartwatch, is one of the best-known physiological indicators for stress detection.

What to Look for When Shopping for a Smartwatch

Now we’ve established smartwatch HSA/FSA eligibility, and why one may benefit your general health. Before jumping for the first one you see, let’s go through Ghafari’s must-have features:

• Step and NEAT tracking: “Because when your body adapts to weight loss, you’ll naturally start moving less without even realizing it. You need a device that actively reminds you to get your steps in and keep your daily movement high.”
• Sleep and recovery metrics: “The recovery process after exercise, and just daily life, draws in water. A watch that tracks your sleep and recovery helps you realize that if you feel heavier or bloated, it is probably just water retention and muscle repair, not fat gain.”
• Heart rate monitoring: “Whether you’re doing cardio or lifting weights, tracking your heart rate ensures you are actually putting in the necessary effort and pushing your cardiovascular system, rather than just going through the motions.”

Pro Tips: Making the Most of Your Smartwatch

Regardless of HSA/FSA eligibility, if a smartwatch is the right investment for you, these tips from Ghafari can help you make the most of it. 

• “Focus on process-based goals, not just outcomes: Instead of staring at your watch and hoping you lost 10 pounds, use it to track the daily habits that get you there. Tell yourself, ‘I will hit my step goal today’ or ‘I will get my heart rate up for 30 minutes, 3 times this week.’ Focus on the actions, not just the objective.
• Treat the numbers as data, not judgment: Weight and body metrics fluctuate constantly! Water retention is the biggest culprit for those fluctuations. Your watch is there to give you trends over time so you don't panic over a daily spike. It provides data, not a character flaw.
• Use it to train your mindset muscle: Let the convenience of your wearable keep you consistent. Don't take it off when you have a bad weekend. Wear it, track it, and keep going, because the only way to fail is to quit.” 

Smartwatch Picks from Stridekick’s HSA/FSA Shop

Ready to secure your smartwatch with your HSA or FSA? These options are available right now on Stridekick’s HSA/FSA Shop, with Truemed to help you secure an LMN easily from home:

• Garmin is a globally leading brand of GPS technology and sport performance wearables, with HSA/FSA-eligible smartwatch options including:
  
  • The Lily 2, an aesthetic smartwatch with Garmin’s renowned technology, providing an ideal blend of form and function
  • The Vivoactive 6, designed for everyday health and fitness with Body Battery energy monitoring, HRV status, stress tracking, and Pulse Ox  
  • The Venu 4, a stylish smartwatch that allows you to make calls and use voice commands, with a built-in LED flashlight, ECG app, HRV status, Body Battery, sleep score, and skin temperature
  • The Instinct 3 E, with a durable polymer case, scratch-resistant display, and water resistance to 50 meters, with comprehensive health features, daily activity tracking, and a morning report
  • The Forerunner 970, Garmin’s most advanced running and triathlon watch with new running metrics, the new Garmin Triathlon Coach, and Garmin’s next-gen Elevate Gen 5 heart rate sensor
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3, with the longest battery life of any Apple Watch, built-in satellite communications, and the most accurate GPS available in a sports watch
• Xiaomi Watch S4, a smartwatch with an interchangeable bezel system so you can personalize your look, plus health tracking for heart rate, SpO2, stress, sleep stages, and over 100 sport profiles with built-in GPS
• Fitbit Versa 4, with tracking for over 40 exercise modes, built-in GPS, a Daily Readiness Score, Google Maps, and Google Wallet