Did you know your HSA may cover health coaching?

Did you know your Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can cover health coaching, but there are some important details to keep in mind.

When is Health Coaching Covered by an HSA?

For health coaching to be covered by an HSA, it typically needs to meet certain criteria:

1. Medical Necessity: The coaching must be related to a medical condition or aimed at improving health in a way that aligns with medical care. For instance:

   • Weight management or obesity coaching (for managing or preventing conditions like diabetes or heart disease)

   • Chronic disease management (such as hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol)

   • Smoking cessation or addiction counseling

   • Mental health coaching (if prescribed by a doctor for conditions like anxiety or depression)

2. Letter of Medical Necessity: To ensure the expense is covered, clients may need a letter from a healthcare provider (like a doctor) that states the health coaching is medically necessary. This documentation can help clarify that the coaching is aimed at addressing a specific health issue rather than general wellness.

What Types of Health Coaching Might Be Covered?

• Weight loss coaching if it is medically necessary for managing a chronic condition (like obesity or type 2 diabetes)

• Nutrition counseling to manage a medical condition such as hypertension or diabetes

• Chronic disease management coaching, like coaching for individuals with cardiovascular disease or diabetes

• Mental health support for conditions like stress, anxiety, or depression, if prescribed by a healthcare provider

What is Not Covered?

• General wellness or lifestyle coaching that isn’t linked to a medical condition may not be covered by an HSA. For example, if the health coaching is for general fitness, stress management, or purely preventative purposes without a clear connection to a medical condition, it may not qualify.

Best Practices:

1. Verify with HSA provider: You should confirm with their HSA provider or administrator to make sure health coaching qualifies under their specific plan.

2. Get a doctor’s note: As mentioned earlier, having a letter of medical necessity from a healthcare provider can help ensure the coaching is covered.

3. Keep detailed invoices: When providing health coaching, I will ensure that your invoices clearly describe the nature of the services provided, especially if they are being submitted for reimbursement. We will link you necessity of your coaching to your medical diagnosis such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension just to name a few.

In summary, health coaching can be covered by an HSA if it’s related to managing or treating a medical condition and can be documented appropriately. If you are uncertain, it’s a good idea to check with their HSA administrator and healthcare provider for more guidance.

If you have been considering Lifestyle Medicine coaching, but are concerned with the cost, be sure to check with your HSA provider to see if based on your medical diagnosis you may be able to have the coaching covered by your HSA savings.