Can family be reimbursed for travel to give care?

Can family be reimbursed for travel to give care?

Short answer: Sometimes. Reasonable travel costs for providing care can be part of a written caregiver agreement. Medicaid programs rarely pay family travel.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

Family members who travel to provide care often ask whether the person receiving care can repay their costs.

  • Privately. A parent can reimburse a child’s reasonable travel costs as part of a written caregiver agreement, with receipts and a care log. Without an agreement, reimbursements can look like gifts for the look-back. Reimbursement should match actual costs.
  • Through Medicaid. Medicaid programs that pay family caregivers generally pay an hourly rate for care, not travel. Some states provide non-emergency medical transportation for the person receiving care to get to medical appointments, and some reimburse mileage to drivers, including family, under specific rules.
  • Through the VA. Some VA caregiver programs may cover travel for a caregiver accompanying a veteran to VA medical care.

Keep receipts for gas, airfare and lodging, and record the dates and care provided.

Getting help

Every situation is different, and small facts can change the answer. If this question affects a real decision, especially with a spouse at home, a home, gifts or a trust, a Certified Medicaid Planner can apply your state’s rules to your situation. As a rough guide, published fees for help with an application range from about $500 to $6,000, and hourly help from about $150 to $600.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.

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