The Secret to Saving Big on Healthcare: Turn Everyday Expenses into FSA/HSA Gold

Healthcare is Gold

Created by Christopher Caffrey, ACNP, PMHNP

February 24th 2025

Imagine this: You’ve just signed up for CrossFit because you’re tired of pretending to be okay with your sedentary lifestyle. You’re in the throes of enthusiasm—kettlebell swings, burpees, and the sweet sweet agony that is “wall balls.” But then, reality strikes. You do the math and $2,000 a year for your membership? Oh no. That’s a lot of protein shakes and avocado toast. Same goes for Orange Theory and that fancy health club…costs add up and we are just trying to be healthy.

But hold on. What if I told you that you could use that $2,000 to your advantage, making it pretax money? And no, this isn’t some kind of financial wizardry or a loophole you need to hide from the IRS. It’s all perfectly legal, thanks to FlexUp Wellness and their magic letter of medical necessity (LMN).

If you’re scratching your head right now thinking, “I can’t use my FSA or HSA for a CrossFit membership,” then, my friend, buckle up. You’re in for a wild ride.

The FSA/HSA Goldmine You Never Knew About

FSA and HSA accounts are the financial equivalent of a secret treasure chest—if you know where to look and what to do with it. These accounts let you put money aside before taxes, saving you anywhere from 20-30% on eligible medical expenses. That’s right: your medical expenses can actually be cheaper. But here’s the twist: a lot of people think they can only use these accounts for doctor visits, prescriptions, and the occasional eye exam. Nope. You can actually use these funds for a lot of stuff that might surprise you—and definitely stuff that’ll improve your health in ways you’ve never thought of.

Let’s take CrossFit, for example. Everyone loves a good workout plan, but not everyone loves the price tag that comes with it. $2,000 a year for CrossFit is steep—unless, of course, you use FlexUp Wellness to get a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), and boom, that $2,000 is now eligible for FSA/HSA coverage. All of a sudden, your $2,000 gym membership is practically half off, thanks to those sweet, sweet tax savings.

And CrossFit isn’t the only thing FlexUp Wellness can help you with. Buckle up, because the savings train is leaving the station.

Therapeutic Mattress: $4,000? More Like $2,800

Let’s talk about something near and dear to all of our backs: the therapeutic mattress. You know, the one that promises to cure your chronic back pain, give you perfect sleep, and leave you feeling like you’ve just been reborn every morning. But at $4,000–$5,000 for a mattress, it’s not exactly an impulse buy, right?

But hold on a second—imagine if you could use your FSA or HSA for that mattress. That’s where FlexUp Wellness comes in with another handy-dandy LMN. You’ll get an online health evaluation (because let’s face it, you do want to talk to someone about that nagging back pain), and if your mattress is deemed medically necessary, you’re all set. The price? Well, now your mattress could be eligible for pre-tax reimbursement. You’re essentially saving about 30% on that mattress. Those savings add up fast, and before you know it, that $4,000 mattress only cost you around $2,800. Sounds like a dream, right?

Now, imagine this happening year after year. At the end of five years, your therapeutic mattress is now 30% cheaper—meaning you’ve saved over $1,200. That’s like getting a full-on spa treatment every year for the rest of your life.

Athletic Greens: The $1,000 Green Drink You Can Actually Afford

Alright, let’s talk about something that’s been a hot topic for a while now: supplements. Specifically, the holy grail of health supplements—Athletic Greens. It’s that super green, all-in-one powder that promises to make you feel like you’re literally glowing from the inside out. But here’s the kicker: it’s not cheap. A full year’s supply costs about $1,000.

Now, you could just keep shelling out that $1,000 and hope you see results. Or, you could use FlexUp Wellness to get a Letter of Medical Necessity, and boom, you’re using pre-tax dollars for that pricey green goodness. That’s like getting a massive discount without even trying.

And here’s the real kicker—if you’re already using these supplements as part of a holistic health plan, it’s probably pretty easy to convince FlexUp Wellness that they’re medically necessary. With the right documentation, you could be saving 30% on that $1,000 supplement bill, meaning you're paying $700 instead of the full $1,000.

And just like the mattress example, the savings here can add up fast. If you’re planning on sticking with these health supplements long-term (spoiler: you probably are), that’s at least $300 in savings every year.

Mushroom Coffee: Because Regular Coffee Wasn’t Doing Enough

Now, for the more “out-there” expense: mushroom coffee. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s basically coffee with medicinal mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps. It’s like coffee with a side of health benefits. It’s supposed to be good for mental clarity, focus, and general well-being—basically, it’s coffee for people who like to feel superior about their health choices.

But here’s the thing: at $500 a year, mushroom coffee is definitely a splurge. If you drink it daily, it adds up quickly. But with FlexUp Wellness and their LMN, you can potentially get that mushroom coffee covered by your FSA/HSA. Once again, you’re saving that sweet 30% on your $500 annual coffee habit. So instead of coughing up $500 for something that may just feel like an overpriced health trend, you’re paying around $350.

The Real Magic of FlexUp Wellness

Now that I’ve convinced you that you can use your FSA/HSA for all these not-so-typical health-related expenses, here’s where FlexUp Wellness really shines: the cost savings. FlexUp offers three letters of medical necessity for one price, meaning you can cover multiple expenses at once (hello, CrossFit and supplements). And if you return year after year? You get a discount on future years’ LMN evaluations. Essentially, you're saving money on the savings you already got.

So let’s break it down:

1. CrossFit Membership: $2,000/year → $1,400 after LMN ($600 savings).

2. Therapeutic Mattress: $4,000 → $2,800 after LMN ($2,200 savings).

3. Athletic Greens Supplement: $1,000/yr → $700 after LMN ($300 savings).

4. Mushroom Coffee: $500/yr → $350 after LMN ($250 savings).

5. Pelaton anything: $1,200-$6,000 → after LMN save on average 30%.

…and many other health related costs that are beneficial.

To give you an idea, I personally save around $1,350 a year using 6 LMN's.

The Bottom Line: Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until December 31

There’s one key thing to keep in mind here: FlexUp Wellness helps you save money every year. As you continue to make these purchases, the savings keep stacking up. And it’s not just about saving on the things you want to buy. It’s about saving on the things that improve your health—the things that you might already be buying, but now, you’re getting a little more bang for your buck.

If you’re thinking, “But wait, isn’t there a catch?” Nope. No catch. Just a letter of medical necessity after a simple online health evaluation, and boom, you’re saving on expenses you were going to make anyway.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your FSA/HSA balance in December, hoping you don’t lose those funds, FlexUp Wellness is here to turn that all-around. So, whether you’re into CrossFit, supplements, therapeutic mattresses, or even mushroom coffee, FlexUp Wellness can help you save money—and feel better while doing it.

Trust me, this is the year you’re going to get ahead on your health spending—and your savings. So stop panic-buying Band-Aids, and start using your FSA/HSA like a pro.