With complementary and alternative therapies being more widely accepted as legitimate medical services by many insurance carriers, clients who have FSA and/or HSA credit or debit cards may be able to use these to cover the expense of their health-related sessions. While most health plans clearly outline qualified medical expenses, the following steps are recommended to ensure approved coverage:
Ask your healthcare provider to write a prescription for the service (Reiki, TRE®, Meditation, Stress Management Consulting,...) that provides the following information:
- Reason for medical necessity (example: 'Anxiety', 'Pain')
- The number of treatments or recommendation frequency and duration (example: 'minimum of 2 sessions per month for 12 months')
- The modality (Reiki, TRE®, Meditation, Stress Management Consulting,...)
- The diagnosis code
- Request an itemized receipt from WMW for your sessions. A customized receipt to support your claim for coverage or reimbursement will be provided for you under your health plan's FSA/HSA and include any session notes, if necessary.
While insurance cards are not accepted, nor do we bill insurance companies directly, or process insurance claims, WMW will support your efforts to seek affordable, health-related complementary and alternative treatments to keep you healthy and feeling your best.
NOTE:
All services that an FSA or HSA card is used for must be for medical care. General health expenses are not qualified expenses. Nontraditional healing treatments provided by professionals may be eligible if provided to treat a specific medical condition. However, the IRS looks at these expenses very closely. The IRS could ask FSA or HSA owners for proof of a medical expense. It's recommended that you familiarize yourself with your specific insurance plan and health savings account and obtain a letter of medical necessity (LMN) and a prescription from a healthcare professional (physician, nurse, or other medical professional). However, be aware that having both of these still doesn't guarantee coverage.
IRS Publication 502 - provides a good definition of a qualified medical expense:
"Medical expenses are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. These expenses include payments for legal medical services rendered by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes. Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health such as vitamins or a vacation."
Stress reduction items are generally not qualified medical expenses because they are designed to improve general health rather than curing a particular illness or condition.
