Beneficiary Travel Benefits
Benefit Description: If you meet the criteria below, you may be eligible for VA beneficiary travel benefits associated with obtaining VA health care services. In most cases, travel benefits are subject to a deductible. Deductibles apply for compensation and do not pension examinations and for travel by an ambulance or a specially equipped van.
You Qualify If:
- you have a service-connected (SC) rating of 30 percent or more, or
- you are traveling for treatment of a SC condition, or
- you receive a VA pension, or
- your income does not exceed the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
- you are traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension examination, or
- you are in an authorized Vocational Rehabilitation Program
You Qualify for Special Mode Transportation (Wheelchair van etc.) If:
- your medical condition requires an ambulance or a specially equipped van, and
- you meet one of the eligibility criteria in 1 through 4 above, and
- the travel is pre-authorized (authorization is not required for emergencies if a delay
would be hazardous to life or health)
Note:
OEF/OIF Combat Veterans must meet one of the qualifying eligibilities or conditions noted above.
Mileage Rates:
General Travel..................................................$ 0.415 (41.5 cents) per mile
Scheduled appointments qualify for round-trip mileage. Unscheduled visits may be limited to return mileage only.
Deductible: …………………………………………$7.77 one-way ($15.54 round trip)
• Deductible requirement is subject to a monthly cap of $46.62. Upon reaching $46.62 in deductibles, travel payments made for the balance of that particular month will be free of deductible charges.
• Veterans whose projected income in the year of application will not exceed the applicable VA pension rate may request a waiver from the deductible requirement.
NOTE: Mileage reimbursement claims for travel prior to February 1, 2008 will be processed at the previous rates of 11 cents per mile for travel in relation tohealth care and 17 cents per mile for recalls due to an insufficient lab, EKG, x-ray, etc. in relation to a Compensation and Pension examination (“Convenience of the Government”) with deductibles of $3 per one-way trip; $6 for a round-trip; with a maximum of $18 per calendar month.
