Thursday, March 28, 2024

BC Ferries eliminates fees for those travelling for medical reasons

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Those travelling to their medical appointments via BC Ferries can now do so for free.

The move is designed to help eligible residents who must travel for non-emergency medical appointments that are not available in their own communities.

BC Ferries said the service will be available to those who qualify for Government’s Travel Assistance Program (TAP), which covers transportation costs.

The waiver of the booking fee, which is $18 each way, will help ensure that patients can get to and from specialist appointments with less financial burden.

To apply for the TAP, eligible BC residents must obtain a TAP document from their physician, nurse, practitioner, or specialty clinic and obtain a TAP confirmation number from Health Insurance BC.

“We understand that travelling while unwell, or to treatments and surgeries, can be stressful. Removing the booking fee is our way of helping with travel certainty while removing the financial burden when travelling to and from doctors’ offices, clinics or hospital,” said Janet Carson, Vice President, Marketing and Customer Experience at BC Ferries.

BC Ferries said customers can continue to use a Medical Assured Loading (MAL) letter on all routes, except those that are fully bookable. MAL is only available for those travelling under the TAP and who have a MAL letter from their medical practitioner that states that it is necessary for them to avoid a wait at the ferry terminal.

Over 300,000 customers sailed with BC Ferries last year on the provincial government’s TAP. The cost of waiving booking fees for medical travel is projected to be in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 annually in foregone revenue.

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Victoria Buzz Staffhttps://www.victoriabuzz.com
Your inside source for Greater Victoria happenings. Established in 2012.

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