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Va travel pay - reimbursement, eligibility, how to file, and more.

If you’re like the millions of other Vets in the nation, you’re probably traveling a lot for healthcare. No matter what you’re seeking help for or how long your commute is, VA travel pay can usually help you get reimbursed for the difference. Sound good? Learn more about it below! Read next: Your Guide to Using My HealtheVet for Veteran Healthcare Needs

What Is VA Travel Pay?

VA travel reimbursement is money that the VA gives you to cover the cost of travel relating to approved healthcare visits for patients and caregivers. You can receive reimbursement for transportation, approved meals, and approved lodging expenses. In this day and age, gas prices are skyrocketing, bus costs are expensive, plane tickets are astronomical, and every other form of transportation isn’t getting any cheaper. Luckily, this form of VA reimbursement is here to make sure you don't go broke just for trying to stay healthy.

Do I Qualify For VA Travel Pay?

VA travel pay eligibility is for Veterans and their caregivers who are “traveling for care at a VA health facility or for VA-approved care at a non-VA health facility in your community.” Additionally, to receive VA travel pay, at least one of the following statements must be true:

• Your VA disability is at 30% or higher.
• You’re traveling for a service-connected health issue (even if your rating is under 30%).
• You receive a VA pension.
• Your income is less than the maximum annual VA pension rate.
• You cannot afford your travel expenses.
• You’re traveling to get a service dog, for VA-approved transplant care, or for a scheduled VA claim exam.

For caregivers, at least one of the following statements must be true if they’re providing care for a Veteran or non-Veteran:

• “The person is your family caregiver under the National Caregiver Program traveling to receive caregiver training or to support your care.
• That individual is your medically required attendant traveling with you to support your care.
• The person is your transplant care donor or support person.”

VA Travel Pay Deductible

If you’re looking for payment for travel related to healthcare, keep in mind that, like your health insurance, you’ll be required to pay a deductible before being paid for any travel expenses. Currently, the deductible for a one-way trip for an appointment is $3, whereas a round-trip appointment will cost you $6. The payment won’t go above $18 power month. But why charge a deductible at all? According to the VA, this is a requirement, as they must withhold a certain amount of money from travel reimbursement payments. This money goes toward assisting with travel and medical care for other Veterans. For many Veterans with low incomes, they may not have to make this payment. Reach out to your local beneficiary office to see if they may be willing to waive the deductible.

How To Get VA Travel Pay

Before you earn your travel pay, you have to set a few things up. First, you’ll need to create a VA travel pay login via Veteran Travel Claim Entry (the VA travel pay portal). You can start the process here . Then, you’ll want to use one of the following existing login platforms or create an all-new login for one of the platforms to get started:

• VA PIV Card
• My HealtheVet

However, there are more options you can choose from, which can be seen on their category page .

Setting Up a Direct Deposit

After logging in or creating an account, you need to set up direct deposit for easy pay. You can do this by filling out VA Form 10091 , for which you’ll need your bank’s name, address, and routing number in addition to your own account number (and whether it’s checking or savings), address, and social security number. Then, you can fax your completed form to 512-460-5221 or bring it in person to your local beneficiary travel office. After submitting your form, log in to your travel claim profile and double-check that the information for your direct deposit is correct. If it’s not, you can click “Request Profile Updates” to make any necessary changes. If you’re using BTSSS VA travel pay for reimbursement, check out this video from the VA to get started with direct deposit and payments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-joySVMhso&list=PL3AQ_JVoBEyzJnt68Eq_mPBdyZfkvq0Wu&index=3

Keep Track of Receipts

When you’re traveling for healthcare expenses, make sure you get a copy of all your receipts and keep them in a safe location. Additionally, track your car's mileage by writing down the mileage before and after your trip and calculating the difference. Additionally, the mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents per mile. Other eligible costs you should keep receipts for include:

• Road tolls.
• Taxi fares.
• Plane tickets.
• Bus, subway, or train tickets.
• Meals and lodging, in specific cases.

Filing a Claim With the VA Travel Pay Form

Once you’ve completed the steps above, it’s time to file your claim. To file your VA travel pay claim, you’ll need to log in to your Veteran Travel Claim Entry account as before. From there, you’ll submit your receipts and mileage. Keep in mind that you must submit a claim within 30 days of the expense to be eligible for reimbursement. Furthermore, if you try to file a claim outside of that window, you will not be paid for your travel expenses.

How To Check on VA Travel Pay

You might also want to know how to check on VA travel pay after you’ve filed your claim. You can visit your account for VA travel pay online to check on the status of your payment or call your local beneficiary office . Once your VA travel pay reimbursement has been approved, it will be automatically deposited through your bank account via an electronic funds transfer (EFT), and there will be no need for further action from you.

VA Travel Pay Problems

Unfortunately, there are issues users may run into from time to time. This includes reports of Veterans not being notified of the submission deadline and policy changes during the pandemic era.To avoid common problems, be sure to file your claim within 30 days of incurring the expenses. Otherwise, the VA is likely to deny reimbursement as the extensions during COVID-19 expired on June 9, 2023.Additionally, there have been multiple reports of issues using the VA’s online travel reimbursement system accepting claims due to the inability to properly fill out the form. For example, a healthcare professional or facility not being listed online.Despite the BTSSS aiming to handle 90% of the claims from Veterans effectively, government oversight reports show that these goals have not been met.Developed by Liberty IT Solutions, which is now a subsidiary of Booz Allen Hamilton, Veterans, and staff alike continue to experience VA travel pay problems using BTSSS.Measures to improve these issues are already underway, including the use of kiosks using a different app, VetLink, that is being tested at various VA sites throughout the country, including Charleston, South Carolina.If you are experiencing issues, call the toll-free VA travel pay problems phone number Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET at 1 (855) 574-7292 (TTY: 711) for assistance.While VA travel pay reimbursement options are less than perfect, they do exist. Therefore, be sure to document your expenses, be prepared for filing over the phone should you experience issues online, file within 30 days, and reach out for help as soon as possible to avoid being denied. Suggested read: Hazardous and Toxic Materials PACT Act Expansion Starts March 5, 2024 Sources:

• VA travel pay reimbursement, VA. Accessed March 2024. https://www.va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/
• Goals Not Met for Implementation of the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System, CIGIE. Accessed March 2024.

*Updated by Buddy Blouin 3/1/2024

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HEALTH & FITNESS

• VA Mileage Reimbursement

Traveling to medical appointments, tests, and procedures can get expensive for veterans and their caregivers. The costs of gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, parking fees, and other transportation expenses add up quickly. The VA travel pay reimbursement program provides a vital source of financial assistance to help veterans and qualifying non-veterans cover these travel costs and other qualifying out-of-pocket expenses related to reaching VA health care services. 

• Eligible veterans can receive mileage, parking, and tolls reimbursement at 41.5 cents per mile .
• Covered expenses include public transport, rideshares, and lodging for required overnight stays.
• Eligibility criteria include VA disability rating, receiving a VA pension, or meeting income requirements.
• There’s a deductible for reimbursements, waivable under certain conditions.

If you are a veteran who needs to travel for medical care, you may be eligible for reimbursement of your travel costs. The VA travel pay reimbursement program offers reimbursement for mileage, transportation, lodging, and other travel costs related to medical appointments. For 2023 and 2024, the VA mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents per mile driven in a personal vehicle. Other covered costs include parking, tolls, rideshares, public transit, airfare, and hotel stays when required. 

Learn more about VA mileage reimbursement eligibility guidelines, which expenses are covered, reimbursement rates, and how to file a claim.

• What Is VA Travel Reimbursement?

The VA travel pay reimbursement program provides reimbursement to defray travel costs for veterans and qualified non-veterans traveling for medical appointments. This vital program covers expenses like the following:

• Gasoline for personal vehicles
• Fares for public transportation, including buses, subways, and metro trains
• Rideshare services
• Lodging when overnight stays are necessary
• Parking fees
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and incidentals for multi-day trips

This program covers out-of-pocket costs for transportation, accommodations, or meals related to medical care at VA facilities. You can also seek reimbursement for travel related to non-emergency care at non-VA facilities if you receive VA approval in advance.  

• VA Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Mileage reimbursement is available for distances driven in a personal car. The VA updates mileage rates annually to align with the standard mileage rate published by the Internal Revenue Service. This number estimates the cost to operate a vehicle per mile driven based on factors like fuel prices, maintenance, repairs, and more. 

In 2024, the VA mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents per mile driven, the same rate as in 2023. 

In addition to the per-mile rate, you must meet a deductible before receiving reimbursement payments. The current deductible is $3 one-way or $6 round-trip for each appointment you attend, up to $18 monthly. After you have met the $18 monthly deductible, the VA will cover the rest of the cost of your approved travel for the remainder of the month. 

If you are eligible for VA travel pay reimbursement, the VA waives the deductible if you also meet any of the following criteria: 

• You receive a VA pension .
• You are traveling for a VA compensation and pension exam , or C&P exam.
• You are a veteran with a non-service-connected disability whose income in the prior year was below the maximum annual VA pension rate.
• You are a non-service connected veteran, and your earnings estimate for the current year does not exceed the VA’s maximum yearly pension rate.
• You are a veteran with a service-connected disability whose prior year income falls beneath the VA national income limit for prescriptions and health care benefits.
• You are a veteran with a service-connected disability whose earnings expectations for this year do not exceed the national income health care benefits.

If the VA determines you qualify for a waiver, it will automatically waive your deductible. You can also request a waiver in person or in writing.

A veteran with a 100 percent disability rating can receive special monthly compensation through Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance . These benefits do not count as a VA pension for determining a waiver. 

Am I Eligible for VA Travel Reimbursement?

Eligibility for VA travel reimbursement depends on your status as either:

• A veteran receiving VA health benefits
• A non-veteran caregiver

Veteran Eligibility

Veterans are typically eligible if they travel to a VA or VA-approved health care facility in their area for care and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You have a VA disability rating of 30 percent or higher.
• You are traveling for treatment of a service-related condition, even if their rating is below 30 percent.
• You receive a VA pension.
• You meet certain income requirements.
• You cannot afford to pay for travel as defined in VA guidelines
• You are traveling to get a service dog, receive VA-approved transplant care, or undergo a scheduled VA C&P exam.

Non-Veteran Eligibility

The VA may reimburse certain non-veterans for transportation and related lodging and meals. Caregivers and others can also qualify in some instances if they are one of the following:

• The veteran’s support person or transplant care donor
• The veteran’s family caregiver under the VA Caregiver Support Program who is traveling to support the veteran's care or receive caregiver training
• The veteran’s medically required attendant who is supporting the veteran's care by traveling with them

What Is Covered by VA Mileage Reimbursements?

The VA travel pay reimbursement program helps pay for reasonable costs related to reaching medical appointments at VA facilities. With proper documentation, you can get reimbursement for the following:

• Private Transportation: This includes gasoline costs when driving your car, tolls, and parking fees.
• Public Transportation: Fares for buses, subways, trains, Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis are reimbursable.
• Lodging and Meals: When overnight travel is required, lodging, meals, and any incidentals related to your trip are included.

Claims can include a combination of these expenses. For example, you could get reimbursed for mileage to the airport plus airfare and hotel costs at your medical destination.

The key is that all included costs must directly relate to travel for VA-authorized health care purposes. The VA does not cover things like rental cars, entertainment, alcohol, and extra hotel nights that are not clinically required.  

Qualifying mileage reimbursement covers travel to and from VA health care facilities for the following:

• Regular checkups, appointments, and consultations
• Urgent care or emergency room visits
• Lab tests, diagnostics, medical imaging
• Surgeries and inpatient procedures
• Physical and mental health therapy
• Counseling and support groups
• Pharmacy prescription pick-ups
• Any other VA-approved health services

With proper documentation, the VA may also cover travel to non-VA medical facilities in certain situations, such as travel for emergencies to the closest appropriate medical facility.

How To Apply for VA Mileage Reimbursement

You can submit claims for reimbursement online through eBenefits or by mail using  VA Form 10-3542 . Filing online is typically faster. Here are overviews of each process:

Online Application Steps

• Go to eBenefits and log into your account.
• Select “Apply for Benefits” and choose “Apply for Travel Reimbursement.”
• Enter details on authorized travel, such as dates, purposes, and locations. 
• List odometer readings for mileage claims.
• Input any other costs, such as airfare, parking, or lodging.
• Upload digital receipts and documents. 
• Carefully review and then submit your claim.

Filing by Mail Steps

• Obtain VA Form 10-3542 from your VA facility or online.
• Fill in your personal information and trip details. 
• Attach paper copies of receipts and supporting documents.
• Make a copy of the entire package for your records. 
• Mail the original materials to your VA regional office.

After submission, the VA will review your claim and supporting documents. You will receive status updates and a decision by mail or online through eBenefits. Approved payments are deposited or mailed.

If you have questions about the VA travel pay reimbursement program, contact Veterans Guide. We can also help you appeal a VA disability claim or obtain a higher VA rating for your disability.

Want to Increase Your VA Rating?

Matt Coveney

Matt is a VA-accredited attorney who co-founded NAVDA in 2023. Matt has helped veterans with the VA disability appeals process since he became accredited in 2021.

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Veterans Can Be Reimbursed for Travel to Medical Appointments

Did you know the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay your travel expenses to medical appointments?

To be eligible for travel reimbursement, you must be meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition;
• A disabled veteran rated at least 30%;
• Traveling for a scheduled compensation or pension examination;
• Receiving a VA pension;
• With limited income;
• Traveling to receive a VA-authorized service dog.

How Much Travel Will The VA Pay?

The VA will pay you a flat rate of 41.5 cents per mile to use your vehicle. If you take a rideshare, taxi or public transportation, they will reimburse you for the actual cost of travel. They also will reimburse you for tolls, parking and other travel costs.

For anything other than mileage reimbursement, you usually are required to submit copies of receipts. You either can scan these or take a picture with your phone.

Those who get reimbursed for qualifying travel normally also have a deductible amount of $3 for a one-way trip or $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $18 per calendar month. That means if you travel a round trip of 20 miles to reach your VA appointments, you would be reimbursed $2.30 ($8.30 for a 20-mile round trip, minus the $6 deductible). However, these deductibles can be waived for financial hardship.

The VA also will pay travel reimbursement for an authorized family caregiver, under the VA Family Caregiver Program , or other medically required attendants.

In certain situations, the VA will reimburse you for specialized medically necessary transportation services like an ambulance, if required. For this type of transportation, you need VA pre-approval. Contact your provider for more details. The VA will also pay for lodging in certain situations if required.

The mileage rates and deductibles can change annually, depending on economic factors.

Filing A Travel Claim

The VA is trying to get everyone to file their travel claims online via its new Beneficiary Travel Self Service System, or BTSS . If you have problems filing online, you can file a travel claim at kiosks located in VA medical centers, help desks or patient services offices at many VA hospitals or local clinics. You also can file a hard-copy claim via postal mail.

On their YouTube channel, the Veterans Health Administration says in a video explaining the online filing system that those who file a claim online should see payment in 3-5 business days, while those who file other ways may have to wait up to 45 days for any reimbursement.

Accessing the BTSS system is done using your MyHealtheVet, DSLogin or by creating a verified account with the ID.me system. Once logged into the system, your VA appointments are prefilled, allowing you to submit a claim in just a few clicks.

Those traveling to a disability compensation medical exam often receive mileage checks automatically from the contractor without having to file a claim with the VA, however the contractors' websites often do not let you claim additional fees such as public transit, rideshares, etc.

Is it worth it to spend three hours filing a claim for $2.30? Everyone's situation is different. But if you're regularly dropping $20-$50 on an Uber or parking and spending three hours of your day in medical appointments, it may make things a bit less painful.

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