Can I Use FSA/HSA to Pay for My Vibration Plate?

June 12, 2025

by Jackie Wicks

Whether you’re looking to lose weight, relieve pain, enhance your athletic performance, or just improve your balance and flexibility, vibration plates can be a powerful tool for achieving a wide number of health benefits.

While there’s no question that anyone can benefit from using a vibration plate, you might be wondering if you can use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to purchase a Power Plate vibration plate. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know when it comes to FSA/HSA and vibration plates.

Understanding FSAs and HSAs

We know you’re here for the vibration plates, but before we get into that it’s important to go over what exactly FSAs and HSAs are, what they’re typically used for, and how to use them.

What Is an FSA?

An FSA is a special account offered through employer health plans that allows you to set aside pre-tax money for certain eligible health care expenses. This money is deducted directly from your paycheck, with some employers also making contributions (although there is no requirement to do so).

Key facts about FSAs:

FSAs are limited to $3,300 per year (as of 2025) per employer. If you’re married and your spouse also has an FSA plan, they can contribute up to an additional $3,300, for a grand household total of $6,600.
Money in an FSA generally must be used within the plan year, as it’s a “use-it-or-lose-it” rule situation. There are, however, two potential exceptions your employer may offer (but once again are not required to):

1. A grace period of up to two and a half additional months.
2. A carry-over amount of up to $660 per year (as of 2025) to use the following year.

An FSA is employer-dependent — that means it is only available if your employer offers it, and also that the account is technically owned by your employer, not you. Should you leave or lose your job, any money in the account is forfeited as it is not portable.

What Is an HSA?

An HSA is a type of savings account that allows you to put money aside for eligible medical expenses on a tax-free basis. While it’s similar to an FSA, it has some differentiating features.

Key facts about HSAs:

Anyone can contribute to an HSA if covered by an HSA-eligible plan (also known as a High Deductible Health Plan [HDHP])
HSAs carry over year to year, meaning the funds don’t expire and don’t have to be used.
Unlike an FSA, HSAs are portable, so you retain the account and funds even if you change jobs or retire.
HSAs are more flexible in how much you can contribute. The following are contribution limits as of 2025:
- For self-coverage, the maximum HSA contribution is $4,300 per year.
- For family coverage, the maximum contribution is $8,550 per year.
- For anyone 55 or older, you can contribute an extra $1,000 per year, known as a “catch-up” contribution.
If you take money from an HSA before the age of 65 for non-qualifying reasons, you’ll pay federal income tax on the amount, plus a 20% tax penalty. If you take money out for non-qualifying reasons after the age of 65, you’ll have to pay only the federal income tax on the amount.

What Can You Typically Use FSA/HSA Funds For?

Per the IRS, FSAs and HSAs are “designed to give individuals tax advantages to offset health care costs” and can be used for certain medical and dental expenses. Medical expenses are defined by the IRS as “the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the purpose of affecting any part or function of the body.”

As for what you can use the funds for, there’s a long list of FSA and HSA eligible expenses, with certain items requiring a prescription or additional supporting paperwork in the form of a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). When it comes to equipment like vibration plates, LMNs are particularly important, which we’ll cover in greater depth a little later.

Are Vibration Plates FSA/HSA Eligible?

Now to the question you’ve been waiting for, can you use your FSA or HSA funds for a vibration plate? The answer is yes, but there’s a bit more you need to know before you make your purchase.

The Key Factor: Medical Necessity

The key factor in making exercise equipment FSA/HSA eligible is whether that equipment can be deemed a medical necessity. What makes something a medical necessity? It must be able to help address a medical condition under the definition above (diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent).

Some conditions that may support eligibility include the following, :

Obesity
Chronic pain
Diabetes
Neuropathy
High blood pressure
Mental health

Do You Need a Doctor’s Note or Prescription?

While it depends on the exact expense you’re using your funds for, many treatments, services, and equipment will require a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity. An LMN is an official letter provided by a licensed healthcare provider, outlining how a certain medical condition necessitates the use of a product, service, or treatment. When it comes to using funds in an FSA or HSA, LMNs are required for expenses beyond standard medical costs — meaning you’ll need one in order to use your funds for equipment like a vibration plate.

Although the letter must be written by a licensed medical provider, there are a few key components you’ll want to ensure the letter includes, such as:

Patient information, including the diagnosed medical condition.
The patient’s medical history, outlining the patient’s condition as it pertains to the requested equipment.
Details on how the requested equipment will be used and the expected benefits.
An explanation as to why the equipment is considered medically necessary.

Note that LMNs are usually only valid for one year, so any purchases made after that period will require a new LMN.

Consult With Your FSA/HSA Provider

Before making a purchase with your FSA or HSA account, consult with a healthcare provider to make sure the product you are looking to purchase is eligible. Also, make sure that you have the proper documentation, including proof of your condition and an LMN covering why the product is necessary.

Be sure to clarify with your provider what you’re hoping to purchase, as general items such as sports equipment (like a tennis racket) aren’t eligible. It’s important to check beforehand, so that you don’t end up making a purchase that can’t be reimbursed or violates FSA/HSA rules.

How to Purchase a Power Plate with FSA or HSA Funds

We’ve determined that with the proper LMN, a Power Plate vibration plate can qualify as eligible medical equipment for your FSA or HSA funds. So, the next question is, how do you actually use those funds to purchase your Power Plate? Let’s get into it.

Using Your FSA/HSA Card at Checkout

When it comes time to purchase your vibration plate, you’ll have a few options for making sure your payment is covered by your FSA or HSA account.

If you already have an LMN, one option is to make your purchase directly on powerplate.com using your FSA or HSA debit card. If you don’t have access to your card, you may also make your purchase and then submit your receipt to your employer for reimbursement (with an FSA) or reimburse yourself for the expense out of your HSA.

Another option is to use TrueMed to checkout through the Power Plate website. This is particularly beneficial for those in need of an LMN, as TrueMed will conduct a quick two-minute assessment that helps you qualify for an LMN. For this method, you’ll just need to follow these simple steps:

Choose the vibration plate you want and add it to your cart.
At checkout, locate the payment method marked as “TrueMed - Pay with HSA/FSA.”
Complete a quick, private health survey in order to qualify for an LMN.
Pay with your FSA/HSA card or a credit card. (Note: When using a credit card, follow the instructions included in your LMN to submit a request for reimbursement.

And just like that, your brand new vibration plate will be on its way, and you’ll likely have saved an average of 30% on your purchase.

Saving Receipts and Documentation

When using your FSA/HSA, it’s important to stay on top of your receipts and documents, including keeping proof of purchase and the corresponding LMN for tax or plan audits. For those without an FSA or HSA card, you’ll want to keep multiple copies of your receipt, as you’ll need them for reimbursement purposes, whether you’re submitting it to your employer (with an FSA) or keeping it as proof for self-reimbursement (with an HSA).

Why Power Plate Is a Smart Health Investment

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to using your FSA or HSA funds, so it’s important you find something that can help with your needs. For many people, a Power Plate can be the perfect FSA/HSA-eligible device to help meet their health needs.

Here’s why:

FDA-Registered Medical Device: Supports legitimacy for FSA/HSA use.
Proven Benefits Beyond Fitness: Vibration therapy supports circulation, mobility, recovery, and overall wellness. It’s also scientifically proven to help reduce pain and address other conditions affecting quality of life.
Trusted by Health Pros Worldwide: Used in medical and rehab settings across the globe.

Explore Power Plate’s Collection of Whole-Body Vibration Devices

Whether you’re a seasoned Power Plate user or just starting your vibration plate health journey, Power Plate has a variety of whole body vibration machines engineered to help you get fit, reduce pain, improve circulation, and discover more ways to improve your health. Browse our collection to find the right model for you and start feeling better, stronger, and more supported — possibly with FSA/HSA funds!

Sources:

HealthCare.gov. Using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). https://www.healthcare.gov/have-job-based-coverage/flexible-spending-accounts/

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. What’s a Health Savings Account? https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/outreach-and-education/health-savings-account.pdf

IRS. Publication 969 (2024), Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969

IRS. Publication 502 (2024). Medical and Dental Expenses. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf

FSA Store. Exercise Equipment: FSA Eligibility. https://fsastore.com/fsa-eligibility-list/e/exercise-equipment

Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. Whole body vibration improves symptoms of diabetic peripheral Neuropathy. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0362/1139/2645/files/Whole_body_vibration_improves_symptoms_of_diabetic_peripheral_neuropathy.pdf?v=1705070204

Truemed. What is a Letter of Medical Necessity? A Step-by-Step Guide. https://www.truemed.com/blog/letter-of-medical-necessity-example

FSAFEDS.gov. Your Savings Add Up. https://www.fsafeds.gov/explore/

Power Plate. Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Flexibility and Stiffness. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0362/1139/2645/files/Power-Plate-Research-Card-Fowler-2019.pdf?v=1678772997

Power Plate Healthcare. Whole Body Vibration Enhances Recovery After ACL Reconstruction. https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0362/1139/2645/files/whole-body-vibration-enhances-recovery-after-acl-reconstruction.pdf?v=1586151105