Are travel expenses covered?
Yes — the vast majority of clinical trials reimburse or pre-pay travel costs so that distance isn't a barrier to participation. Coverage typically includes mileage at the current IRS standard rate, parking at the research site, public transit fare, and rideshare credits via Lyft Concierge or Uber Health. Studies that recruit nationally or that require travel to a specialized site (common in rare disease, oncology, and gene therapy trials) often book and pay for flights, hotels, and meals directly through a concierge service like Greenphire ClinCard Travel. Companion or caregiver travel is sometimes covered too, especially in pediatric and geriatric protocols. The exact coverage is listed in the informed consent document. Always ask the coordinator before your first visit which travel method the study uses — you may be able to switch from out-of-pocket reimbursement to a pre-paid rideshare so you never front the cost.