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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.

Updated: July 30, 2010

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.


Updated: July 30, 2010

HOPE AIR

Hope Air is the unique, nation-wide charity that arranges free flights to get low-income Canadians to specialized healthcare that is not available in their home communities. They provide flights to people of all ages, with all illnesses, from all across Canada. Flights are arranged on Canada’s national and regional airlines and on private planes. Hope Air may be able to help you if:
  • You are flying for a confirmed, approved medical appointment (e.g. treatment is being covered by your provincial health plan).
  • You are unable to afford the airline ticket. Hope Air services people in financial need and will follow-up with a phone call to obtain financial details for the household.
  • Your doctor(s) confirm you are medically fit to fly.

Please go online to complete a Request a Flight form or call as soon as you have your appointment date. There is no charge for a Hope Air flight. Anyone is welcome to make a flight request on behalf of a patient. No children fly alone: approved flight requests include a flight for a parental or guardian escort.


Address: Suite 207, 124 Merton St., Toronto, ON M4S 2Z2
Toll-Free: 1-877-346-HOPE (4673)
Phone: 416-222-6335
FAX: 416-222-6930
e-mail: mail@hopeair.ca
website: www.hopeair.ca

 
Updated: November 15, 2012

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 

Updated: July 30, 2010

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

Updated: July 30, 2010

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

Updated: July 30, 2010