Is a Sauna FSA Eligible: A Guide to Health and Savings

Saunas offer a simple and enjoyable way to develop a long-term wellness habit. Studies from all around the world have proven the versatile health benefits of regular, traditional sauna use. The best way to gain regular access to a sauna is by having one you can use in the privacy of your home. 

That said, purchasing a sauna can be a considerable expense. These days, there are options such as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to help you expend wellness purchases with a tax benefit. 

In this guide, we give you the lowdown on the intricacies of the FSA plan. This will help you understand the question is a sauna FSA eligible or not? Accordingly, you can select a suitable payment plan for your sauna regimen as soon as possible!

What is FSA and How Does it Work?

Medical expenses often crop up uninvited, and that's what FSAs, or Flexible Spending Accounts, are for. An FSA is often covered under an employee benefit plan. It sets aside money for a slew of medical expenses. 

The benefit is that you are not taxed for this spending from your accounts, leading to big savings at the end of the fiscal year. 

This pre-tax money can also be used to cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs for your dependants, i.e.:

• Spouse

• Children

• Parents

FSAs offer a nifty tax advantage but have certain limitations. They fall under the "use it or lose it" policy, which means you have a prescribed timeframe (the end of the year) to use the money. You'll need to forfeit the amount if you don't use it. 

A Note on HSA

If you've heard of FSA, you've probably also heard of the HSA plan (Health Savings Accounts). This is similar to FSA in that it also offers tax breaks for health-related savings but is available through a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

If unused, you can roll over your HSAs to the following year. This allows you to save your HSA and use it for major medical expenses, such as non-urgent surgeries or to buy health equipment. Due to this, the HSA is considered a more flexible plan than the FSA.

You're probably wondering if you can use FSA for any and every medical-related purchase. It's a bit more complicated than that. The money in your FSA account can only be used for qualified or eligible medical expenses as determined by the IRS. 

Let's take a look at what these are.

Paying With Your FSA Account

Your health plan often does not cover everyday medical expenses such as over-the-counter medication, reading glasses, or bandages. The good news is that you can pay for these medical sundries with your FSA account. 

Some other examples of expenses that are eligible under the FSA plan include:

• Swimming pool membership or passes

• Gym or personal training membership or passes

• Exercise equipment, including exercise bikes and treadmills

• Massage equipment used for recovery, e.g. foam rollers

• Medical devices such as heart rate monitors, blood glucose meters, or fitness trackers

• Braces and athletic tape

• Compression systems

• Menstrual care/hygiene products

You would have noticed that saunas are glaringly absent in the above list. This is because there are a few more caveats to spending from your FSA account. Let's understand whether a sauna is FSA eligible in the following section. 

Is a Sauna FSA/HSA Eligible?

The standard rule is that a sauna isn't HSA or FSA eligible, meaning you cannot use these accounts to pay for it. If you're found using your FSA or HSA accounts for ineligible items, you may be charged a 20% penalty and additional tax on the amount you've spent.

That said, there are also a few conditions you should be aware of, and here's how to verify them before making a purchase.

How to Check if a Sauna is FSA Eligible 

Whether or not you can purchase a sauna through your FSA account often depends on your employee plan. It's recommended to check the terms of your employer plan to see if your sauna purchase is covered.

Some expenses are eligible for reimbursement if they're used to treat, prevent, or diagnose a medical condition.

For instance, let's say your doctor has recommended a type of therapy to address your condition, such as sauna therapy. In such cases, a sauna can be FSA or HSA eligible if you obtain your healthcare provider's signed letter of medical necessity (LMN).

Another way to check if a sauna is FSA or HSA eligible is to consult your health insurance provider directly before purchasing.

While confirming eligibility, a good rule of thumb is to scan the manufacturer's website. If a manufacturer accepts payments through an FSA or HSA card, they would have done due diligence and mentioned it on their website. 

Whether or not you choose your FSA card to pay for your sauna purchase, ensure you maintain proper records of all your purchases. If the IRS audits you, these receipts or billing documents, along with any letters from your healthcare provider, will be used to substantiate the eligibility of your item.

Is a Sauna FSA Eligible?

Even though the consensus is that saunas aren't FSA eligible, they provide a host of health benefits. As such, they fall under the area of health and wellness expenses.

Saunas have long been considered a beneficial tool for physical and mental well-being. Let's recount their benefits for a better understanding:

Positive Effect on Heart Health

Did you know that bathing in a sauna can raise your heart rate from 60 to 70 beats per minute to nearly 120? This means your heart pumps more blood and has a higher cardiac output. 

This is because the high temperatures of a traditional sauna shock your body, raising its core temperature. This triggers a chain of responses that causes the blood vessels beneath your skin to dilate and circulate more blood. Post your sauna session, your heart maintains a lower resting heart rate, which is considered healthy. 

Medical research has also supported the effects of saunas on cardiovascular health. A long-term Finnish study found that regular sauna use reduced the risk of heart disease considerably. Those who used the sauna four to seven times per week had better heart health than those who did not.

Muscle Recovery and Pain Relief

Sauna bathing is known to emulate a "runner's high" of sorts, thanks to the abundant release of endorphins or "happy hormones" into the bloodstream. These endorphins can relieve pain and aches in joints. 

They can also promote speedy muscle recovery in athletes or those with minor injuries. The high temperatures in a sauna aid blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and promoting the body's healing process. 

This is one of the biggest reasons a sauna is highly recommended after a rigorous workout session. Per a clinical study, post-sauna workouts reduce inflammation and soreness by up to 47% in 24 hours. If you use a traditional sauna, the steam during the session also helps eliminate lactic acid, reducing muscle tension. 

Boosts Mental Well-Being

The adage "health is wealth" extends beyond physical health. You're only truly healthy when you're both mentally and physically fit. Saunas are here to help support this holistic wellness. 

Regular sauna use has been linked to a boost in cognitive abilities, such as improved concentration. Sauna bathing for just 15 minutes a day, at least twice or thrice a week, can help you relax and combat anxiety. 

A 2018 study researched the long-term link between regular sauna bathing (four to seven times a week) and psychotic disorders. Research showed that those who participated in sauna bathing regularly were less likely to develop chronic mental conditions and have psychotic episodes. 

Another study showed that regular sauna bathing at 176°F reduced the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia disorders.

Relieves Stress

Stress isn't just a state of mind. It's a legit physical reaction where your body releases cortisol, a stress hormone, into your blood. Chronic stress conditions can have devastating effects on our body, even leading to impaired immune function. 

When we expose our bodies to the high temperatures of a sauna, it suppresses the release of cortisol while amping up the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate our mood, causing us to feel less stressed, anxious, and more relaxed.

Acts as an Antioxidant

Our body is exposed to a great deal of toxins every day. They're absorbed into our skin unknowingly and can cause illnesses in the long run. Saunas help flush out these toxins through sweating. 

Deep sweating leads to the release of chemicals like:

• Zinc

• Mercury

• Copper

• Nickel

Aids in Better Sleep

Saunas have varying effects on our body, depending on the time of day we use them. When used in the morning, they have a "jumpstart" effect that energizes us. 

When you use them at the end of a long workday, they're the perfect tool to help you fall into a deep, restful sleep. The soothing heat, the sweating, and cooling off after an intensive bathing session can feel deeply relaxing, helping us unwind and nod off. 

However, there's more to it than that. 

Sauna use promotes the production of melatonin in our bodies. Melatonin is a "sleep-regulating hormone". When our core temperature rises in the sauna and then cools off, melatonin is produced. The result? You fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.

Boosts Immunity

Sauna bathing does wonders for your immunity. When our body is exposed to the intense heat in a sauna, it shocks the system into believing we have a fever. It produces an army of white blood cells to help annihilate the virus. Repeated sessions strengthen our body enough to battle and keep any incoming illnesses at bay. 

If you have congestion or a severe cold, soaking in a sauna can help you relieve some of the symptoms.

Improves Skin Health

Exposing your face to gentle steam is the oldest trick in the book for getting radiant facial skin. Imagine the wonders it would do for your skin if you were to sauna daily.

Sauna induces heavy sweating, flushing out toxins and dead cells that live on our skin. It also promotes skin cell regeneration, contributing to that rosy glow we all covet. The steam in a sauna helps open our pores. This improves capillary circulation and gives us younger-looking skin.

Looking Ahead: Is a Sauna FSA Eligible?

Saunas have the unique quality to make us feel good inside and out. It is a calming oasis with positive long-term physiological and mental effects. As such, it's a restorative form of treatment and deserves to qualify as an FSA eligible expense.

Even without FSA eligibility, having access to a sauna is a life-changing experience that one shouldn't pass up. 

If you're looking for a superior-quality sauna to enjoy in the comfort of your home, My Sauna World has a wide selection of traditional saunas.

Inculcate a wellness routine with your private sauna today. For more information, please contact us; we'll be happy to help you.