Workers’ compensation medical care can require repeated trips to doctors, specialists, physical therapy, pharmacies, and other providers. Those trips add fuel, parking, and other transportation costs at a time when an injured worker may already be dealing with reduced income. Even when the treatment itself is covered, the cost of getting there can become a significant financial burden.
California’s reimbursement rules apply statewide, so workers’ compensation attorneys in Riverside, CA, and Orange County work under the same DWC standards for eligible medical travel expenses. Our team can help injured workers address reimbursement problems when reasonable treatment-related travel costs remain unpaid.
Will I be reimbursed for travel expenses related to my medical treatment?
Generally, yes. California workers’ compensation provides reimbursement for reasonable transportation expenses when you have to travel for treatment of a work-related injury.
That can include trips to places such as:
- Your treating physician
- Medical specialists
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Hospitals and diagnostic facilities
- Pharmacies for work-injury prescriptions
- Certain medical-legal examinations
How much does workers’ comp pay for medical mileage?
For qualifying travel on or after July 1, 2026, California’s workers’ compensation medical mileage reimbursement rate is 76 cents per mile. The applicable rate is based on when the travel occurred, not when you were injured. That matters if your claim has required treatment over several years because California’s mileage rate can change over time.
For example, if you drive 20 miles each way to an authorized medical appointment, that 40-mile round trip may qualify for reimbursement at the rate that applied on the date of the trip. Keeping an accurate record of each trip can make it much easier to calculate what you are owed.
Are parking and tolls reimbursable too?
Mileage is not the only travel-related expense that may be covered. California DWC identifies reasonable transportation expenses as including mileage, parking, and bridge tolls. Depending on the circumstances, other qualifying travel costs may also be reimbursable. Keep receipts for parking, tolls, and other expenses whenever possible. Those records can help establish both the amount spent and its connection to a medical appointment.
How do I request medical travel reimbursement?
California DWC provides a medical mileage expense form for injured workers. When completing the form, you will generally need information such as:
- The date of each trip
- Where you traveled
- The medical purpose of the trip
- The number of miles traveled
- Parking or toll expenses
- Your claim information
Attach supporting receipts where appropriate, submit the reimbursement request to the claims administrator, and keep a copy for your own records. Maintaining a mileage log as appointments occur is usually easier than trying to reconstruct months of medical travel later.
What if my medical mileage reimbursement is not paid?
A reimbursement problem may result from missing documentation, a disagreement about whether the trip was related to authorized treatment, an incorrect mileage rate, or a delay in processing the request.
Start by checking the dates, mileage totals, receipts, and claim information on the reimbursement form. If the request is complete but eligible expenses remain unpaid, the issue may need to be raised with the claims administrator.
Medical travel expenses can seem minor compared with hospital bills or disability payments, but repeated appointments can create significant costs over the life of a claim. If reimbursement requests are being ignored, underpaid, or disputed, our attorneys can review the records and help determine what should be paid through your workers’ compensation claim.
Which experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Riverside, CA can help with unpaid medical travel expenses?
Repeated medical appointments can make unpaid mileage, parking, and toll expenses add up quickly. From Costa Mesa to communities throughout Orange County, our attorneys can review your reimbursement records, identify eligible expenses, and address problems with the claims administrator.
Our team can also explain who should cover your medical bills after a workplace injury and what affects the timeline of an Orange County work comp claim. Reach out for a free consultation with our team to discuss your claim and any medical travel expenses that remain unpaid. Let’s talk today!
