Source: Electrek

Eligible citizens in the USA may be able to take advantage of a system where they can use their pre-tax healthcare funds to help purchase an electric bike, potentially saving up to 30% of the purchase price.

Americans can set aside pre-tax money in Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), which can be spent on qualified medical and wellness expenses. Typically these may include doctor visits or prescriptions, but in some cases, an e-bike may be viewed as a qualifying item.

To be able to use their HSA and/or FSA funds towards the purchase of an e-bike, people would need documentation from a healthcare provider such as a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), explaining how an e-bike would be beneficial in the management of a specific condition. This could address issues related to a diverse range of health problems including mobility limitations, cardiovascular health, arthritis, and others where the introduction of a low-impact physical activity will be advantageous.

The ability of pedal-assist e-bikes to enable people to exercise with consistency, while reducing excess strain which might otherwise prevent people from engaging in active exercise, is well recognised, especially for an older demographic. E-bikes can help people maintain mobility in later life, as well as seeing improved cardiovascular health, managing joint pain, and replacing sedentary car trips with moderate physical activity.

Healthcare providers are already keen to encourage preventative exercise, helping to avoid the associated costs of treating chronic illnesses further down the line. Providing easier access to e-bikes through the use of tax-free healthcare funds is a way to kick-start such preventative activity.