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Travel

Travel Assistance 
 
The Medical Services Plan of the BC Ministry of Health Services has a program called the Travel Assistance Program which helps to defray the cost of travel within BC for medical treatment. Anyone registered with a BC CareCard is eligible, but they require a initial form to be filled out by their physician. Please note that travel arrangements and MSP approval must be obtained (phone 1-800-661-2668, or 250-387-8277 in Victoria) prior to travel.

Also, check the Health Connections Travel Assistance Program, which is a regional travel assistance program that offers partially paid for transportation choices to help with costs for rural residents who must travel to get non-emergency medical care outside their home communities.

BC Family Residence Program


Families with a child who requires care at BC Children’s Hospital or who have a premature baby or infant receiving treatment in the Neonatal Program at BC Women’s Hospital may be eligible for travel and accommodation subsidies through the provincial government. To learn more, visit www.BCfamilyresidence.gov.bc.ca.



HOPE AIR
 
Hope Air (formerly Mission Air) is a not-for-profit charitable organization which helps provide air transportation for financially burdened Canadians to and from specialized medical treatment or diagnostic centres. They do this by utilizing empty or donated seats on existing corporate, government, personal and commercial flights. Anyone, patient or professional, can call the office to see if a flight is available. In general, one should call 2-3 weeks in advance, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST. They will require information about the physicians/centres involved, the date of the appointment, and the patient's illness and need for follow-up. There is a processing fee if a flight is arranged. 

Address: Proctor & Gamble Building, 4711 Yonge St., North York, ON M2N 6K8 
Phone: 416-222-6335 
FAX: 416-222-6930 
e-mail: mail@hopeair.org 
website: www.hopeair.org 

Angel Flight of British Columbia
 
Angel Flight of British Columbia is a charitable organization that provides air transportation for people with serious illnesses who must travel long distances to and from hospitals or treatment centres in Victoria and Vancouver.

Utilizing a network of volunteer pilots, aircraft owners, and ground support, Angel Flight transports ambulatory patients whose medical conditions or financial circumstances make it difficult or impossible for them to travel by other means. They fly whenever needed and as often as their capacity allows. Their services are supported through corporate and private donations, as well as fundraising events.
 
To arrange a flight: (1) Download and print out the Liability Waiver Form from their website. (2) Fill in the form and sign it. (3) Fax it to Angel Flight's number below, or mail it to the address below. (4) You will be contacted by Angel Flight to further arrange your flight.

Address: Angel Flight of British Columbia, P.O. Box 2623, Sidney, BC V8L 4C1 
Phone: 250-514-3867 
FAX: 250-655-0247 
e-mail: angel@angelflight.ca 
website: www.angelflight.ca 
 
Shriners Care Cruiser Program
 
The Shriners of British Columbia and Yukon have introduced a free service for families traveling to Children's Hospital or to Sunny Hill Health Center for appointments, the Care Cruiser Program. There are currently buses servicing return routes from and to Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George and Portland, Oregon. There are also buses traveling from Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill to Vancouver Island and Cranbrook.
 
In the near future service to Children's and Sunny Hill from these areas will be provided. These buses do not run every day, so it may be necessary to make arrangements for accommodations. To access this service, please contact the Patient Co-Ordinator as soon as possible and let her know your appointment date and whom you are seeing. You will be told where and when to meet the bus. Please ensure you find out when the next bus is returning to your area so you can make appropriate arrangements for accommodation. 

Contact: Virginia McMahon, Patient Co-Ordinator 
Phone: 604-291-7707 or 1-800-661-KIDS 
Fax: 604-291-9147 
e-mail: shrinekids@shawcable.com  
website: www.shriners.bc.ca/news/shrine_bus.shtml

TransLink (Handydart) http://www.translink.bc.ca/



Updated: July 30, 2010