Ethan Rhodes
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides transportation services to help veterans attend their medical appointments. These services are designed to ensure that veterans, regardless of their location or personal circumstances, have access to healthcare. The VA's Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) is a free program that provides transportation to and from VA medical centers, clinics, and authorized healthcare facilities. VTS vans are equipped to accommodate veterans with mobility issues, and the service is available to all veterans enrolled in VA healthcare, with priority given to those with disabilities, those living in rural or remote areas, and those without access to private or public transportation. In addition to VTS, the VA also offers the Beneficiary Travel Program, which reimburses eligible veterans for travel costs related to their medical appointments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the program | Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) |
| Transportation service | Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) |
| Type of service | Safe, reliable, and free transportation service for veterans |
| Eligibility | Veterans with disabilities, living in rural or remote areas, and lacking access to private or public transportation |
| Areas served | Highly rural areas, counties with fewer than seven people per square mile |
| Partners | Service providers in local communities, including community transportation providers, federal, state, and local government transportation agencies |
| Other features | Door-to-door service, pick-up from home, reimbursement for travel costs, ride-share programs, volunteer driver services |
| Contact | Veterans can contact their local VA medical center or the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to find transportation options |
What You'll Learn
The Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) recognises that veterans who are visually impaired, elderly, or immobilised due to disease or disability, especially those living in remote and rural areas, face challenges when travelling to their healthcare appointments. To address this, the Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) was established to ensure that all qualifying veterans have access to safe, reliable, and convenient transportation.
VTS provides free transportation services to veterans who require assistance travelling to and from participating VA medical centres (VAMCs) and authorised non-VA appointments. VTS vans are equipped to accommodate veterans with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs or require other accessibility features. The service provides door-to-door transportation, picking veterans up from their homes and taking them directly to their VA medical appointments, including routine visits, specialty care, and mental health counselling sessions.
VTS has established a network of transportation options through partnerships with various organisations, such as Veterans Service Organisations (VSOs), community transportation providers, federal, state, and local government transportation agencies, non-profits, and Veterans Transportation Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) grantees. These partnerships allow VTS to offer a range of transportation solutions, including ride-share programs, volunteer driver services, and community shuttle services, ensuring that veterans can access the healthcare they need, regardless of their location or personal circumstances.
Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare and with a VA-authorised appointment are eligible for transportation through the VTS program, with priority given to veterans with disabilities, those in rural or remote areas, and those without access to private or public transportation. To find out more about the service and eligibility, veterans can contact their local VA facility, which is working to establish Mobility Managers to help veterans meet their transportation needs.
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Free transportation for veterans
The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers free transportation services to help veterans attend their medical appointments. These services are designed to ensure that veterans can access healthcare regardless of their location or personal circumstances.
The Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) provides free and safe transportation to veterans who require assistance travelling to and from VA health care facilities and authorized non-VA health care appointments. VTS offers door-to-door service, picking veterans up from their homes and transporting them directly to their VA medical appointments, including routine visits, specialty care, and mental health counselling sessions. VTS vans are equipped to accommodate veterans with mobility issues, including those who use wheelchairs or require other accessibility features.
VTS has established a network of transportation options through partnerships with various organizations, including community transportation providers, federal, state, and local government transportation agencies, non-profits, and Veterans Transportation Community Living Initiative (VTCLI) grantees. VTS also works with local VA facilities to establish Mobility Managers to help veterans meet their transportation needs.
In addition to VTS, the VA offers other transportation options, including the Beneficiary Travel Program, which reimburses eligible veterans for travel costs related to medical appointments. This program may also provide pre-approved transportation solutions and arrange special mode transportation if needed. To be eligible for reimbursement through the Beneficiary Travel Program, veterans must meet certain criteria, such as having a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher, receiving VA pension benefits, or having a low income.
Furthermore, the VA partners with volunteer organizations and local community transportation providers to offer ride-share programs, volunteer driver services, and community shuttle services. One such organization is Disabled American Veterans (DAV), which operates the DAV Transportation Network in many states and offers free rides to veterans needing assistance getting to VA medical appointments. DAV has been providing this service since 1987 and, along with donations from Ford Motor Co., has donated over 3,600 vehicles to the cause.
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Reimbursements for travel costs
The VA's Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) offers veterans travel solutions to and from VA health care facilities. The program offers these services at little to no cost to eligible veterans through the Veterans Transportation Service (VTS). The VTS provides safe and reliable transportation to veterans who need assistance travelling to and from VA health care facilities and non-VA health care appointments.
The Beneficiary Travel (BT) program reimburses eligible veterans for costs incurred while travelling to and from VA health care facilities. The BT program may also provide pre-approved transportation solutions and arrange special mode transportation (SMT) at the request of the VA.
Veterans are reimbursed for travel to the closest VA health facility to their home that can provide the care they need. If a VA health care provider decides that a veteran needs to travel to another VA facility for care, the VA will reimburse the cost of travel to that facility. The VA will also reimburse the cost of travel to receive non-VA care that has been approved in advance, except in certain emergency situations. Transportation by a specially equipped vehicle, like an ambulance or wheelchair van, when needed and approved, is also covered.
The VA currently pays 41.5 cents ($0.415) per mile for approved, health-related travel. The mileage is calculated using Bing Maps, based on the fastest and shortest route from the veteran's home to the closest VA or authorized non-VA health facility that can provide the required care. The current deductible is $3 one-way or $6 round-trip for each appointment, up to $18 total per month. After paying $18 within one month, the VA will pay the full cost of approved travel for the rest of that month. The VA may also reimburse veterans for the actual cost, up to 50% of the local government employee rate, for meals or lodging.
Veterans can file a claim for reimbursement online through the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS). Reimbursements are paid through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).
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Transportation for veterans in rural areas
The US Department of Veterans Affairs offers the Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) to provide travel solutions to veterans who need assistance travelling to and from VA health care facilities. The program offers these services at little to no cost to eligible veterans.
The Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) is a part of the VTP and provides safe and reliable transportation to veterans who require assistance travelling to and from VA health care facilities and authorized non-VA health care appointments. The VTS also partners with service providers in local communities to serve veterans' transportation needs.
The Beneficiary Travel (BT) program is another part of the VTP and reimburses eligible veterans for costs incurred while travelling to and from VA health care facilities. The BT program may also provide pre-approved transportation solutions and arrange special mode transportation (SMT) at the request of the VA.
In addition to the VTP, there are other programs that provide transportation for veterans in rural areas. The Highly Rural Transportation Program (HRTP) offers medical transportation for veterans residing in 15 highly rural counties in New Mexico. The program provides free round-trip service for veterans to and from their VA or VA-eligible medical appointments.
DAV, one of the largest veterans service organizations in the US, also provides free transportation for injured and ill veterans to and from VA medical facilities. This service is available at more than 247 VA locations across the country and is operated by volunteer drivers.
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Partnerships with community transportation providers
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides transportation services to veterans through partnerships with community transportation providers and volunteer organizations. These services vary by location but ensure that veterans can get to their medical appointments.
One such organization is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation Network, which operates in many states and offers rides to veterans who need assistance getting to VA medical appointments. The DAV Transportation Network of Maryland, for example, provides free transportation for veterans to VA hospitals, medical facilities, and clinics with the support of the VA Voluntary Service (VAVS). The program is staffed by volunteer drivers and has helped thousands of veterans receive the medical attention they need.
In addition to the DAV, the VA also partners with ride-share companies and community shuttle services to provide transportation for veterans. These partnerships aim to fill the gaps in transportation services for veterans, particularly in rural and remote areas, and ensure that all qualifying veterans have access to safe and reliable transportation to receive the healthcare they deserve.
The VA also works with Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and community transportation providers to establish Mobility Managers at each local VA facility. These Mobility Managers help veterans meet their transportation needs and coordinate the various transportation options available through the VA's network of partners.
Through these partnerships with community transportation providers and volunteer organizations, the VA is committed to ensuring that veterans have the support they need to access healthcare services, regardless of their location or personal circumstances.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the VA provides transportation to VA hospitals through the Veterans Transportation Service (VTS).
The VTS is a free service for qualifying veterans.
You may qualify for the VTS if you are enrolled in VA healthcare and have a VA-authorized appointment. Priority is often given to veterans with disabilities, veterans living in rural or remote areas, and veterans who lack access to private or public transportation.
To schedule transportation, you can contact your nearest VTS site or Point of Contact. You can find a listing of VTS sites and Points of Contact in your area by clicking on your state on the VTS website.
In addition to the VTS, the VA offers the Beneficiary Travel Program, which reimburses eligible veterans for travel costs related to medical appointments. The VA also partners with local community transportation providers and volunteer organizations to offer ride-share programs, volunteer driver services, and community shuttle services.
