The mileage costs associated with buying gas to drive back and forth to the doctor can add up quickly. You may find that you have to drive many miles to see a good specialist for treatment. You may have to go to physical therapy several times a week.
You would not have had these costs if you had not been injured. In Georgia, the workers’ compensation insurance company is responsible for reimbursing you for the miles that you drive to get medical treatment for your injury.
What Medical Treatment and Testing Is Covered?
Your first question may be what medical treatment is covered. The answer is pretty easy.
If the workers’ compensation insurance company is paying for the treatment, then you are entitled to be reimbursed for the mileage you drive to get that treatment. This would include doctor’s visits, MRIs, physical therapy, picking up prescriptions, and any number of other things.
If there are charges for parking, be sure and keep your receipts because the insurance company needs to reimburse for those as well. In limited situations, they may also have to reimburse you for food and/or lodging if the trip to the doctor is long enough.
Getting Reimbursed For Mileage
In Georgia, the mileage reimbursement rate is 40 cents per mile. To get reimbursed for mileage costs, simply send a document to the insurance company indicating the dates, places, and mileage you drove and requesting that you be reimbursed for mileage costs.
The insurance company used to have 30 days to reimburse you for mileage. Under a change in the law in 2013, they only have 15 days.
If the insurance company does not pay you timely after you request reimbursement, they may owe you late penalties. If they do owe late penalties, the insurance company may not pay them voluntarily.
Even when the insurance company pays penalties on mileage, they often do not pay the correct amount. The penalty amount depends on how late the mileage check is.
The penalty amount starts at 10% and then goes up to 20%. After a certain time, the penalty also includes a per annum interest rate on top of the 20% penalty.
Time Limits for Mileage Reimbursement
It is also important to remember that there is a time limit on how long you have to request reimbursement for your mileage (and any other medical treatment). The insurance company does not have to pay you for any mileage or medical treatment that is not submitted for reimbursement within one year of when it took place.
So, be sure to submit your requests for reimbursement in plenty of time. Failure to do so can cause the insurance company not to pay you what they owe.
Question About Mileage Costs
I am always surprised at the number of people who hire me who have not been told that the insurance company has to reimburse them for mileage. Hopefully, this article has helped prevent you from being one of those people.
You may still have some particular questions about mileage or some other workers’ compensation issue. If you do, I am happy to talk to you. I provide free consultations in workers’ compensation cases.
