If you are considering hiring a health or nutrition coach, you should know you have options to pay for health coach services including Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

There is more demand for health coaches now than ever before as a proven way to help individuals improve health numbers and sustain lifestyle change. Coaching is an effective and accessible intervention that can be delivered in person, by phone, internet, or outdoor group setting. Many healthcare practices have dietitians and health coaches on staff to support the patient when working to let go of old habits and/or adopt healthier behaviors.

It is possible you may be able to use your pre tax funds from your health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to cover health coaching services.

Here is what you need to know:

You will need a letter of medical necessity from your doctor or healthcare professional.

A letter of medical necessity (LMN) is a document your doctor provides required by the Internal Revenue Service that verifies a personal diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or medical condition. Your provider should include your specific diagnosed medical condition, the specific treatment needed, the length of treatment, and how this treatment will alleviate your medical condition.

Your doctor must show the expense is prescribed for medical care not just general prevention of disease. In fact, reimbursement for expenses allocated for nutrition counseling “will qualify only if recommended to treat an illness, rather than to promote general health.”

It is good to note that professional nutrition coaching is typically considered an eligible expense. Many licensed practitioners may use the term nutrition counseling or weight loss counseling when providing a letter of medical necessity. For example, “recommend the patient receive regular counsel with a nutrition coach for the next 12 months to improve the patient’s hypertension.”

If you surpass the time of treatment specified by your provider for up to 12 months at a time, you will provide a follow up letter to cover reimbursement for the new time period.

Before your next well visit, let your practitioner’s staff know that you are requesting a letter of medical necessity so your provider is prepared to discuss how health and nutrition coaching can help you experience improved health.

2. It is important that you contact your benefits provider to learn more about what is endorsed for HSA/FSA reimbursement.

In some cases, an employer may limit which expenses are reimbursed under their FSA or HRA plan offering. The cost of your nutrition counseling may also be covered in part by certain insurance plans including BlueCross BlueShield, Medica, United Health Care, or Medicare. Nutrition and weight loss coaching is not eligible for reimbursement with dependent care flexible spending accounts (LCFSA).

There are many advocates for making health coaches a mainstream part of the healthcare ecosystem to help patients manage healthier, happier lives. Currently there is a bill (S380) in committee, introduced in February 2021, that includes legislation to ensure an individual could use pretax funds from an HSA or FSA account to cover up to $1,000 of health coaching services.

Individuals who work with a True Living integrative nutrition coach may have the option to pay for their coaching sessions using their HSA or FSA funds. Connect with the True Living team to see what coaching programs and payment options are available to help you reach your health goals.