ABC Fitness and Truemed have joined forces in a game-changing collaboration that could help tens of millions of Americans use pre-tax dollars from their Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) at nearly 10,000 gyms and studios in the ABC Fitness network across the U.S.

The fitness tech company — the largest in the U.S. — supports more than 31 million gym and studio members. Its new partnership with Truemed, a platform that enables consumers to direct pre-tax funds toward health-related purchases, reinforces its ongoing advocacy for the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act. The proposed legislation aims to get more Americans active by lowering financial barriers to physical activity through tax incentives.

“Now, more gyms and studios in the U.S. can provide a more convenient process for members to qualify to use pre-tax funds for their gym memberships, training programs and other qualified services—empowering them to take control of their health in a more affordable way,” ABC Fitness president Khal Rai said.

While the fitness industry continues to show support for the PHIT Act, TrueMed has taken the reins to combat the metabolic health crisis that many Americans are facing. The platform streamlines the process of obtaining a Letter of Medical Necessity, which allows consumers to use pre-tax dollars for everything from fitness equipment to studio memberships.

“At Truemed, we believe that being healthy should be accessible and affordable for everyone,” Truemed founder Justin Mares said. “By teaming up with ABC Fitness, we’re making it easier than ever for qualified Americans to use the money they’ve already set aside for health expenses to invest in their fitness. The future of healthcare is proactive, and fitness is a key part of that equation.”

Since its launch in 2023, Truemed has partnered with leading brands such as Peloton, 24 Hour Fitness, CrossFit, Barry’s, Crunch, Hyperice and AG1. Nutrition and supplement company Shed was added to its network last month.

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Shed is the latest health and wellness brand to partner with Truemed, a platform enabling consumers to direct their pre-tax Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health-related purchases, such as Shed’s supplements and nutrition products.

Consumers can either use their HSA/FSA cards at Truemed’s checkout or use their personal credit card and submit for reimbursement. The platform also provides letters of medical necessity.

“At Shed, we believe that health and wellness should be accessible to everyone and our partnership with Truemed makes that vision a reality,” Shed CEO Morley Baker said. “Now, our customers can use their HSA/FSA funds to purchase our supplements and nutrition products, making it easier for them to prioritize their health while saving money. This is a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their wellness journey.”

Shed recently launched Clear Protein Hydration, a refreshing alternative to thick protein shakes.

In an interview last month with Athletech News, Truemed co-founder and CEO Justin Mares shared that many consumers are still in the dark on how easy it is to use HSA/FSA funds.

“Part of this is because, prior to a platform like Truemed, the process was much more arduous for these specific types of purchases,” Mares said. “Consumers would have to schedule a doctor’s appointment, describe their health history and goals in detail, ask them to fill out a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), pay a fee, and then wait potentially for weeks for their claim to be approved. Our goal is that by integrating all of this directly into the payment flow – it’s as easy as clicking “Pay with HSA/FSA” at checkout – people will be able to empower themselves to use pre-tax savings for products that manage chronic diseases but that may not previously have been recognized by medical institutions as preventative medicine.”

Mares said that during his time at Truemed, the platform has empowered nearly 200,000 Americans to purchase “root-cause items” with HSA/FSA funds.

“We’re confident that this movement will only continue to grow as more people catch on and realize the potential of what they can access,” he added.

The platform has forged partnerships with several other brands, including Peloton, CorePower Yoga, Crunch Fitness, CrossFit, Momentous and Plunge.

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Echelon is the latest fitness brand to partner with Flex, a health and wellness payment solution provider, making it easier for consumers to purchase fitness equipment and services using their Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

The partnership is expected to deliver Echelon customers a net savings of 30-40%, according to Flex.

“At Echelon, we’re committed to providing the tools and inspiration people need to achieve their best selves,” Echelon founder and CEO Lou Lentine said. “Partnering with Flex allows us to make our fitness solutions more accessible while providing a seamless and rewarding payment experience. Since launching this partnership, we’ve seen significant growth in HSA/FSA transactions, benefiting both our customers and our business.”

Echelon’s partnership with Flex mirrors a recent collaboration with recovery wellness tech brand Kineon, makers of the MOVE+, an FDA-registered and medical-grade laser using red and infrared light therapy to address pain and inflammation. Other brands working with Flex include smart ring maker Ultrahuman, Forme, Centr, CorePower Yoga, Orangetheory, iFIT and Tempo.

“Our mission at Flex is to help consumers maximize their HSA/FSA benefits while accessing the best in health and wellness,” Flex CEO Sam O’Keefe said. “By teaming up with Echelon, we’re transforming the payment experience and supporting a brand that’s inspiring people to move, improve and thrive.”

Echelon’s timing couldn’t be better, as the fitness equipment brand launches a new suite of products, including the Strength Home, an all-in-one connected strength training system. Notably, Echelon also recently launched ActiveMD, a subsidiary company with an online telehealth platform offering weight loss medications along with workout plans.

“We understand that people are taking these GLP-1s so they’re losing muscle mass,” Lentine said. “We believe if we can combine S1 with the at-home health care, we can provide a better program than someone just buying the GLP-1 and then losing muscle mass. We’re trying to make it a better program for them than just buying a product on its own.”

Industry-wide, fitness and wellness brands are increasingly leveraging HSA/FSA benefits to expand their consumer base and help reduce cost barriers.

This month, group fitness franchisor Orangetheory introduced an HSA/FSA payment solution through its telehealth partner Dr. B. The platform streamlines the process by offering letters of medical necessity for qualified individuals and has also teamed up with F45 Training, BODi (formerly Beachbody) and boutique fitness software provider Xplor Mariana Tek. Similarly, telehealth platform Truemd has struck partnerships with Peleton, Crunch Fitness and CorePower Yoga, while wellness recovery tech brand Hyperice has aligned aligned with Sika Health..

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