Asked in Lancaster, PA , on Jan 24, 2022
My job is walking distance from my house and I don’t drive but I have to uber to therapy/doctors appointments. I hurt my wrist/hand and have an ongoing workers comp case. Can I be reimbursed? How would I go about it?
Answered on Jan 26, 2022
Travel expenses incurred by the employee to obtain medical treatment that is, or can be, provided locally will not be reimbursable. Helen Mining Co. v. WCAB (Tantlinger), 616 A.2d 759 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1992). However, there is a case where it was not even determined that care was not available locally that was reimbursed when the travel expenses were an integral part of his medical care. Barnyock v. Workmen’s Comp. Appeal Bd. (Garden State Tanning), 664 A.2d 683, 685 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1995). As someone said, it would be difficult to get this paid, but they may do it voluntarily under these circumstances. I never trust the insurance companies at all, there is always something going on in the background but if you claim is actually accepted (which is not as clear as it sounds), they likely would want you to get better and that is the way you may want to frame it. All of that said, you should get an attorney, many attorneys will not even take a fee until they are successful in some fashion on your claim. There are so many small fights in WC that that happens eventually. You would be better off in the long run getting help, claim end better that way. Good luck.