The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) covers the cost of some travel if you have to travel from your home town to specialist appointments, procedures, or surgeries.
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- The Travel-Assistance Program (TAPs) covers some of the travel costs to specialist appointments, tests, surgeries, or hospital stays when the care is not available in your home community and is offered by the Government of BC.
- It may also cover travel to some diagnostic procedures, laboratory procedures, diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine procedures, BC Cancer Agency, Transplant Units, HIV/AIDS treatment at St. Paul’s Hospital, specialty clinics at BC Children’s Hospital and other tertiary care hospital services.
- TAPs is to help cover the cost of travel via ferries, railway, and air. Dial 1-800-661-2668 for an automated phone line. The phone line can give you information on eligibility,
Things You Can Do
- You need to ask your specialists for a physician letter or TAPs form to have the travel costs reimbursed. The physician letter should include the physician name, address and phone number as well as your name, personal health number, date of birth, phone number, and date for travel and return. It may include the specialist name, address and or hospital clinic and reason for travel.
- Be proactive and plan ahead. Call the automated phone line with your PHN, date of travel, if an escort is required, and the MSP Practitioner numbers for both the referring physician and the specialist you will be seeing. This information is required for a confirmation number. Write the number on the TAPs form. Take the TAPs form and physician letter when you travel. Completed TAP forms are valid for up to 90 days.
- To be eligible for TAP;
- must be a B.C. resident and be enrolled in the medical services plan (MSP);
- must have a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner for a MSP insured specialized service not available locally; and
- your travel expenses must not be covered by third party insurance, such as an employer plan, extended medical plan, Insurance Corporation of BC, WorkSafe BC or federal government program (e.g., Veterans’ Affairs).
- Look into Health Connections, which also covers some travel costs for people from the Interior, Island, Northern, and Vancouver Coastal Health Authorities in BC.
- A confirmation number and form are required to book a complimentary ferry reservation with BC Ferries.
- Learn about the medical transport benefits for First Nations people organized by the First Nations Health Authority.