The Classic Wanderer

A collection of travel, outdoor and experience stories by Sabrina Anggraini

Traveling world

How Long Does It Take To Get Va Travel Reimbursement?

How Long Does It Take To Get Va Travel Reimbursement
If you’re a Veteran or caregiver who’s eligible for general VA health care travel reimbursement, you can file your claims online. General reimbursement covers regular transportation, such as by car, plane, train, bus, taxi, or light rail. Read this page to find out how to file a claim online through the Beneficiary Travel Self Service System (BTSSS).

  1. Set up direct deposit If you haven’t already set up direct deposit to receive your reimbursement, you’ll need to do that now. Get instructions for how to set up direct deposit for travel pay reimbursement
  2. Sign in to the travel claim entry portal. You can sign in with any of these accounts:
    • Login.gov
    • ID.me
    • DS Logon
    • My HealtheVet
    • VA PIV

    If you don’t have one of these accounts, you can create a Login.gov or ID.me account and then sign in.

  3. Go to your Beneficiary Travel profile. Once you sign in, you’ll go to the portal welcome page. Check the box to agree to the terms and conditions. Then select Proceed to Profile Review, Note: If this doesn’t work, make sure you’ve checked the terms and conditions. Then wait a few seconds and try again.
  4. Review your profile and go to your dashboard. Save any needed updates to your personal, contact, or financial information. When you’re finished, select Proceed to My Dashboard, Note: Caregivers will first select Proceed to My Veteran List, then Select this Veteran to go to the dashboard of a specific Veteran.
  5. Create a claim. You can do this in either of these 2 ways:
    • Go to the “My Appointments” area. In the “Associated Appointments” column, select Create Claim for the appointment you’re claiming travel pay for.
    • Or go to the “My Claims” area. Select Create, Then select Create a Claim for the appointment you’re claiming travel pay for.

    This will open the “Initiate a Claim” form. Confirm or update your address. Then select Create Claim and Add Expenses, Get more details about this step in our YouTube videos: Play our video on how to submit a travel reimbursement claim for a VA facility appointment (YouTube) Play our video on how to submit a travel reimbursement claim for a non-VA facility appointment (YouTube)

  6. Add your expenses and receipts.
    • On the “Claim Expenses” page, make sure your appointment information and address is correct.
    • If you have receipts or proof of attendance records for non-VA care appointments, select Add Attachments, You can add up to 5 attachments.
    • Then choose an expense type. Follow the instructions to add information about each expense.

    Get more details about this step in our YouTube videos: Play our video on how to submit a travel reimbursement claim for a VA facility appointment (YouTube) Play our video on how to submit a travel reimbursement claim for a non-VA facility appointment (YouTube)

  7. Submit your claim. Review the Beneficiary Travel Agreement Notice.

    How much does the VA pay for travel reimbursements?

    How Long Does It Take To Get Va Travel Reimbursement One of the benefits veterans might be eligible to receive is financial reimbursement for travel to and from a VA medical center. Since the current system is set up to offer medical care to veterans at specific facilities, the VA allows vets to reclaim themoney they must spend to reach these facilities.

    1. In order to receive the benefits, veterans must track the number of miles they travel to reach a VA medical care hospital or center.
    2. They are then reimbursed 41.5 cents per mile minus a $3 deductible each way.
    3. They are eligible to receive up to $18 in travel reimbursements per calendar month.
    4. In some cases, the $3 deductible is waived if it poses a financial hardship to the vet.

    There is also an exception made for those undergoing a compensation or pension examination or for those who must travel via ambulance ora specially equipped vehicle.

    How long does it take for a VA check to arrive?

    How the Updated Travel Pay Policies Affected Veterans – How Long Does It Take To Get Va Travel Reimbursement The reimbursement policy has not always operated in the way in which it does today. Unfortunately, there were a number of concerns voiced when the policy was updated. In the previous system, any veteran who traveled to a VA hospital was immediately reimbursed with money on the day they made their visit.

    This means if there were any financial concerns about a doctor’s visit, the VA eased those concerns by providing immediate relief, Under the new program, vets have two options for receiving reimbursement. Vets who have a checking account are eligible to receive direct deposits into that account within three days of submitting their reimbursement claim.

    VA Travel Pay Reimbursement

    Veterans without a checking account or a checking account that does not allow for direct deposits receive a check via USPS within 10 days depending on the length of time it takes for the check to travel from the VA to their home. The updated system was part of a change to the overall update for the Department of Transportation’s payment system.

    1. According to VA officials, the update improved problems with fraudulent claims and misuse of funds.
    2. It also addressed some security and safety concerns and ensured that payments are made in a reliable manner.
    3. Data showed up to a quarter of those receiving benefits under the old system were not eligible for travel reimbursement, despite receiving it.

    Not all veterans agreed, though, that the new system was more efficient or more reliable, Many were concerned and those concerns were voiced by veterans’ organizations that felt the change might not be in the best interest of their members. They pointed out that many vets live in rural areas, live paycheck to paycheck, or don’t even have a bank account.

    1. They also noted that the system was unfair to people who lacked the advantage of a direct deposit checking account.
    2. There is also concern that not all who are eligible will receive travel pay.
    3. Some have even said they’d rather the errors occur and vets ineligible for travel reimbursement receive pay by mistake than to cheat any vet deserving of the reimbursement out of what has been earned.

    There has also been a great deal of concern voiced in recent years over correcting perceived problems with ineligible veterans receiving travel pay but not correcting serious problems within the VA that have affected the actual physical health of veterans.

    How do I apply for VA travel pay?

    How do I submit a travel reimbursement claim? – VA is phasing in a new web-based portal to submit and process beneficiary travel claims beginning July 2020 and continuing through November 2020. The new portal, the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS), is VA’s preferred method to receive travel reimbursement claims.

    How often do you get reimbursed for travel expenses?

    The Department of Veterans Affairs is making it easier for veterans and eligible beneficiaries to submit travel claims for traveling to receive medical care. Currently, the VA will reimburse the following groups for traveling to receive medical care at a VA facility, or for VA-approved care at a private facility:

    1. Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30% or more;
    2. Veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition;
    3. Veterans receiving a VA pension;
    4. Veterans traveling for scheduled compensation or pension examinations;
    5. Veterans whose income does not exceed the maximum VA pension rate;

    Veterans in the above categories and some traveling companions may be reimbursed 41.5 cents per mile for qualifying travel. The reimbursement usually changes annually based on inflation. Those who do 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.

    1. That means if you travel a roundtrip 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).
    2. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.
    3. Tolls, parking and the cost of public transportation are also reimbursed.

    Veterans who must travel with an attendant may also be reimbursed for their companion’s travel in certain circumstances. Currently, those seeking reimbursement for medical travel must file their travel claims using a paper form or through specially designated kiosks at VA medical centers.

    • Bay Pines
    • Houston
    • Kansas City
    • Minneapolis
    • Salt Lake City

    By the end of November, the VA electronic travel claim program should be available nationwide. Eligible veterans and beneficiaries will be able to visit VA’s AccessVA website to file their claims.The new program will be known as the Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System or BTSSS. The program promises to speed payments and cut down on errors that occur when using paper travel claims.