Medical travel reimbursement

[dubois]

Good day everyone, I just have a small question about the medical travel claim. I have been on my transition to civilian for a while now. I have been working from home and had to go to multiple medical appointments 50+km from my house. I don't live in a PMQ. My unit is taking off the KM off my Claim equal to a round trip to base saying that the military expect me to be on base and won't pay for the gas to go to base. This ends up taking over half the claim and doesn't even cover the gas. Are they screwing with me? Is there anything I can do. I been put on work from home by my docs. Also one of those claim was for a surgery where I had to be there for 0630 in the morning ....

Thank you

 

[ModlrMike]

Who precisely is telling you that there's no entitlement, and what is their specific rationale? If you have written authority to work from home, you should be covered for the whole trip minus any portion outside of the defined geographical boundaries of the base. For an appointment at 0630, you should have been authorized an overnight stay either in DND accommodation, or on the economy.

If you're being transitioned to civilian live, then you should have been posted to the local Transition Center, particularly if your release involves medical issues. One of their roles is to manage this sort of complexity.

I sense you may be in RoG territory, so perhaps a well articulated NOI might generate some action.

 

[dubois]

Yes indeed I am at the TC of my base. This info I given to me by the clerk saying that's how it's always been done. They say that the km done to go to base is expected to be done everyday. And they say that it starts from where the military "usually" work aka base. But for injured people that are work at home they say it's the same so they rove the km to go to base. They pulled the DRAS 208.80. it's ridiculous how they go such a length to fuck their own people...

 

[MJP]

Yes indeed I am at the TC of my base. This info I given to me by the clerk saying that's how it's always been done. They say that the km done to go to base is expected to be done everyday. And they say that it starts from where the military "usually" work aka base. But for injured people that are work at home they say it's the same so they rove the km to go to base. They pulled the DRAS 208.80. it's ridiculous how they go such a length to fuck their own people...

I couldn't find what you are referring to in the CAF TG DAP Index but it may be a non-published/under review policy.

However, that is the normal way that MTECs are processed so the clerks are not wrong. It is a logical flow that one should not be compensated for travel they would have undertaken normally anyway, but like many things in government policy does not always fit with every situation. That said there is little point arguing with them over the issue as they don't control the policy.

Since it sounds like it is all local health related travel ADM (HR-Mil) Instruction 08/05 (DWAN) does not come into played as health-related travel done within the geographical boundaries of a member's support base/wing. Authority for compensation is the member's base/wing commander or equivalent which is likely your own TC CoC

My suggestion is work with your TC Pl staff to seek a low level resolution/approval from your CO that sees you covered for misc travel expenses based on your place of residence vice work.

 

[dapaterson]

DRAS is the French acronym for CBI.

 

[MJP]

DRAS is the French acronym for CBI.

Doh!

@dubois CBI 208 is all about relocation not travel per se and the relevant CBI 209 in this case (specifically 209.30(2) essentially says the CAF will issue admin instructions regarding duty travel which in your case would be the Canadian Forces Temporary Duty Travel Instructions (CFTDIs) They are likely pulling the reference for what they are saying from CFTDIs Chap 5 para 5.20 as their basis. My suggestion remains the same is ask your CO to approve travel from residence vice work

 

[dapaterson]

Alternative method to piss everyone off: State that you will not use your own vehicle, but want a DND/CAF vehicle instead: drive to base, drop off your car, pick up the DND/CAF vehicle, go to appointment, back to base, drop off DND/CAF vehicle, pick up your car, go home.

 

[ModlrMike]

I would argue that if he is authorized to work from home, then that becomes his place of duty, and any travel elsewhere should be compensated.

 

[MJP]

I would argue that if he is authorized to work from home, then that becomes his place of duty, and any travel elsewhere should be compensated.

Yes, that is applying a common sense approach.

We live in a world where we are so risk-adverse that it would never fly. The policy is written or it's the way the unit operates. The staff have no way of circumventing it, therefore someone needs to approve it. Ya CAF.


This topic did get me thinking about about how they manage MTECs for appts away from normal work location now given a vast swathe of people work from home.

 

[SupersonicMax]

I would argue that if he is authorized to work from home, then that becomes his place of duty, and any travel elsewhere should be compensated.

According to the CFTDTIs, no. Para 5.20 a states “There is no entitlement for a member to be reimbursed any expenses for travel […] to and from their permanent workplace on a daily basis.”

The definition of permanent workplace for Reg Force members is “the location — inside a place of duty — of the establishment or other position to which a member is posted — not attached — to perform duty.” The location of the establishment is normally on a base, even when working from home.

So, the CAF don’t pay your mileage to come into work. I don’t know many employers that would pay your mileage to go to a hospital for care. Be grateful of the gas you save from working from home on a daily basis and see it as just going to regular work. Your claim should have the mileage from base to appointment only.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Editing for references

 

[kev994]

Authority for compensation is the member's base/wing commander or equivalent which is likely your own TC CoC

Trenton uses this one to subtract the distance to the edge of the geographic area so YMMV

 

[kev994]

Alternative method to piss everyone off: State that you will not use your own vehicle, but want a DND/CAF vehicle instead: drive to base, drop off your car, pick up the DND/CAF vehicle, go to appointment, back to base, drop off DND/CAF vehicle, pick up your car, go home.

I’ve actually seen the BAdminO suggest this in an attempt to save the member some costs in a similar situation.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I'll try this again.

it's ridiculous how they go such a length to fuck their own people...

The CAF letting you work from home when you're injured isn't what many would consider ****ing their people.

Are you actually working from home in that you're set up with a laptop or tablet connected to the DWAN and you're doing 8 hour work days? Or are you getting paid to attend your medical appointments and chill out?

Not criticizing you here but if it's the latter then that's a pretty big benefit.

Are your claims coming from the medical side or from your unit? As far as I'm aware (still looking for references but fairly confident) home units are not obligated to pay for claims when members are attending medical appointments, that includes the Transition Units.

Claims for medical appointments need to be approved through the medical team/medical claims clerk.

I would be careful with how much you push. Sometimes when people think they're getting screwed over they end up boning themselves. For example I know of a soldier who was getting their units duty driver to drive them to out of town medical appointments. They made a big deal over something small and the unit turned around and find your own transport. They went to the CDU to have a personal driver bring them and they got told they can take the duty bus or pay for their own transport.

Your unit CO can't over ride your work from home MELs but 50kms may be out of your units geographical area and your CO isn't obligated to allow you to remain out of area. SupersonicMax brings up a great point about saving 100Kms in gas everyday.

 

[dubois]

I'll try this again.


The CAF letting you work from home when you're injured isn't what many would consider ****ing their people.

Are you actually working from home in that you're set up with a laptop or tablet connected to the DWAN and you're doing 8 hour work days? Or are you getting paid to attend your medical appointments and chill out?

Not criticizing you here but if it's the latter then that's a pretty big benefit.

Are your claims coming from the medical side or from your unit? As far as I'm aware (still looking for references but fairly confident) home units are not obligated to pay for claims when members are attending medical appointments, that includes the Transition Units.

Claims for medical appointments need to be approved through the medical team/medical claims clerk.

I would be careful with how much you push. Sometimes when people think they're getting screwed over they end up boning themselves. For example I know of a soldier who was getting their units duty driver to drive them to out of town medical appointments. They made a big deal over something small and the unit turned around and find your own transport. They went to the CDU to have a personal driver bring them and they got told they can take the duty bus or pay for their own transport.

Your unit CO can't over ride your work from home MELs but 50kms may be out of your units geographical area and your CO isn't obligated to allow you to remain out of area. SupersonicMax brings up a great point about saving 100Kms in gas everyday.

Pretty big benefit... I love how everyone assume we are so good. I'm work from home because each time I show my face on base I almost puke my guts out and want to crack anyone's skull... I'm not at home for fun. Do you know how much it makes me feel when I always thought I would complete at least 30 years.... It's a medical travel claim not a regular claim so yes it's on the medical side. Always pickup my paperwork at the CDU. I'm at 34 km of base so I am in the Geographical location of the base.

 

[dubois]

So, the CAF don’t pay your mileage to come into work. I don’t know many employers that would pay your mileage to go to a hospital for care. Be grateful of the gas you save from working from home on a daily basis and see it as just going to regular work. Your claim should have the mileage from base to appointment only.

I totally get that they won't pay me to go to work. I'm no fool. But when your doc says your work is home. Wtf are you supposed to do. People that lives in pmq gets their entire trip covered because the live in PMQ but people like me, get fucked over.


P.s "Be grateful" is a bit much when I know that the life insurance I have for my wife does cover transport to specialised medical appt. It's the same with the forces. They are our life insurance because we HAVE to use the military health system.

 

[Quirky]

People that lives in pmq gets their entire trip covered because the live in PMQ but people like me, get fucked over.

You chose to live off base. You get paid to sit at home and “work”, our medical system, in my opinion, is a joke allowing people to stay home, with full pay, because people are triggered seeing military bases. Any other employer would just fire you, be grateful.

Good luck in the real world, they won’t be as accommodating or pay you to chill on your couch all day.

 

[dubois]

You chose to live off base. You get paid to sit at home and “work”, our medical system, in my opinion, is a joke allowing people to stay home, with full pay, because people are triggered seeing military bases. Any other employer would just fire you, be grateful.

Good luck in the real world, they won’t be as accommodating or pay you to chill on your couch all day.

Yes I chose it. What's your point.

"Work" our medical system... I do still have physical injuries. The forces are supposed to take care of you medically. That's why you cant go civilian side and get a provincial health card.

I never said I was sitting on the couch all day did I ? Stop assuming that we are all like that. I might not be able to go on base but I still give my time somewhere in the community. I aint a freeloader.
You can go elsewhere with all your assumptions, thanks.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Pretty big benefit... I love how everyone assume we are so good.

We DO treat out people poorly in alot of ways. We also do some really good things, which isn't something injured members may appreciate hearing. There's jobs out there that literally hire private investigators to spy on their injured people.

I'm work from home because each time I show my face on base I almost puke my guts out and want to crack anyone's skull

It sounds like your medical team made a good decision both for yourself and for others safety.

It's a medical travel claim not a regular claim so yes it's on the medical side.

Nice. If the driving is bothering you or too expensive you may be able to approach your unit and ask if they can have a driver pick you up and bring you to your appointments. Medical would sign a claim for your meals and your escort/drivers meals but save money since the driver would just use the base fuel pumps to gas up.

but people like me, get fucked over.

Some units dish out some pretty ridiclous TD claims. At the end of the day it's less that someone is trying to Fuck over soldier so and so, and more that people are just following the policy. If you disagree with the policy you can try to change it. (I can't remember off the top of my head if you can grieve a CAF wide policy or not, but you can still try and change it)

I might not be able to go on base but I still give my time somewhere in the community.

You should be careful here. If you're MELs say work from home then that means you should be at home between 8-4 as that's your place of duty. That's not working off base in the community. If you are working you can have your clinician change your MELs to no military environment (you can still go to your unit for claims etc.. ) , and civilian work place only.
You're not allowed volunteering during work hours.

 

[dubois]

You should be careful here. If you're MELs say work from home then that means you should be at home between 8-4 as that's your place of duty. That's not working off base in the community. If you are working you can have your clinician change your MELs to no military environment (you can still go to your unit for claims etc.. ) , and civilian work place only.
You're not allowed volunteering during work hours.

It's part of my MELs to volunteer. I have some time home some time in the community.

Thanks for the extra warning.