Workers’ Compensation Mileage Reimbursement: What You Can Claim and How to Get Paid

South Carolina workers’ compensation law entitles injured employees to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while attending authorized medical appointments and treatments. Many workers are unaware that they can recover these costs, leaving money on the table that could help offset the financial burdens associated with workplace injuries.

If your employer’s insurance carrier denies or delays your mileage reimbursement requests, schedule a free consultation with a reputable Greenville workers’ compensation lawyer at Bobby Jones Law. We have the experience and willingness to litigate when corporate defendants and insurance companies refuse to accept responsibility. Our firm has recovered over $60 million in compensation for clients who have placed their trust in us.

When Are You Eligible for Mileage Reimbursement?

Workers’ compensation mileage reimbursement covers travel expenses for medical care related to your workplace injury. In South Carolina workers’ comp, you’re eligible for mileage reimbursement for work-related medical travel if the appointment is more than 5 miles from home, or 10+ miles round-trip.

You become eligible for mileage reimbursement from the moment you attend your first authorized medical appointment following your workplace injury, and this right continues throughout your entire treatment period until you reach maximum medical improvement or your claim closes.

Covered Travel Types Under SC Workers’ Compensation

South Carolina’s mileage reimbursement law applies to various categories of medical travel, ensuring injured workers don’t bear financial responsibility for treatment-related transportation costs. Covered travel types include:

• Doctor appointments
• Physical therapy sessions
• Diagnostic testing facilities
• Pharmacy visits
• Independent medical examinations (IME)
• Overnight lodging and food costs (if reasonable and necessary)

Workers’ comp mileage reimbursement covers round-trip distances from your home to each medical facility, calculated using the most direct reasonable route. We help injured workers identify all reimbursable travel and ensure insurance companies pay every penny owed for legitimate medical transportation expenses.

How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay Per Mile in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, workers’ compensation insurers are required to reimburse medical travel at the IRS standard mileage rate, which is 70 cents per mile for 2025. This rate is updated annually, typically in December, to apply to the following year.

Step-by-Step: How to Submit Mileage Reimbursement Requests

Adhering to the correct procedures helps ensure prompt reimbursement and prevents insurers from denying valid claims due to technical errors or missing paperwork. Follow these steps for submitting reimbursement requests:

• Obtain the form: Request Form 15 (Mileage and Meal Reimbursement Request) from your employer, the insurance adjuster, or the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission website. Many insurance carriers provide their own versions of mileage claim forms, which you can use as long as they capture all required information.
• Track your travel: Maintain a dedicated logbook or spreadsheet that documents your medical travel throughout your treatment period, creating an organized record that withstands scrutiny from insurers. Record the date, purpose, destination address, and round-trip mileage.
• Calculate your reimbursement: Multiply your total miles by the current federal mileage rate to determine the amount owed. Double-check your math and ensure you’ve included all eligible trips before submitting your request to avoid leaving money unclaimed.
• Submit and keep records: Send your completed form, along with supporting documentation, to the insurance carrier by certified mail or email with a read receipt. Retain copies of everything you submit, including proof of delivery, because insurance companies sometimes claim they never received reimbursement requests.
• Follow up: Contact the adjuster if you don’t receive payment within 14 business days of submission. Persistent follow-up prevents claims from getting ignored or lost in the insurer’s processing system, ensuring you receive timely reimbursement.

At Bobby Jones Law, we guide clients through the reimbursement process to ensure accurate completion and submission of forms. We intervene when insurers unjustifiably deny or delay legitimate travel expense payments.

Common Mistakes That Could Delay Mileage Reimbursement

Steering clear of common mistakes speeds up payment and stops insurers from using technicalities to deny valid reimbursement claims. Even minor errors or delaying reporting can cost you hundreds of dollars in travel expenses you are legally entitled to recover.

Incomplete Documentation

Missing dates, addresses, or mileage figures give insurance adjusters excuses to deny your entire reimbursement request rather than just the incomplete entries. Always verify you’ve filled out every required field on the reimbursement form before submission to prevent unnecessary delays.

Not Informing All Doctors

Failing to notify each healthcare provider that you’re treating a workers’ compensation injury can result in appointment documentation that doesn’t clearly establish the work-related nature of your visit. Always remind the medical staff at check-in that your appointment is related to a workplace injury claim.

Lying or Exaggerating

Inflating mileage figures or claiming reimbursement for unauthorized appointments destroys your credibility and gives insurance companies grounds to deny your entire claim. Submit only truthful, verifiable information because fraudulent reimbursement requests can jeopardize your entire workers’ compensation case.

Signing Without Legal Review

Accepting lump-sum settlement offers that include mileage reimbursement without understanding what you’re waiving may forfeit your right to future travel expense payments. Have us review any settlement proposals before signing documents that could eliminate ongoing reimbursement rights.

Not Regularly Submitting

Allowing months of unreimbursed travel to accumulate before filing claims creates administrative burdens and increases the risk of lost documentation. Submit reimbursement requests consistently to maintain cash flow and preserve detailed records of your medical travel.

Skipping Employer Notice

Neglecting to inform your employer of medical appointments can lead to disputes over whether the insurer authorized the visits. Keep your employer and the insurance adjuster informed about upcoming treatment to ensure all appointments qualify for mileage reimbursement.

Refusing Employer-Chosen Physicians

Insisting on being treated by doctors that the insurance company hasn’t authorized eliminates your right to mileage reimbursement for those appointments. Follow proper procedures for changing physicians if you’re dissatisfied with your current doctor to preserve your rights to travel expense reimbursement.

Contact an Experienced Greenville Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Don’t let insurance companies deny or delay the workers’ compensation mileage reimbursement you’ve earned by attending necessary medical appointments. Contact Bobby Jones Law today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Greenville workers’ compensation lawyer.

Our team reviews your mileage documentation and calculates the total amount owed, challenges unjustified denials or reimbursement reductions, handles all communications with insurance adjusters on your behalf, files formal complaints with the Workers’ Compensation Commission when carriers refuse payment, represent you at hearings to enforce your reimbursement rights, and we fight unceasingly to recover every dollar of travel expenses South Carolina law entitles you to claim.