An injured worker can almost always recover mileage expense incurred while attending any type of work related medical appointment. You are entitled to be reimbursed for your round trip mileage expense. The approximate rate of reimbursement is 54 cents per mile. This mileage reimbursement applies to such things as seeing the treating physician, going to the hospital for surgery, trips to pick up prescription medication, or trips for physical therapy.

            Typically, the insurance company is not obligated to pay you for mileage expense incurred while job searching. However, a reasonable insurance company will strongly consider making these payments because helping the worker find a new job can improve the insurance company's position in the case. In other words, if an insurance company cooperates by making your job search easier, it may actually save money on the ultimate value of the case. By helping a worker find work, the insurance company acts responsibly and lessens the economic loss to the worker.

            Keep in mind that Iowa law also allows for reimbursement of many other types of out of pocket expenses that the worker might have. This would include such things as crutches, braces, and home improvement appliances to assist in the recovery from surgery, etc. You should talk with your insurance company about what items it will and will not reimburse. If the insurance company refuses to reimburse you in a prompt manner or refuses to reimburse for out of pocket expenses that are directly caused by your accident, you should seek further guidance to determine your rights.