Travel and lodging coverage

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, we can help cover travel and lodging costs, up to $5,000 per occurrence. This applies to CalPERS members who have an authorized referral for health care services:

• Outside the Performance Network and
• 50+ miles away from their permanent residence.

You need prior authorization unless otherwise noted.

Services eligible for travel and lodging coverage

Get travel and lodging coverage for services including, but not limited to:

• Abortion services (no prior authorization needed)
• Bariatric surgery
• Organ and tissue transplants
• Gender-affirming care
• Acute inpatient pediatric care or specialty inpatient pediatric care (except direct admission to the neonatal or pediatric intensive care units)
• Outpatient pediatric hematology and oncology (except direct admission to the neonatal or pediatric intensive care units)

Medicare members: View your travel and lodging coverage information ➜

What’s covered

Travel

• Mileage to and from the facility from the member's residence and/or lodging is covered.
  Mileage is reimbursed according to the IRS mileage rate.
• Round-trip coach or economy airfare, bus, or train tickets.
• Taxi or rideshare services.
• Standard-class rental cars.
• Parking and tolls.

Lodging

• One double-occupancy room is covered if one or more overnight stays are required to get care.
• Coverage is limited to the room charge and tax, up to $200 per night. All other hotel expenses are excluded.

Meals

• Up to $100, per person, per day, excluding alcohol.

Traveling with a companion, parents or guardians

• Expenses are covered for one companion.
• If you’re under 18, expenses are covered for two parents or two guardians.

What you pay

You must pay for your transportation, lodging and meals when you are billed. The costs you pay for transportation, lodging and meals do not count toward your maximum out-of-pocket amount.

There is no copay, coinsurance or deductible for travel and lodging coverage up to $5,000 per occurrence.

How to get reimbursed

Reimbursement is effective Jan. 1, 2025 for travel and lodging services provided in 2025. Please submit your reimbursement request within 180 days of the date of service. 

Please submit a completed form and the required documents online, by mail or by fax.

  Travel & lodging reimbursement request form (PDF)

Online

Log in or create a Sharp Health Plan online account. Select Claims, then Travel & lodging reimbursement form.

By mail

Attention: Claims Research
Sharp Health Plan
8520 Tech Way, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92123

By fax

Attention: Claims Research
1-858-636-2276

Tax information

You may report certain travel expense reimbursements in your taxes. When required, we will send you a Form 1099-MISC. If you have questions, please contact your tax advisor. We do not provide tax advice.