About
The Essential Medical Travel Assistance Program (EMTAP) is a pilot program that provides pre-approved funding or reimbursement to eligible low-income MNBC Citizens who face financial barriers and must travel outside their local community for medically necessary appointments, procedures, specialists or other essential health services.
Coverage Amount(s)
Quarterly maximums
- Individuals may receive up to $1,000 per quarter.
- Couples may receive up to $2,500 per quarter.
- Families or households may receive up to $3,500 per quarter.
Transportation
Mileage is reimbursed at $0.275 per kilometre. Transportation costs above the reimbursed amount are the applicant’s responsibility.
Accommodation
- Vancouver: up to $300 during peak season from May through October and up to $150 during off-peak season from November through April.
- Victoria: up to $200 during peak season and up to $125 during off-peak season.
- Other areas in British Columbia: up to $150 during peak season and up to $125 during off-peak season.
Accommodation expenses above these limits are the applicant’s responsibility.
Meals
- Same-day medically necessary travel exceeding six hours: $16 per client, or the applicable regional rate.
- Travel lasting up to six nights: $64 per night for each client age five or older and $27 per night for each client under age five.
- Travel lasting seven nights or longer: $260 per week for the client and travel companions, for up to three months. Extensions may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
Meal costs above the applicable rates are the applicant’s responsibility. Meal receipts are not required; applicants provide a travel timeline instead.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be registered MNBC Citizens who reside in British Columbia.
- The requested health service must be medically necessary, align with the Canada Health Act and be unavailable within the applicant’s local community.
- Travel must be to the nearest suitable health professional or facility capable of providing the required care.
- Applicants must use all available insurance and social-program options before applying.
Income thresholds
Applicants must meet the following household-income thresholds based on their Notice of Assessment:
- One person: $27,352 or less.
- Two people: combined income of $38,682 or less.
- Three people: combined income of $47,375 or less.
- Four people: combined income of $54,704 or less.
An applicant whose financial circumstances changed significantly for a medical reason and whose Notice of Assessment does not reflect that change may be considered case by case.
Covered and Excluded Costs
Eligible travel
- Travel to access services covered by the Medical Services Plan.
- Travel for publicly funded diagnostic tests and preventative screenings.
- Travel to the nearest suitable health professional or facility.
- Travel for treatment at an approved Indigenous-led facility.
- Travel for tests or assessments required by an educational institution.
- Travel for medical supplies or fittings unavailable in the applicant’s community.
- Traditional healers may be considered case by case.
Travel companions
Transportation, accommodation and meals may be covered for an eligible medical or non-medical companion when a client cannot travel alone for a legal or medical reason. Medical companions must explain why monitoring or stabilization is required and provide the health professional’s name, licence number and signature. Non-medical companions must explain why an escort is required. Approved companion funds are paid to the EMTAP applicant, who is responsible for distributing them to the companion.
Ineligible costs
- Salaries, honoraria and companion fees.
- Accommodation within 50 kilometres of the applicant’s home.
- Certain extended-health benefits.
- Clinical-counselling services.
- Orthodontic treatment.
- Voluntary or cosmetic procedures.
- Services covered by another provincial or MNBC program, such as MESAP.
- Medical travel outside British Columbia or Canada, except in some circumstances.
How to Apply
- Review the eligibility requirements and gather the required documents.
- Complete the online application or contact a Regional Health Coordinator.
- Indicate whether the request is for reimbursement or pre-approval. Pre-approval requires at least five business days and additional documents.
- For reimbursement, provide the applicable receipts, route information and travel tickets.
Supporting forms:
- EMTAP applicant form
- Online travel companion form online
- Companion form
- Health Care Practitioner Confirmation of Appointment form.
Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Applicants attest that their application and Notice of Assessment are accurate and consent to eligibility and income verification, audits, program referrals and the handling of personal information under PIPA and FIPPA.
Required Documents
- A Notice of Assessment. Learn how to obtain a Notice of Assessment.
- A medical appointment notice or admittance letter and proof of attendance.
- Route information or maps and applicable transportation receipts or tickets.
- Accommodation receipts when accommodation reimbursement is requested.
- A travel timeline when meal reimbursement is requested; meal receipts are not required.
- A void cheque for fund transfer.
- A completed travel companion form when a companion is required.
If the Notice of Assessment no longer reflects current income
- Six months of banking statements showing the change in income caused by a medical reason.
- Proof of the medical condition that affected income, such as a doctor’s note.