Travel Expense Funding Guidelines

The ARK Foundation understands that specialized medical care often requires families to travel long distances from their homes. To help ease this financial burden, we provide limited reimbursement for travel expenses related to medically necessary appointments, procedures, or hospital stays for children with rare, chronic, or complex medical needs.

Reimbursable travel expenses may include:

• Mileage: reimbursed at a rate of $0.30 per mile, calculated as a round trip from the patient’s home city to the destination city, regardless of the mode of travel (personal vehicle, air, or rail).
• Lodging: reimbursement for hotel expenses is determined at a set reimbursement rate. If the actual hotel rate exceeds the foundation’s maximum per night, the applicant is responsible for the remaining balance. If the actual hotel rate is less than the estimated rate, the foundation will reimburse only the actual amount paid.

Reimbursements are made after itemized receipts are furnished and verified. Funding is not distributed in advance for travel expenses.

The following items will not be reimbursed under this policy:

• In-town mileage, parking fees, Uber or other rideshare services
• Meals or groceries
• Entertainment or recreational expenses (e.g., tickets to movies, museums, or attractions)
• Incidentals including, but not limited to, toiletries, diapers, toys, or personal care items

If the applicant’s travel expenses are eligible for coverage through Healthy Montana Kids (HMK), Montana Medicaid, or another assistance program, those resources must be fully utilized before seeking reimbursement from The ARK Foundation.

• Travel reimbursements are processed after all receipts have been submitted and approved.
• Applicants may apply for travel expense reimbursement once per twelve-month period (calculated from the date the first reimbursement was issued).
• Applicants can only be funded three times for travel expenses in a lifetime. 

• Mileage and hotel reimbursement for travel to out-of-state specialty hospitals or clinics
• Overnight stays required for pre-operative or post-operative care
• Travel to regional specialty centers for therapy or diagnostic evaluations