Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses extreme cold to freeze and remove abnormal tissues or to reduce muscle pain and inflammation. In most cases cryotherapy can be covered under an HSA as long as the claim meets specific requirements! Here's what you need to know.
Types of Cryotherapy & Claim Requirements
Localized cryotherapy (wart/lesion removal):
Eligible when performed by a licensed medical practitioner (e.g., doctor, dermatologist, nurse practitioner) as treatment for a diagnosed skin condition.
A claim submission for localized cryotherapy must include:
An Official Service Receipt detailing:
Patient's name
Date of service
Practitioner's name and credentials
List of services and their charges
Proof of payment
Whole-body cryotherapy:
To be eligible, the service needs to be:
Prescribed as medically necessary by a licensed medical practitioner for a specific condition (e.g., chronic pain, inflammation, injury recovery), not general wellness or fitness
Administered by an eligible licensed provider
Supported by a prescription/letter of medical necessity plus an itemized receipt
A claim submission for whole-body cryotherapy services must include:
An Official Service Receipt detailing:
Patient's name
Date of service
Practitioner's name and credentials
List of services and their charges
Proof of payment
A letter from an eligible practitioner stating that it is a medical necessary treatment that is treating a specific medical condition
Whole-body cryotherapy used purely for recovery, wellness, or performance (without a documented medical condition) is not an eligible expense under the HSA.
Cryotherapy devices (e.g., home-use cold therapy machines):
Eligible only when medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed practitioner for a specific condition (e.g., post-surgical recovery, injury treatment).
A claim submission for a cryotherapy device must include:
An itemized receipt for the device
A letter of medical necessity that has the following criteria:
The equipment must be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
The prescription must indicate the specific medical condition the equipment is intended to treat.
The equipment item must be specifically named in the prescription.
The equipment you purchased must match the prescribed item.
The prescription must state the practitioner's name and credentials, the patient's name, and the date it was written.
Devices purchased without a prescription, or for general wellness/recovery use, are not eligible under the HSA.
Questions about eligibility under your plan? Reach out to the myHSA Support team via live chat or email at support@getmyhsa.com