Most veterans don't know the VA will reimburse travel costs for medical appointments. Here's who qualifies, how much you can get, and how to file.
If you travel to VA medical appointments, you may be eligible for travel pay reimbursement — and most qualifying veterans never file for it. The VA's Beneficiary Travel program reimburses eligible veterans for the cost of traveling to and from VA healthcare facilities, and the money adds up fast if you have regular appointments.
The current mileage reimbursement rate is set by the General Services Administration and applies per round trip. You can also be reimbursed for tolls and parking fees. For veterans who need to travel long distances, the VA may cover airfare, bus fare, or train fare for authorized medical appointments. In some cases, lodging costs are also covered.
Who qualifies? Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or higher are automatically eligible. Veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition qualify regardless of their overall rating. Veterans receiving a VA pension, veterans whose income falls below a set threshold, and veterans who can't afford the travel costs can also qualify. If you're unsure, file anyway — the worst that happens is the claim is denied.
Filing for travel pay has gotten much easier. The VA now offers the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS), an online portal where you can submit claims after your appointment. You can access it through VA.gov or through the check-in kiosks at many VA facilities. Most claims are processed and paid within a few weeks. You can also file at the travel office in your VA medical center.
One important detail: you need to file within 30 days of your appointment. After 30 days, the claim can still be submitted but may require additional documentation and approval. For regular appointments, make it a habit to submit your travel claim the same day — it takes about two minutes through the online system.
If you have multiple appointments across different VA facilities, each trip is a separate claim. Veterans who are referred to community care providers through the VA can also claim travel reimbursement for those visits. The key is that the care must be authorized by the VA.
For veterans who attend frequent appointments — physical therapy, mental health counseling, specialty care — travel reimbursement can amount to hundreds of dollars per year. It's one of the most straightforward benefits to claim, yet it remains one of the most underused.