You may be wondering about office furniture coverage under your insurance plan—specifically, paying for an Altwork Station with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). It’s actually very common, as there are countless health benefits of an Altwork Station. The Altwork Station can improve blood flow, decrease pain and inflammation, reduce stress, as well as provide benefits to your heart.

Let’s take a look at the world of healthcare to explain how you can pay for an Altwork Station through your health insurance plan with pre-tax dollars.

HSA vs FSA: What Are They?

Before we discuss the process of getting an Altwork Station with your insurance plan, let’s do a quick overview of HSAs and FSAs. These are healthcare arrangements that allow you to set aside money for medical costs, such as: deductibles, prescriptions, copayments, and co-insurance. This is money you don't pay taxes on. 

This fact sheet give you a detailed list of what costs are considered “medical expenses,” from the IRS. In some cases, an employer will contribute money to your HSA or FSA each year. Both of these plans have a considerable amount of fine print you’ll want to consider. We recommend you talk to your HR department about any questions you have.

FSA and HSA healthcare plans often come with a debit card that includes your (and your employer’s) contributions. Usually, you won’t have to worry about being reimbursed, because your funds will already be on the flexible debit card. This money can be spent on any of the above medical costs.

Why Would You Want an HSA or FSA?

There are numerous benefits to these health accounts. HSAs and FSAs help automate your savings for medical expenses. 

There are also tax benefits for these accounts. When it comes to HSA and FSA, any contributions you make are pre-tax, which helps you save a lot of money in the long run.

HSAs also rollover, meaning you can take any savings you’ve made for the year and apply them to the next year. FSAs, on the other hand, do not rollover. You don't want to wait too long, because the set amount you put aside will go away if it isn't spent before December 31.

There are a couple of differences between FSA and HSA overall, but as it pertains to paying for an Altwork Station, they work the same.

Can I use an HSA or FSA an Altwork Station?

An Alwork Station can be covered by your insurance plan, whether you use an HSA or FSA. You will want to follow these steps to make sure you’re qualified.

1. Start with HR

Reach out to your HR department or medical insurance carrier, and ask if ergonomic office furniture is considered a covered expense. In some cases, an insurance policy won’t cover office furniture, even if you get a letter of  medical necessity (LMN) from a doctor.

2. Doctor visit

Once you’ve gotten the go-ahead from your insurance provider, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Pro-tip for this step of the process: Don’t start by just saying you want an Altwork Station. First, you'll need to explain your symptoms.

There are a wide variety of physical conditions that could qualify for an Altwork Station. Circulation issues caused by hypertension or diabetes, sciatica, fibromyalgia, and chronic back pain are all examples that could qualify for an Altwork Station.

Preparation is essential for this discussion, don’t be afraid to bring case studies of people who’ve alleviated similar symptoms through the use of an Altwork Station (our reviews speak for themselves).

3. Get a letter of medical necessity

Once you have talked this over with your doctor, you’ll need them to write a LMN for an Altwork Station. In your insurance carrier's eyes, this acts as proof that you need an HSA or FSA Altwork Station.

Getting a LMN is easier than it sounds, healthcare providers often write LMN for things like ergonomic office furniture without requiring an in-person doctor visit.

4. Use Your FSA or HSA for an Altwork Station

Now that you have a LMN, you can purchase an Altwork Station. We suggest chatting with us on our website prior to purchasing so we can make sure you have everything you need.

Since your FSA funds expire at the end of the year, you'll want to get the most out of your benefits before time runs out. This way, you’ll can get the biggest bang from your insurance bucks.