Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC)

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. TAP is a corporate partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transportation carriers. The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the transportation partners who agree to waive or discount their regular fees. Eligible Services 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. There is no reimbursement for travel already taken.

To be eligible for TAP as a patient: you must be a B.C. resident and be enrolled in the Medical Services Plan (MSP); you must have a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner for MSP insured specialist medical services which are not available locally; your travel expenses must not be covered by third party insurance, such as an employer plan, extended medical plan, Insurance Corporation of BC, WorkSafeBC or federal government program (e.g. Veterans' Affairs). The referral must be to the closest location for non-emergency medical specialist services not available in your community. TAP forms are only available from your referring physician or nurse practitioner at the time the referral is made. A referral cannot be made from a general practitioner or nurse practitioner to another general practitioner. Referrals for services not insured by MSP, or services being paid privately by the patient, are not a benefit under TAP. An escort is eligible for TAP only when accompanying a patient who is: 18 years of age and under; or incapable of travelling independently for medical reasons. An escort is not eligible for TAP when driving a vehicle on behalf of a patient who does not qualify under (1) or (2) above, or when travelling alone to pick up a patient. Your physician or nurse practitioner must indicate on the TAP form that an escort is required for one of the two reasons cited above. Please note that transportation partners have the right to refuse an incomplete or altered TAP form. If your specialist appointment has been rescheduled and you are now travelling on a different date than what appears on the TAP form, please advise your transportation carrier accordingly.

Call (604) 683-7151, or use the website.

Phone

(604) 683-7151

Website

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/tap-bc/travel-assistance-program-tap-bc