Travel and accommodation assistance
Last updated on October 16, 2023Programs and services are available to help with the cost of medical travel and accommodations for B.C. residents who must travel from their home to access medical care.
Canadian Cancer Society
Financial Assistance: Travel Treatment Fund offers payments directly to cancer patients to cover some costs of travelling to treatment (e.g. fuel, childcare). Eligibility for the program has been significantly expanded.
A special financial supplement is now available for clients who need to receive a bone marrow transplant at the Vancouver General Hospital over an extended period and have to travel more than 45 minutes to get there.
Volunteer Driver Transportation: At no cost to clients, Wheels of Hope connects people who need transportation to treatment with volunteer drivers in Prince George, Vancouver Island and in the Interior with expansion planned for underserved areas on Vancouver Island and in the Kootenay region.
Accommodation: Canadian Cancer Society lodges provide places for people who need to travel from their home community for treatment in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and Prince George. There is no out-of-pocket costs for patients.
For more information, visit cancer.ca or call 1-888-939-3333.
Hope Air
Airline travel and accommodation: Hope Air provides free round-trip travel for patients and their escorts when travelling long distance for care. They can also coordinate Canadian Cancer Society Lodge accommodation where available or hotels, as well as free Uber or taxi transportation from the airport to hospital in select communities.
For more information, visit hopeair.ca, call 1-877-346-4673 or email info@hopeair.ca.
Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC)
The Travel Assistance Program is a partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transportation carriers. The carriers offer discounted fares to residents travelling within B.C. for specialist medical care. Find out if you are eligible, how to apply and review a list of transportation carriers.
BC Family Residence Program
The BC Family Residence Program provides accommodation assistance to enable families to stay together when their child requires medical care at BC Children's Hospital or Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, including premature babies and newborns with other health concerns.
Enhanced travel assistance is also provided through ground transportation for children and air transportation for patients of all ages.
Health Connections
Health Connections is a regional medical travel assistance program implemented by four regional health authorities which provide transportation options to help reduce costs for rural residents.
Learn about which health authorities have programs and what services are available.
Medical travel accommodation listing
A number of hotels in B.C. provide discounted accommodation rates for individuals and families who must stay away from home overnight to obtain medical care. Review the hotels that may be available to you.