TrueMed is the service that turns 'is this eligible?' into 'here is your Letter of Medical Necessity, pay with your card.' This walkthrough explains exactly how it works for a water filter, what it costs you, and why it is a legitimate, compliant process.
In a sentence
TrueMed connects you to a licensed provider who issues a Letter of Medical Necessity at checkout, so you can pay for an eligible water filter with HSA/FSA funds — without a separate doctor visit.
TrueMed is a health-tech company that partners with retailers to let customers use HSA/FSA dollars on qualifying health-related products. It is not a filter brand and not your bank — it is the bridge that handles the medical-necessity step the IRS requires. When a retailer like SpringWell offers "Pay with HSA/FSA," TrueMed is usually the mechanism behind it. For the eligibility framework itself, see IRS Publication 502 and IRS Publication 969.
On an eligible product, you select TrueMed instead of a standard payment.
A few confidential questions about your situation — the basis for the medical-necessity determination.
An independent, licensed provider assesses whether your circumstances support a Letter of Medical Necessity.
If you qualify, the LMN is issued (often within hours) and you pay with your HSA/FSA card. You keep the letter and receipt.
When you buy through a partner retailer, the Letter of Medical Necessity is typically provided at no separate charge to you — the cost is handled through the retailer relationship. You pay the product's normal price, simply using pre-tax dollars. That is the whole appeal: the same system, discounted by your tax rate, with the paperwork handled.
Yes — the model is built around the same rules that govern any qualified medical expense. The key compliance points are that a real licensed provider makes the determination, the letter is dated on or before purchase, and you retain documentation for your plan administrator. TrueMed does not override your plan's rules; your administrator still has the final say on reimbursement, which is why keeping records matters. If a claim is ever questioned, see how to avoid (and handle) a denial.
SpringWell offers the TrueMed route across its eligible range — whole-house filters, filter + softener combos, well-water systems, UV, and under-sink reverse osmosis. Match the system to your need using the best eligible systems comparison, then start the process at checkout.
Browse SpringWell's eligible systems and complete the short survey to see whether you qualify for a Letter of Medical Necessity.
See how it works → Shop eligible systems →The survey is short and focuses on whether filtration is reasonably connected to a health need — for example, questions about household members, relevant conditions, and water-quality concerns. It is not an exhaustive medical exam; it gives the reviewing provider enough to make a determination. Answer honestly and specifically — a documented contaminant or a vulnerable household member (a child, someone pregnant, an immunocompromised member) makes the case clearer.
If the provider decides your situation does not support a Letter of Medical Necessity, you simply do not use HSA/FSA funds for that purchase — you can still buy the system with regular money. You have lost nothing but a few minutes, and there is no penalty for completing the survey. This is also why you should never self-certify or overstate your situation: the provider's independent judgment is part of what keeps the process compliant.
Because the survey involves health information, treat it like any other medical interaction: provide accurate details, and keep your issued letter in a secure place with your purchase records. The letter is the document your plan administrator may ask to see, so storing it safely protects both your privacy and your reimbursement.
Both HSAs and FSAs work through the same flow, with the same medical-necessity requirement. An HSA suits larger systems because it rolls over; an FSA is ideal for spending a balance before its year-end deadline. If you are unsure which to use, the pillar compares all four account types.
Yes. It connects you to a licensed provider who determines medical necessity and issues a Letter of Medical Necessity, following the same IRS rules that govern other qualified medical expenses.
When you buy through a partner retailer, the Letter of Medical Necessity is typically provided at no separate cost to you. You pay the product's normal price with pre-tax dollars.
No. TrueMed and U.S. HSA/FSA accounts are available in the United States only.
No service can. Your plan administrator has the final say. TrueMed provides the documentation; you keep it and submit if asked.
