Additional Improvements for Medical Transportation Assistance

Minister of Labrador Affairs Lisa Dempster announced additional improvements for patients who avail of the Medical Transportation Assistance Program.

These improvements are effective for travel beginning on or after December 1, 2023, and include a new 85 per cent flight assistance rate for Labrador-Grenfell Health Zone residents travelling in- and out-of-province with airfare costs greater than $8,000 over 12 months and the elimination of the $400 deductible for residents of Island health zones who travel for medical appointments out-of-province.

An increase in assistance for residents of Island health zones who travel out-of-province by air, meaning residents of the province are entitled to the same airfare assistance rates when they must travel out-of-province to access specialized insured medical services.

The extra financial help for patients and their escorts is offered upfront or after travel is complete and consists of $1,000 in total which can be applied towards the cost of first eligible flights, 75 per cent towards additional eligible airfare costs between $1,000 and $8,000 and 85 per cent towards costs greater than $8,000 accumulated over 12 months.

There is also an increase in the claimable per diem rate for purchased accommodations to $150 per night in-province and $175 per night out-of-province and an increase in the private vehicle mileage rate from 20 cents to 25 cents per kilometre for patients who drive more than 4,000 kilometres during 12 months.