Combat-Related Disability Travel Benefit

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What is the Combat-Related Disability Travel (CRDT) Benefit

The CRDT benefit reimburses reasonable travel expensesAmounts you pay when traveling to and from your appointment.  This includes mileage, meals, tolls, parking, lodging, local transportation, and tickets for public transportation. for a qualified trip by a retired TRICARE For Life (TFL) or TRICARE Select enrollee with a verified combat-related disability or disabilities. The Combat-Related Special Compensation Letter will list your combat-related disability or illness. Your branch of service verifies your combat-related disability.

Does Your Trip Qualify for the CRDT Benefit?

Your trip may qualify for reimbursement if the following conditions are met.

	Condition
You As The Patient	Are a retired service member. Covered by TRICARE Select or TRICARE For Life (TFL). Awarded Combat- Related Special Compensation (CRSC). You must have been awarded a CRSC determination letter from your branch of service’s CRSC Board identifying your verified combat-related disability or illness
Your Primary Care Provider	Your PCP must refer you for non- emergency, medically necessaryTo be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition. care related to the same. The CRDT benefit requires your PCP provide a written referral. This is true even if TRICARE Select or TFL doesn’t require one. Your PCP may contact the Defense Health Agency CRDT Benefit Program Representative with any questions.
Your Care	The health service must be a covered benefit of TRICARE. A trip for health services not covered by TRICARE won’t qualify for reimbursement.
Location	There is no suitable specialty careSpecialized medical/surgical diagnosis, treatment, or services a primary care provider isn’t qualified to provide. provider within 100 miles (one-way) of your PCP’s office to provide the referred care. This includes military, network, or non- network TRICARE-authorized providers.

Note: Are you enrolled in TRICARE Prime or the US Family Health Plan? You may qualify for the TRICARE Prime Travel Benefit. You won’t qualify for the CRDT benefit.

Does the CRDT Benefit Cover a Non-Medical Attendant (NMA)?

It depends. Travel for an approved NMA may qualify for the CRDT benefit.

• Your trip must qualify for the CRDT benefit as described above.
• The NMA must travel with you on that qualified trip.
• The NMA must be your parent, spouse, other adult family member (age 21 years or older), or legal guardian.
  • The referring or treating provider must verify in writing that the NMA is medically necessary for your trip.
• You must submit all of your itemized travel receipts. This includes expenses less than $75.00.
  • TRICARE won’t reimburse two different travelers for the same expense. This includes shared expenses like lodging or car rental.

How Does the Combat-Related Disability Travel Benefit Work?

Once you have a referral for specialty care that qualifies for the CRDT Benefit, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Contact Your Combat-Related Disability Travel Office

You can contact the CRDT program representative.	Toll-free: (844) 204-9351, Option 3
	Email: DHA.CRDT@health.mil

Step 2: Make Your Travel Arrangements and Go to Your Appointment

Book the least expensive travel possible. You can choose any reasonable mode of transportation you desire. However, your reimbursement won’t exceed the most cost-effective amount as determined by the government.

Travel Arrangements	Detail
Car Rental	You must use compact class, unless approved before travel.
Air or Train Travel	Must be economy class. Call the CRDT program representative before booking airfare or traveling more than 400 miles one-way. You must confirm the maximum amount of your potential reimbursement.
Driving Your Own Vehicle	You’ll get reimbursed for the official distance to and from the appointment. This is the recognized driving distance between two locations. The “Other Mileage Rate” applies. Unless your NMA is authorized and is either an ADSM or a DoD federal employee. Then the “TDY Travel” mileage rate applies. Mileage rates may change at least once a year.
Lodging and Meals	Limited to the actual costs. This is not to exceed the government per diem rate for the ZIP code of your specialty care provider’s office. Lodging allowance includes taxes and fees. If taxes and fees aren’t itemized, only the daily room cost is reimbursable up to the maximum allowance. Booking agency fees aren’t reimbursable. Meal allowance includes taxes and reasonable tips. It excludes alcoholic beverages. You must provide itemized receipts for your expenses.

Step 3: Submit Your Travel Documents

Instructions for your completed package
Get the required travel forms.	Visit Combat-Related Disability Travel Reimbursement Instructions page.
Follow all instructions.	Fill out each required form completely and sign as required.
Enclose all itemized receipts.	You may tape them with clear tape on plain paper, 8½ by 11 inches.
Follow instructions on submitting your completed package.