- Receipts validate the transaction; LMNs validate medical necessity. They are complementary, not interchangeable.
- Administrators reject screenshots that crop out payment method or SKU—capture the full confirmation.
- LMNs must reference the patient, diagnosis, recommended treatment, and duration to survive an IRS audit.
- Store receipts and LMNs together per item so you never resubmit the same paperwork twice.
Why administrators care about documentation
FSA funds are tax-free, so administrators need an audit trail to prove every dollar covered qualified medical care.
Receipts demonstrate that money left your account for an eligible product or service. LMNs explain why an otherwise ineligible item becomes medical in your situation.
Think of them like two halves of a story: the receipt proves the purchase happened, the LMN proves it was necessary.
- Receipts answer: who sold it, when, what, how much, and how you paid.
- LMNs answer: who prescribed it, what condition it treats, and for how long it is required.
- Missing either piece triggers a “please resend” email from the administrator.
The non-negotiable receipt checklist
The more complete your receipt, the less manual review you trigger. Digital orders still need line-level detail.
Amazon order summaries, pharmacy invoices, and provider statements all work as long as they show every required field.
- Merchant name + contact info.
- Purchase date and fulfillment date if different.
- Itemized description with SKU or service detail (e.g., “Theragun PRO”, “Physical therapy session”).
- Total amount plus tax, discounts, and shipping.
- Payment confirmation (last four digits of card or “Paid via FSA debit”).
Pro tip
Combine multiple Amazon order pages into a single PDF—administrators prefer one upload per claim.
When a Letter of Medical Necessity is required
Anything that could be considered general wellness, comfort, or cosmetic usually needs an LMN.
Massage guns, chiropractic pillows, air purifiers, fitness trackers, and dietary supplements often fall into the grey zone.
Administrators typically accept LMNs written within the last 12 months unless your provider specifies a shorter period.
- Include patient name, diagnosis or ICD code, recommended product or therapy, rationale, and duration.
- Ensure the provider signs and dates the letter. Typed names without signatures are commonly rejected.
- Store LMNs as PDFs so you can reuse them if you buy the same item again during the valid window.
Need a template?
FSA Helper keeps LMN templates for common scenarios (orthotics, fertility devices, chronic pain aids) so your provider only fills the blanks.
How to request an LMN without slowing your provider down
Providers want clarity and brevity. Give them the context and a ready-to-sign template to reduce back-and-forth.
Send a short email that explains what you purchased or plan to purchase, the condition it treats, and attach the template.
If you are mid-appointment, bring the printed template so they can sign on the spot.
- Highlight why the item is medically necessary, not just convenient.
- Include your full legal name and the plan year so the admin can match it.
- For dependents, specify their name, date of birth, and relationship.
Where FSA Helper steps in
Manual document wrangling is why claims stall. FSA Helper centralizes receipts, LMNs, and claim PDFs per purchase.
The extension imports Amazon receipts and matching invoices automatically. You can upload external receipts directly from the dashboard.
Flag items that need LMNs and assign templates so you always know which ones are outstanding.
- Receipts and LMNs live together under each order line item.
- Claim exports bundle both documents exactly how Navia reviewers prefer.
- Alerts let you know when an LMN is about to expire so you can refresh it proactively.
Next step
Turn paperwork into a one-click export
FSA Helper ingests receipts, collects LMNs, and assembles claim-ready PDFs so you reclaim every eligible dollar without email tag.
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