Medical appointments are expensive enough, but getting to the appointment can also be costly for those on a fixed income. That’s exactly why the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a way for some former military members to get those travel costs compensated. Since the previous process was a little more complicated, the department has decided to introduce a new digital option to make things easier. Keep reading to learn more about the VA travel reimbursement program, what changes have been introduced and how to take advantage of the new update.
What is VA travel reimbursement?
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), makes it more affordable for some veterans to receive the help they need by paying for the travel involved to get to appointments. This is generally for care at VA health facilities, but some pre-approved care at outside facilities may qualify for reimbursement too.
The current payment rate is 41.5 cents per mile for any approved, health-related travel. Mileage is paid for the entire trip unless it’s an unscheduled appointment. In that case you may only get the return trip travel expenses reimbursed.
Here are the travel costs most commonly paid for by the VA:
- Parking
- Road, tunnel and bridge tolls
- Taxi and plane fares
- Mileage driven to and from the appointment
- Needed transportation via an ambulance or wheelchair van
- Tickets for public transportation (train, bus, ferry, etc.)
- Necessary meals and lodging
Who qualifies for VA travel reimbursement?
The VA’s travel reimbursement is part of the Beneficiary Travel Program and allows eligible veterans to take advantage. However, just being a veteran doesn’t automatically guarantee you’ll be able to get the money back.
The department has further criteria for someone to receive a refund for travel expenses. This includes:
- Having a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more
- Receiving a VA pension or an income that’s below the maximum pension
- Having spinal cord injury or disorder, vision impairment, double or multiple amputations or enrollment in a VA rehabilitation program
- Traveling for treatment of a service-related condition or a scheduled compensation or pension exam
Caregivers may also be eligible for reimbursement as long as they are traveling with a veteran who meets the above requirements.
New VA App feature makes filing easier
In order to make things easier for eligible veterans, the VA has rolled out a new feature in its Health and Benefits app, reports Newsweek. The feature automatically detects when an appointment may qualify for reimbursement based on mileage, and will provide a prompt on the home screen that allows the veteran to submit a claim. The hope is that this change will cut down on the number of paper claims filed, which take much longer to process than a digital version.
The app itself also offers a number of other perks to veterans, even if they aren’t submitting a claim for travel reimbursement. For example, it makes it easier to refill prescriptions, find nearby VA services, review VA payments and more.
How to claim your VA travel payment
It’s recommended that veterans utilize digital methods to file a claim, as the VA shares on its website that “combining electronic filing with direct deposit is the fastest way to get your beneficiary travel payment.“ This can be done by downloading the Health and Benefits app (which is available on smartphones and other devices) or filling out the information on your VA.gov account.
If you prefer a paper claim form, this can still be submitted by completing the VA Form 10-3542.
A note for all seeking reimbursement: You must pay a deductible before the VA will pay you back for your expenses. Currently, this is $3 for one-way travel and $6 round-trip for each appointment until you’ve reached the maximum total of $18 for the month. Once you’ve hit this deductible, the VA will reimburse your travel for the rest of the month.
