Travel Assistant Program

The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) helps alleviate some of the transportation costs for eligible B.C. residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community.

Eligible Medical Specialist Services Include:
Non-emergency medical specialist services available at the closest location outside the patient's community; and
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.

The Following Services are not Eligible for TAP:
Patient transfer from one facility to another; GP to GP referrals; Supplementary benefit practitioner services (e.g., acupuncturist, optometry, physical therapy, massage therapy, podiatry, non-hospital based dentistry, naturopathy, and chiropractic services); and
Non-insured services (e.g., cosmetic surgery, experimental procedures, clinical drug trials, preventative medicine).
Health care services provided by practitioners other than medical physicians (e.g. acupuncturist services, psychology, optometry, physiotherapy, massage therapy, podiatry, non-hospital based dentistry, naturopathy and chiropractic) and services not insured by MSP (e.g. experimental procedures, drug trials or cosmetic surgery) are not eligible for TAP.

TAP does not provide direct financial assistance to patients for travel costs or make travel arrangements for patients. Meals, accommodation, mileage, fuel and local transportation expenses are not included in TAP and are the responsibility of the patient.

See the web site for further information