When you’re injured on the job, the last thing you should have to think about is the cost of getting to your own doctor. But those trips add up fast. Physical therapy twice a week, follow-ups with the orthopedist, and an MRI across town. Suddenly, you’re burning through gas and parking money while you’re out of work and counting every dollar.
Here’s the good news: in North Carolina, you don’t have to absorb those travel costs yourself. Workers’ comp is supposed to cover your medically necessary travel, and you have the right to claim it. At Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, our Gastonia workers compensation lawyers help injured workers across the state receive what they’re owed, including the mileage carriers often forget to mention. Your consultation is free, and you don’t pay us a dime unless we win.
Yes, NC Workers’ Comp Pays For Your Medical Travel
Travel for treatment of a work injury is a reimbursable cost under North Carolina law (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-25). Employees are entitled to collect mileage for medical treatment in workers’ compensation cases, provided they travel 20 miles or more round trip. More specifically, employees are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses when the travel is medically necessary, and the round-trip mileage is 20 or more miles.
That 20-mile threshold matters. If your round trip is under 20 miles, the standard mileage reimbursement generally won’t apply. But if you’re driving across Gaston County or heading to a provider in Charlotte, those miles add up quickly and belong to you, not the insurance company.
What You Can Be Reimbursed For
Mileage is the big one, but it isn’t the only travel cost workers’ comp covers. Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim:
– Mileage for medically necessary trips of 20 or more miles round trip
– Tolls and parking at actual cost when medically necessary
– A taxi or rideshare (a “vehicle for hire”) when it’s medically necessary, at actual cost
– Lodging and meals when an overnight stay away from home is medically necessary, at the rate established for state employees
One thing that usually isn’t covered: a separate trip to pick up medication or supplies, unless it’s medically necessary. As a rule, no allowance is made for trips to the drugstore for drugs or medical supplies unless medically necessary, and you should buy those items during a visit to your provider.
The Per-mile Rate (And Why It Keeps Changing)
North Carolina ties its mileage rate to the Internal Revenue Service’s business standard mileage rate, so it varies from year to year. For travel beginning January 1, 2026, the reimbursement rate is $0.725 per mile, provided you travel 20 miles or more round trip.
Because that number changes, always check the rate on the most recent state travel form before you total your miles, and use the IRS mileage reimbursement rate in effect on the date of travel. If you’ve been driving to appointments for months, different trips may be reimbursed at different rates.
How To Track Your Trips So You Don’t Leave Money Behind
Think of your mileage log as part of your defense. The cleaner your records, the harder it is for a carrier to question them. For every trip, write down:
– The date of the appointment
– Where you went, including the provider and address
– The reason for the visit
– Your round-trip mileage
– Any tolls or parking, with receipts attached
Keep a notebook in your car or a running note on your phone, and save receipts as you go instead of hunting for them months later. Small habits such as these protect real money.
Form 25T: The Workers’ Comp Mileage Reimbursement Form
To claim your travel, you’ll use the NC Industrial Commission’s Form 25T. The reimbursement rates are set out in Form 25T, Itemized Statement of Charges for Travel, which is used to claim travel expenses. This is the workers’ comp mileage reimbursement form the state uses for travel costs.
You submit the completed Form 25T to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier or self-insured employer handling your claim. List each trip, total your miles, apply the correct rate, and attach receipts for tolls and parking. Keep a copy of everything you send. Not sure you’re being paid correctly? Call 910-405-7751, and we’ll review your file for free.
Why Mileage Reimbursement Gets Delayed Or Denied
Even with an approved claim, travel reimbursement can get stuck. Common reasons include:
– Incomplete or missing trip logs
– No receipts for tolls, parking, or a vehicle for hire
– Disputes over whether a trip was medically necessary
– Disagreements about the round-trip distance
– A carrier that’s simply slow to pay
This is where it helps to have someone who knows how the other side operates. Our two managing partners are former insurance defense lawyers who once handled these claims for multi-state insurers. They know the tactics carriers use to delay or reduce what they pay, and now they put that experience to work for you. With 65+ years of combined experience, our team handles the paperwork, follow-up, and the pushback, so you can focus on healing.
Injured at work? Call 910-405-7751 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Common Questions About Workers’ Comp Mileage In NC
Do I receive payment for short trips to the doctor?
The standard mileage reimbursement applies when the travel is medically necessary, and the round-trip mileage is 20 or more miles. Shorter trips usually don’t qualify on mileage alone. When you’re unsure, keep the record anyway and let us take a look.
How long does it take to be reimbursed?
It depends on the carrier. Some pay travel fairly quickly, while others drag their feet or keep asking for more documentation. Submitting a complete Form 25T with receipts up front is your best defense against delay, and we follow up with the carrier when payment stalls.
Get A Gastonia Workers’ Comp Lawyer On Your Side
Mileage might feel like small change next to your medical bills and lost wages, but it’s your money, and it’s a window into how the carrier treats the rest of your claim. If they’re nickel-and-diming your travel, picture how they’re handling everything else.
You don’t have to fight that alone. From our Gastonia office at 219 West Main Ave. Suite 9, and several more offices across North Carolina, the team at Horton & Mendez, Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, fights for injured workers to claim every dollar owed through the NC Industrial Commission. Call 910-405-7751 today for a free consultation. There are no upfront costs, and you pay no fee unless we win.
