If you’ve ever wondered whether orthopedic shoes really qualify as an HSA/FSA-eligible expense, the short answer is: yes — when they’re supporting foot health, mobility, or a medical condition.
From a podiatric perspective, footwear isn’t cosmetic. The right shoes can reduce strain, improve alignment, and help manage chronic issues like plantar fasciitis, arthritis, neuropathy, bunions, and balance concerns. That’s exactly why HSA and FSA accounts exist — to make medically appropriate care more accessible.
Why orthopedic footwear qualifies
Medical-grade shoes are often part of conservative treatment plans recommended by foot and ankle specialists. Because shoes are worn every day, they can play a meaningful role in reducing pain and preventing progression of common foot conditions.
When purchased correctly, orthopedic footwear can be paid for using pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars, which for many people translates to savings of roughly 30% compared to paying out of pocket.
How eligibility is handled (and why this matters)
To ensure purchases meet IRS guidelines, we partner with Truemed, a healthcare payments platform that works with licensed medical professionals to verify eligibility.
When you check out using Truemed:
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You’ll answer a short health questionnaire
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A Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) is automatically generated if you qualify
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That LMN supports your HSA/FSA purchase and remains valid for 12 months from the date it is issued, allowing you to purchase medically necessary orthopedic shoes throughout the year.
This removes the guesswork and provides peace of mind that your purchase is being handled properly.
We made the process simple — here’s how to use it
If you’re not logged into your Shop account, choosing the Truemed HSA/FSA payment option is simple. Truemed supports all major HSA/FSA administrators, including providers like HealthEquity, WEX, Optum and many others.
But if you've shopped with us before or if you're logged into your Shop account, the Truemed HSA/FSA payment option will not appear.
Because HSA/FSA payments require a specific checkout flow, we created a clear, step-by-step guide that shows you exactly what to expect and how to check out correctly. It's critical that at checkout, you make sure you're not logged into your Shop account, as the Truemed HSA/FSA option won't appear at checkout.
If you're getting stuck at checkout and don't see the option, click below for more detailed instructions on how to checkout using your medical spending cards:
Read the guide: How to Use Your HSA/FSA Card at Checkout
Once you’ve gone through it once, using your HSA/FSA for orthopedic shoes becomes straightforward and repeatable.
Ready to browse eligible styles?
If you’d like to explore footwear that qualifies for HSA/FSA purchase, you can view our curated collection here:
Shop HSA/FSA-Eligible Orthopedic Shoes.
Using your HSA/FSA for supportive footwear is one of the most practical ways to invest pre-tax dollars into something that impacts your comfort and mobility every day.
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HealthyFeetStore.com