07/13/2025
Did you know?
Prescribed personal training may be a qualified medical expense if a healthcare provider deems it medically necessary to treat or prevent a specific illness or physical/mental defect. This might include cases like:
Rehabilitation after an injury or surgery.
Management of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or obesity when exercise is a part of a prescribed treatment plan.
Addressing specific mobility or strength limitations.
Certain mental health conditions where exercise is part of the treatment.
However, personal training for general fitness, bodybuilding, weight loss without a medical diagnosis of obesity, or athletic performance is not usually considered a qualified medical expense.
To qualify, you'll need:
A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your doctor explaining your diagnosed medical condition, why personal training is medically necessary, the recommended duration and frequency, and how it will help treat your condition.
Documentation showing your doctor is monitoring your progress.
You can then use funds from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for the personal training sessions. However, traditional health insurance plans generally do not cover personal training.
In the context of health equity, which aims to ensure that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, making prescribed personal training a qualified medical expense can be crucial. It could reduce financial barriers for individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities who need medically-tailored exercise programs but may not otherwise be able to afford them.
It's always essential to consult with your doctor and your benefits administrator to confirm if prescribed personal training qualifies as a medical expense under your specific plan and circumstances.
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Hi there!I'm writing to you because I just had a client ask me if their personal training sessions could be covered by their insurance. As someone who is always trying to stay ahead of the curve, I thought it might be helpful for me to share my thoughts on this with everyone.The short answer is “y...