So, you’ve seen what a zero gravity workstation or chair costs, and you’re probably thinking: how the heck am I going to pay for this?
The good news is: there’s a good chance that you actually don’t have to pay.
In this blog, I’m going to give you everything you need to know about getting your zero gravity workstation or chair paid for you.
We’re going to go through the different methods, starting with the worst and ending with the best.
Let’s get into it!
1. Health Insurance
Unfortunately, it tends to be difficult — although not impossible — to get your health insurance to pay for your workstation or chair. This is because ergonomic workstations and chairs are not classified as durable medical equipment (DME).
What counts as durable medical equipment? DME must meet the following requirements:
Zero gravity workstation and chairs provide therapeutic benefits, but they are not typically considered essential medical equipment.
If you want to try having your health insurance pay for your workstation, we suggest first reviewing your health insurance policy to see what it says about ergonomic products. Look at the allowable clause in your contract.
Then schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and obtain a prescription from them. The prescription must state how your health will be negatively affected if you’re not using a zero gravity workstation or chair.
Before filing a claim, you need the correct procedure codes that identify the type of medical item the insurance is covering. You can request the procedure codes from your doctor or search for your codes through this link http://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes — which I’ve also linked in the description.
If your initial claim is rejected, you can contact your insurance company and ask them to reconsider and give them any additional information they require and any supporting evidence. If this is also unsuccessful, you can formally appeal the decision. You can also consider getting help from a professional who specializes in medical claims.
1a. Veteran Affairs (VA)
If you’re a veteran who’s applied to receive disability benefits through the VA, you may be able to get the VA to pay for your workstation. However, like with health insurance, because zero gravity workstations are not DME, it will be harder. You must also obtain a prescription from your doctor and contact your assigned caseworker or local VA office.
2. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
Using your flexible spending account or health savings account allows you to save money by contributing your funds before taxes.
To get your FSA or HSA to pay for a workstation or chair, you need to first obtain a letter of medical necessity from your doctor so that the IRS won’t penalize you.
To make it easy for your doctor, you can send them this template. This is a modified version of a template you can also find on hsalist.org/recliners.
[Doctor’s Name]
[Doctor’s Address]
[Doctor’s City, State ZIP Code]
[Date]
[Insurance Company Name]
[Insurance Company Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
Re: [Patient’s Name]
[Insurance Policy Number]
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to request coverage for [patient’s name]’s medical treatment, as I have deemed it medically necessary for their health and well-being that they receive treatment with zero gravity workstations/chairs.
Patient Information:
[Patient’s Name]
[Patient’s Date of Birth]
[Diagnosis]
[Treatment Plan]
Explanation of Medical Necessity:
Zero gravity workstations are medically necessary for patients who experience chronic pain [or insert your particular medical condition here]. These workstations help by reducing spinal compression, minimizing joint strain, enhancing circulation, reducing muscle fatigue, managing pain, and improving respiratory function.
[Also provide as much supporting evidence as possible, such as lab results, imaging, or medical history.]
[Include any other relevant information, such as the patient’s previous treatment, their response to treatment, and the potential risks of not receiving the treatment.]
I strongly recommend that [patient’s name] receives this treatment as soon as possible to ensure the best possible outcome for their health.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you require any further information or documentation, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Doctor’s Name]
[Doctor’s Title]
[Doctor’s Contact Information]
Enclosure(s): [List medical results included as evidence of medical necessity]
3. Employer
If possible, we recommend asking your employer to pay for your workstation or chair. Many of our clients have had success with this method.
Request a meeting with HR or your manager. Before the meeting, see if you can find any examples of employers providing zero gravity workstations and chairs to their employees. (We will be adding examples to our ‘Success Stories’ page soon.)
During the meeting, emphasize the return on investment your company will receive from your increased productivity due to working ergonomically.
If they don’t honor your request right away, be patient because it takes them time to review the cost and effort needed to obtain a zero gravity workstation for you.
If you are a valuable employee with serious chronic pain, there’s a good chance they will help pay for at least a portion of the workstation or chair’s cost.
4. Other
If you consult with a CPA, you can also figure out if your purchase qualifies you for tax deductions.
You could also choose to finance your purchase and pay over time with Affirm or Klarna. Affirm lets customers split their purchase into monthly payments, often with transparent, fixed interest rates (or sometimes 0% APR for certain promotions). Klarna offers paying in 4 interest-free installments or spreading payments over time with financing.
If you enjoyed this blog, please leave some claps, and if you have any more questions, leave them down in the comments!
The good news is: there’s a good chance that you actually don’t have to pay.
In this blog, I’m going to give you everything you need to know about getting your zero gravity workstation or chair paid for you.
We’re going to go through the different methods, starting with the worst and ending with the best.
Let’s get into it!
1. Health Insurance
Unfortunately, it tends to be difficult — although not impossible — to get your health insurance to pay for your workstation or chair. This is because ergonomic workstations and chairs are not classified as durable medical equipment (DME).
What counts as durable medical equipment? DME must meet the following requirements:
- Durable, reasonable, and essential for every other patient.
- Shouldn’t be inappropriate for domestic usage.
- Must serve a medical purpose.
- Needs to withstand repeated use.
- Should primarily take care of any physical injuries.
Zero gravity workstation and chairs provide therapeutic benefits, but they are not typically considered essential medical equipment.
If you want to try having your health insurance pay for your workstation, we suggest first reviewing your health insurance policy to see what it says about ergonomic products. Look at the allowable clause in your contract.
Then schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider and obtain a prescription from them. The prescription must state how your health will be negatively affected if you’re not using a zero gravity workstation or chair.
Before filing a claim, you need the correct procedure codes that identify the type of medical item the insurance is covering. You can request the procedure codes from your doctor or search for your codes through this link http://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes — which I’ve also linked in the description.
If your initial claim is rejected, you can contact your insurance company and ask them to reconsider and give them any additional information they require and any supporting evidence. If this is also unsuccessful, you can formally appeal the decision. You can also consider getting help from a professional who specializes in medical claims.
1a. Veteran Affairs (VA)
If you’re a veteran who’s applied to receive disability benefits through the VA, you may be able to get the VA to pay for your workstation. However, like with health insurance, because zero gravity workstations are not DME, it will be harder. You must also obtain a prescription from your doctor and contact your assigned caseworker or local VA office.
2. Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
Using your flexible spending account or health savings account allows you to save money by contributing your funds before taxes.
To get your FSA or HSA to pay for a workstation or chair, you need to first obtain a letter of medical necessity from your doctor so that the IRS won’t penalize you.
To make it easy for your doctor, you can send them this template. This is a modified version of a template you can also find on hsalist.org/recliners.
[Doctor’s Name]
[Doctor’s Address]
[Doctor’s City, State ZIP Code]
[Date]
[Insurance Company Name]
[Insurance Company Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]
Re: [Patient’s Name]
[Insurance Policy Number]
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to request coverage for [patient’s name]’s medical treatment, as I have deemed it medically necessary for their health and well-being that they receive treatment with zero gravity workstations/chairs.
Patient Information:
[Patient’s Name]
[Patient’s Date of Birth]
[Diagnosis]
[Treatment Plan]
Explanation of Medical Necessity:
Zero gravity workstations are medically necessary for patients who experience chronic pain [or insert your particular medical condition here]. These workstations help by reducing spinal compression, minimizing joint strain, enhancing circulation, reducing muscle fatigue, managing pain, and improving respiratory function.
[Also provide as much supporting evidence as possible, such as lab results, imaging, or medical history.]
[Include any other relevant information, such as the patient’s previous treatment, their response to treatment, and the potential risks of not receiving the treatment.]
I strongly recommend that [patient’s name] receives this treatment as soon as possible to ensure the best possible outcome for their health.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you require any further information or documentation, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Doctor’s Name]
[Doctor’s Title]
[Doctor’s Contact Information]
Enclosure(s): [List medical results included as evidence of medical necessity]
3. Employer
If possible, we recommend asking your employer to pay for your workstation or chair. Many of our clients have had success with this method.
Request a meeting with HR or your manager. Before the meeting, see if you can find any examples of employers providing zero gravity workstations and chairs to their employees. (We will be adding examples to our ‘Success Stories’ page soon.)
During the meeting, emphasize the return on investment your company will receive from your increased productivity due to working ergonomically.
If they don’t honor your request right away, be patient because it takes them time to review the cost and effort needed to obtain a zero gravity workstation for you.
If you are a valuable employee with serious chronic pain, there’s a good chance they will help pay for at least a portion of the workstation or chair’s cost.
4. Other
If you consult with a CPA, you can also figure out if your purchase qualifies you for tax deductions.
You could also choose to finance your purchase and pay over time with Affirm or Klarna. Affirm lets customers split their purchase into monthly payments, often with transparent, fixed interest rates (or sometimes 0% APR for certain promotions). Klarna offers paying in 4 interest-free installments or spreading payments over time with financing.
If you enjoyed this blog, please leave some claps, and if you have any more questions, leave them down in the comments!
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