Introduction
Infrared Saunas use safe and beneficial infrared light to penetrate two to three inches below the skin’s surface, which helps with detoxification and stress relief. With Infrared Saunas becoming increasingly popular, many people are asking if they are FSA eligible.
In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages of infrared saunas and if they are eligible for FSA coverage.
Overview of Infrared Saunas
An infrared sauna is where the heat source does not depend on regular air being heated but instead uses invisible infrared light waves being absorbed directly by our skin. It allows for deeper heat penetration and offers many health benefits, such as improved circulation and metabolism, muscle relaxation, and relief from joint pain.
Infrared saunas work by emitting far-infrared light (FIR), which has a longer wavelength than the conventional air or steam saunas used in traditional saunas. The wavelength of FIR reaches two to five micrometers, which is much shorter than visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and X-rays. This type of light energy has been used in medical treatments for many years.
In addition to the health benefits of this type of sauna, there is some debate about whether infrared saunas qualify as eligible health care expenses under Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Therefore, before purchasing one of these units, several important factors must be considered, including the types available on the market and the associated operational costs.
Benefits of Infrared Saunas
Infrared saunas provide a wide range of health and wellness benefits. They can help improve your circulation, boost your immune system, reduce fatigue, and assist your body in performing natural healing processes. Infrared saunas can also help reduce stress, relieve joint and muscle pain, and detoxify your body.
In this article, we will be exploring the many benefits of infrared saunas:
Health Benefits
Infrared saunas are a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which warms your body. Infrared saunas, on the other hand, directly warm your body through light waves. This type of infrared technology has numerous potential health benefits, from boosting cardiovascular fitness to relieving pain and improving skin tone.
The number one benefit of infrared saunas is improved cardiovascular fitness. Research shows that time spent in an infrared sauna is equivalent to low-intensity exercises, such as taking a slow walk. As with training, regular use of an infrared sauna can help improve your overall cardiovascular fitness levels by strengthening your heart and increasing circulation. Everyday use also helps lower blood pressure levels.
Infrared saunas are also used by people seeking pain relief from various medical conditions, such as joint inflammation or tension headaches. A bonus is that the heat generated in an infrared sauna can penetrate up to three inches into the body’s tissues and muscles, loosening them and relieving these types of aches and pains more quickly than a traditional dry or steam sauna would be able to do alone.
Another benefit associated with infrared saunas is improved skin tone. The increased sweat production from regular use has been shown to naturally detoxify the skin by releasing deep-set dirt and debris from the pores, leading to clearer skin over time. In addition, the heat produced during infrared therapy may also stimulate collagen production, helping reduce dark spots and wrinkles for younger-looking skin!
Finally, studies have shown that regular use of an infrared sauna can boost immunity too! The increase in core temperature encourages white blood cells—the cells responsible for protecting us against illness—to travel around our bodies faster than normal, quickly targeting pathogens before they have a chance to take hold.
Stress Relief
Infrared saunas are a great way to keep your stress levels low. The sauna’s heat increases your heart rate, triggering relaxation responses. It helps reduce mental and physical stress and is especially helpful when recovering from a stressful event or situation.
It warm penetrates deep into your body’s tissue, relieving pain, inflammation, and stiffness in muscles and joints. Additionally, infrared saunas produce a warming effect on the surface level of your skin while they remove toxins from your cells below. As a result, it helps reduce anxiety, irritability, fatigue, and even depression.
Infrared saunas sessions can also provide increased benefits when used along with relaxation methods such as
- breathing exercises
- meditation
To further relax and rest muscles for ultimate relief of stress.
FSA Eligibility
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a great way to save money on out-of-pocket healthcare costs. A wide variety of healthcare products and services are eligible for coverage under FSAs. Regarding infrared sauna therapy, one may wonder if the costs associated with this type of therapy are eligible for reimbursement with an FSA. This section will look into FSA eligibility for infrared sauna treatments.
What is an FSA?
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a particular account you set up with your employer-sponsored health plan to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, vision, and dental expenses. It provides an easy way to pay for qualified healthcare expenses with pre-tax money from your paycheck.
The funds in FSA accounts roll over from year to year, and there are two main types: healthcare FSA (HFSA) and dependent care FSA (DCFSA). Both types provide tax savings since employees do not pay taxes on funds in an eligible FSA account.
- An HFSA generally covers doctor’s office visits, copays, deductibles, medications, eyeglasses, and prescriptions.
- DCFSAs cover reasonable care expenses related to childcare or elder care services such as daycare or nursing home costs.
It’s essential to check with your employer’s HR department or benefits provider before making any purchases using an eligible flexible spending account, as there may be limits on what items may be purchased. For example, infrared saunas may be covered depending on your employer’s plan provisions.
Are Infrared Saunas Eligible?
Infrared saunas are increasingly becoming popular when looking to improve overall health and well-being. As a result, many consumers may ask if they are Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) eligible to use their pre-tax dollars to cover the cost of purchasing an infrared sauna.
The answer is that infrared saunas are generally not considered eligible for FSA reimbursement as it is not currently regarded as reasonable medical expense by the IRS. However, the exact rules for FSA reimbursement vary by plan document, and there may be exceptions. Hence, verifying your specific coverage with your administrator before purchasing is essential.
Even though infrared saunas do not currently qualify for FSA reimbursement, there are still several other ways to benefit from them, such as:
- Reduced stress
- Improved sleep
- Detoxification of toxins and pollutants from the body
- Relaxation of sore muscles
- Increased circulation
With an array of benefits like these, many have found them particularly helpful during this time of uncertainty.
How to Use Your FSA
Employers offer Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to help employees save money on qualified medical expenses. FSA funds can be used to purchase various products, including infrared saunas. This article will discuss properly using your FSA to buy an infrared sauna and other eligible items.
How to Submit a Claim
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a great way to save on healthcare costs. With an FSA, you can put pre-tax money away to cover out-of-pocket health and dental expenses throughout the year. However, FSAs can be tricky, so it’s essential to understand how to use the money correctly. Here’s what you need to know about submitting an FSA claim:
- Before submitting a claim, make sure your expense is eligible for reimbursement. Not all expenses will qualify for reimbursement from your FSA account; in many cases, only medical or dental expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income can be covered with FSA funds. Check with your plan administrator if you are unsure whether or not an expense qualifies as eligible.
- After confirming your expense is eligible, you must collect documentation of your purchase(s) to submit a claim form and receive reimbursement from your FSA account. It may include original receipts, invoices, or other proof of payment issued by the service provider (e.g., doctor, hospital). Ensure all documents contain the date of service, type of service received, and the itemized list of services provided/items purchased (if applicable).
- When completing the claim form, provide detailed information about the expense in question, including date(s), who received service/who purchased item(s), type of the service supplied/item purchased, and total amount paid out-of-pocket by you or another health plan participant (spouse or dependent). Additionally, attach a copy of all supporting documentation showing proof of purchase; some benefit providers require original documents, while others may accept copies and digital images.
- Once you’ve completed and submitted a claim form with relevant supporting evidence, processing can take up to 2 weeks before any reimbursements will be sent back into your FSA account or out directly to you via paper check or direct deposit set up with the provider. Following the submission period, wait times vary by health plan provider, so check with the outlined timeline from the Benefit Provider statement before receipt request submission.
How to Get Reimbursed
Receiving reimbursement from your FSA account is straightforward: submit a claim form to your FSA provider. However, it’s important to remember that specific rules and restrictions apply when using an FSA account.
To get reimbursed, you must first provide proof of purchase and proper documentation when filing a claim. It includes receipts or an explanation of benefits (EOB) from your health plan showing the service date, type or category of service, and cost. Furthermore, all claims must be submitted in writing – typically, this is done via the claim form on your provider’s website or by mail.
You must check with your provider for specific rules on eligible expenses and reimbursement procedures. For example, some plans may have additional requirements, such as prior approval from the provider or using participating providers, for expenses to be eligible for reimbursement. Additionally, some treatments may not qualify for coverage, such as infrared sauna sessions; always check with your FSA provider if you have questions about specific treatments being covered by the plan.
Conclusion
After analyzing the pros and cons of infrared sauna therapy, it is essential to note that it can be incredibly beneficial for people with certain health issues. Although infrared saunas may not be eligible for FSA coverage, the positive health effects of using infrared saunas for physical, mental, and emotional health may still make it a worthwhile investment.
Summary of Benefits
An infrared sauna can offer users a variety of health benefits. These include improved circulation, detoxifying toxins and heavy metals, potentially reduced inflammation, alleviating muscle and joint pain, improved skin complexion, and improved immune system functioning. Additionally, studies suggest that using an infrared sauna may reduce stress levels.
Since the numerous benefits are far-reaching, many may wonder if infrared saunas are FSA-eligible. The answer is yes; infrared saunas qualify as Section 213(d) preventive care expenses for FSAs and HSAs so long as the purchase is for medical use by you or your dependents (if any). It means qualified expenses associated with an infrared sauna may be tax deductible through a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), or another IRS-approved medical plan. However, it’s important to note that each project will have a list of approved products and services; it’s best to check with your employer to find out what your plan covers.