The deadline, the 2026 carryover and grace-period rules, and how to use leftover FSA money on training the right way.
Every fall, a lot of people check their Flexible Spending Account and find money left over. Most health FSAs are "use it or lose it," so the question becomes what you can spend it on in time. Personal training can be one answer, but only in the right circumstances. HipTrain wrote this guide. We're HSA / FSA eligible, and we'll be straight about when training qualifies and when it doesn't.
You can use FSA money for personal training when a doctor prescribes it to treat a specific diagnosed condition, usually documented in a Letter of Medical Necessity. For most calendar-year plans, the deadline is December 31. Your employer may offer a grace period of up to 2.5 months or let you carry over up to $680 of 2026 money, but not both. Sessions must take place during your coverage period, not just be paid for.
For 2026, the IRS also raised the health FSA contribution limit to $3,400. Your employer can set a lower carryover than $680 or none at all, so look up your plan's exact rules. Some plans also give you extra time after the year ends to send in claims for expenses you already had. Ask yours.
FSAs use the same definition of medical care as the rest of the tax code. IRS Publication 502 says you can't include health club dues or amounts paid "to improve one's general health." But it does allow amounts paid to lose weight when it's treatment for "a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease)." The IRS FAQ on wellness expenses adds that exercise for general health doesn't qualify "even if recommended by a doctor."
So general fitness training doesn't qualify. Training that your doctor says is part of treating a diagnosed condition can. FSAs also require proof: Pub 969 says you must give your FSA a written statement from an independent third party showing the expense and its amount. For training, that usually means a Letter of Medical Necessity plus receipts.
Say you have $500 left and a December 31 deadline. If you start in early October, you have about 13 weeks. Here's what that could buy with HipTrain's live 1-on-1 video sessions:
That's about $14 a session for 30 minutes and about $25 for 60. HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible, and your first session is free with no credit card, so you can make sure you like your coach before spending FSA money. As always, confirm eligibility with your own plan. Reimbursement is never guaranteed.
"I LOVE my trainer! He is leading me to improve my stamina and balance after hip replacement at a cost I can afford." (Helene B., Google review)
Be realistic. If you don't have a diagnosed condition that exercise is treating, personal training likely won't qualify, and you're better off spending your FSA on clearly eligible items like copays, prescriptions or glasses. Don't buy training you wouldn't otherwise use just to beat a deadline. HipTrain also isn't the fit if you need physical therapy, in-person sessions or nutrition coaching, which we don't offer.
For most calendar-year plans, unspent money is lost unless your plan has a grace period (up to 2.5 extra months) or a carryover (up to $680 from 2026 into 2027). Check which one your employer offers.
Usually not in a way that helps. FSAs reimburse expenses when the service happens, not when you pay. Plan for sessions that take place before your deadline or within your grace period.
Generally no. IRS rules treat gym dues as general health spending. The exception is when it's solely to treat a specific diagnosed disease, documented by your doctor.
The eligibility rules are the same. The big difference is deadlines: FSA money expires, while HSA money generally carries over year to year. See our HSA personal trainer guide.
The same rules apply online and in person. What matters is whether the training treats a diagnosed condition and whether your plan accepts the documentation, not where the coach is. HipTrain is HSA / FSA eligible, but check with your plan first.
No. That was the 2024 figure. It was $660 for 2025 plan years and is $680 for 2026, per the IRS. (So 2025 money you carried into 2026 was capped at $660.)
Have FSA money and a doctor's go-ahead? Try your first HipTrain session free before you spend a cent. No credit card needed.
We checked these IRS figures in October 2026. Rules and plan terms change, so confirm with your FSA administrator before you buy.