Paying for a Wheelchair with Your HSA or FSA
Last updated: · Reviewed by Christian Grothe
How HSAs and FSAs work, how to get one, what qualifies at Strongback, and how to pay.
IRS Publication 502 lists a wheelchair used for the relief of a sickness or disability as a medical expense, and the cost of operating and maintaining it as well. That means you can pay for a Strongback wheelchair or transport chair with money from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Flexible Spending Account (FSA). Your plan administrator decides what your plan pays for. This guide explains how the two accounts work, how to get one, what qualifies and how to pay.
Questions? Call us at +1 757 349 7790 or email usa@strongbackmobility.com. A live person answers the phone from 10am to 3pm EST, Monday to Friday, and messages left outside those hours are returned by the next business day or sooner.
What HSAs and FSAs Are
Both accounts hold money you set aside before income tax to pay for medical costs. If you pay for a chair from your HSA or FSA, you pay with that pre-tax money.
| HSA (Health Savings Account) | FSA (Flexible Spending Account) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who offers it | A bank or other HSA provider, often through your employer | Your employer |
| Who can open one | People enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan (see below) | Employees whose employer offers an FSA |
| 2026 contribution limit | 4,400 USD with a self-only plan, 8,750 USD with a family plan, plus 1,000 USD if you are 55 or older | 3,400 USD per employee |
| 2027 contribution limit | 4,500 USD with a self-only plan, 9,000 USD with a family plan, plus 1,000 USD if you are 55 or older | Not yet announced by the IRS |
| Unused money | Stays in your account, year after year | Lost at the end of the plan year, unless your plan lets you carry over up to 680 USD from 2026 into 2027 or gives you a grace period of up to two and a half months. A plan can offer one of the two, not both |
| If you change jobs | The account and the money stay yours | The account usually ends with the job |
How to Get an HSA or FSA
Getting an FSA
An FSA is a benefit your employer offers. You sign up during your employer's open enrollment period, or after a life event such as marriage or the birth of a child if your plan allows a change then. You choose how much to set aside for the year, and that amount comes out of your paychecks before tax. Ask your HR or benefits team whether an FSA is offered.
Getting an HSA
To pay into an HSA, you need to be enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan, usually called a high deductible health plan (HDHP). Since January 1, 2026, bronze and catastrophic plans also count, including plans bought on HealthCare.gov or your state's marketplace. You open the account at a bank or other HSA provider, or through your employer if it offers one.
There are further conditions. For example, you generally cannot be enrolled in a second health plan that is not an HDHP, and nobody else may claim you as a tax dependent. IRS Publication 969 lists them all.
Who You Can Buy For
You can use your HSA or FSA for yourself, your spouse and your tax dependents. Buying a chair for a parent is only possible if that parent is your tax dependent.
What Qualifies at Strongback
| Product | HSA/FSA view |
|---|---|
| Wheelchairs and transport chairs (Comfort, Comfort S, Comfort Flip, ErgoSteel, Heavy Duty, Excursion) | Eligible. IRS Publication 502 lists a wheelchair used for the relief of a sickness or disability as a medical expense. |
| Spare parts (casters, wheel locks, hand rims, upholstery, leg rests and more) | Eligible. IRS Publication 502: "The cost of operating and maintaining the wheelchair is also a medical expense." |
| SEATA rollator | IRS Publication 502 does not name rollators. Ask your plan administrator whether your plan accepts the SEATA before you order. |
| Accessories (backpack, travel storage bags, cane holder, seatbelt) | May not qualify. |
Some plans ask for a letter of medical necessity before they pay out, and others do not. Check with your plan administrator before you order.
How to Pay for Your Strongback with HSA or FSA Money
Online at strongbackmobility.com
Pay with any card at checkout. Then send your order confirmation to your plan administrator and ask to be paid back from your HSA or FSA. Keep the confirmation with your tax records.
At a Strongback Retailer
Ask the store whether it accepts HSA or FSA cards. If it does not, pay normally and send the receipt to your plan administrator. Find a Strongback retailer near you.
Timing: Use Your FSA Money Before It Expires
If your FSA follows the calendar year, the money you set aside for 2026 has to be used by December 31, 2026, unless your plan offers a carryover or a grace period. If you have FSA money left and need a chair or spare parts, the end of the year is a good time to order. Plans also set a deadline for sending in receipts, so check yours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my HSA or FSA to buy a Strongback wheelchair?
Yes, for our wheelchairs and transport chairs. IRS Publication 502 lists a wheelchair used for the relief of a sickness or disability as a medical expense, and the cost of operating and maintaining it as well. Pay with any card at checkout, then send your order confirmation to your plan administrator to be paid back from your account. Your plan administrator decides what your plan pays for. Accessories such as bags and backpacks may not qualify.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for the SEATA rollator?
IRS Publication 502 does not name rollators. Ask your plan administrator whether your plan accepts the SEATA before you order.
Do I need a letter from my doctor?
Some plans ask for a letter of medical necessity before they pay out, and others do not. Check with your plan administrator before you order.
What do I send my plan administrator?
Your order confirmation or receipt. It shows the product, the date and the price. If your plan needs more details about the chair, email us at usa@strongbackmobility.com.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for a chair for my mother or father?
Only if your mother or father is your tax dependent. Otherwise they can use their own HSA or FSA, if they have one.
Can I deduct a wheelchair on my taxes?
IRS Publication 502 treats a wheelchair used for the relief of a sickness or disability as a medical expense. If you itemize deductions, you can deduct only the part of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You cannot deduct anything you paid from an HSA or FSA. A tax advisor can tell you what applies to you.
What happens if I return a chair I paid for with HSA or FSA money?
The refund goes back to the card you paid with. If your plan has already paid you back from your account, tell your plan administrator about the return. Our return terms are on Warranty and Easy Returns.
Still Have Questions?
Call us at +1 757 349 7790 or email usa@strongbackmobility.com. For what your own plan pays for, your plan administrator has the final word.
See also our FAQ and our Wheelchair Measuring & Sizing Guide to find the right chair.
Sources: IRS Publication 502 (medical expenses), IRS Publication 969 (HSAs and FSAs), Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (HSA limits 2026), Rev. Proc. 2026-24 (HSA limits 2027), Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (FSA limits 2026), IRS Notice 2026-5 (bronze and catastrophic plans).