2025 Medical Transportation Benefit Updates Meal Rate Increase The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has updated the meal rates within the Medical Transportation (MT) Benefit to better assist Clients on medical travel. As of December 1, 2025, the revised meal rates are outlined in the table below:
Fee Schedule for Meal Rates
| | Rate type | Previous Rate
| Updated Rate effective December 1, 2025 | Daily rate for same-day trips lasting more than six hours.
| $35.50 per person
(5+ years) | $36.75 per person
(5+ years) | $17 per person
(under 5 years) | $17.50 per person
(under 5 years) | Nightly rate for overnight trips up to six nights in duration.
| $70 per night per person
(5+ years) | $73.00 per night per person
(5+ years) | $30 per night per person
(under 5 years) | $31.00 per night per person
(under 5 years) | Weekly rate for overnight trips of seven nights or more.
| $283 per week per Client | $294.75 per week per Client | | $425 per week per Client and approved escort* | $442.75 per week per Client and approved escort* |
Commercial Accommodation Rate Guide Update To support Clients in accessing safe and comfortable accommodations while travelling for medical care, the FNHA has updated its commercial accommodation rate guide based on current market prices. As of December 1, 2025, the table below outlines the updated commercial accommodation guide rates: Fee Schedule for Nightly Accommodations
| | | High Season (May-Oct) | Low Season (Nov-Apr) | | Metro Vancouver | $315 | $220 | | Victoria | $265 | $170 | | Rest of BC | $175 | $160 |
For detailed information about the changes to accommodation rates, please visit our news post here.
Updated Exception requirements To support PT Clerks by streamlining the travel arrangement process, effective December 1, 2025, the following Exception requirements have been updated: - Long-term stays: The “Stay over 5 nights" Exception threshold has been updated to stays of seven nights or more.
- Preventative screening programs: An Exception is no longer required for travel to provincially or health authority-funded screening programs.
- Non-FNHA-funded treatment centres: Exceptions are no longer required for substance use treatment travel, provided the treatment centre is licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, or registered through the Assisted Living Regulation.
- Clients undergoing sedation: An Exception is no longer required for escort requests when a Client is undergoing surgery or a procedure that involves sedation and will require assistance afterward.
For more details on the Exception requirement changes, please visit our news post here. Mileage Rates The FNHA has transitioned the temporary mileage rate adjustment to a permanent increase to better support Clients who use their private vehicles for medical travel. In response to the current economic environment, an additional $0.04/km increase was applied in April 2025. As of April 1, 2025, the permanent mileage rates are: | Standard Mileage Rate: | $0.29 per kilometre | | Special Mileage Rate (for remote communities, as specified in their Funding Agreements): | $0.35 per kilometre
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| A full history of MT mileage rate changes can be found here. For detailed information about these changes, please visit our news post here.
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About this Benefit
For many First Nations people, particularly those living in rural or remote areas, it can be challenging to access necessary medical care. The First Nations Health Benefits (FNHB) Program helps address these challenges through the MT Benefit.
FNHB works in partnership with First Nations communities to deliver the MT Benefit. If you need support accessing MT services, your key contacts are Community Patient Travel (PT) Clerks or FNHB MT Assessors. They can guide you through the process and help ensure you receive the assistance you need.
For an overview of the MT Benefit, you can access our MT factsheet here. For detailed policy information, you can access the MT Benefit Schedule here.
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What My Plan Covers
The MT Benefit is intended to provide financial support when a Client is accessing medically necessary health services not available in their community of residence. This support may include coverage towards the cost of transportation, meals and accommodation. It is intended as a supplement and may not cover the full cost of your travel.
MT Benefits may support travel to many different health-related services, such as:
- Medical services covered by MSP or a public health agency;
- Services covered by your FNHB plan (e.g., dental, vision, etc.);
- Traditional healers; or
- FNHA-funded treatment centres for substance use treatment.
MT Benefits cover travel to the closest appropriate provider, using the most efficient and economical mode of transportation that best suits your medical needs and condition.
How Do I Access Coverage?
Most Clients should contact their community's PT Clerk to access MT Benefits. If your community does not have a PT Clerk or you're unsure who to contact, please call FNHB MT Operations at 1-855-550-5454.
Steps to access MT Benefit Coverage:
1. Submit a Medical Transportation Request Form at least 5 business days before your trip to get prior approval. You will also need to provide written confirmation of your appointment from your healthcare provider. Please note that if you do not receive prior approval, you may need to reschedule your appointment or pay for your travel costs upfront and request reimbursement later.
2. Your PT Clerk or MT Assessor at FNHB will make your travel arrangements and send you the details.
3. Attend your appointment as scheduled and get a signed confirmation of attendance slip from your healthcare provider.
4. After your trip, submit your confirmation of attendance slip. Any outstanding reimbursements will be processed once you submit this slip. Please note that Clients who do not attend their appointment may be asked to pay back the cost of their travel.
If you have any questions about your MT Benefits, how to access coverage, or why a claim was denied, please call FNHB MT Operations at 1-855-550-5454.
Meal Rates
The MT Benefit supplements the cost of meals in accordance with the following rates (effective December 1, 2025):
Fee schedule for meal rates
|
Daily rate for same-day trips lasting more than six hours.
| $36.75 per person, five years of age and over |
| $17.50 per person under five years of age |
Nightly rate for overnight trips up to six nights in duration | $73.00 per night per person, five years of age or over |
| $31.00 per night per person under 5 years of age |
Weekly rate for overnight trips of seven nights or more
| $294.75 per week per Client |
| $442.75 per week per Client and approved escort* |
*Note: The weekly rate of $442.75 per week is an inclusive rate for the Client and escort and applies only when the Client is an outpatient. An approved escort supporting a Client in the hospital will continue to access the weekly rate of $294.75 per week.
Escorts
If you need help getting to or from your medical appointment, your MT Benefits may provide coverage for an escort to support you while travelling. This could be a family member or a friend who provides the support you need. You may need an escort if:
- You have a physical or mental disability and need help with daily tasks;
- You are undergoing a medical procedure like day surgery;
- You face a language barrier and need a translator; or
- You are travelling to give birth.
In some cases, you may need to provide documentation from your healthcare provider to confirm the need for an escort.
What My Plan Does Not Cover
Some types of travel and expenses are not covered under the MT Benefit. These are called Exclusions and cannot be reviewed through the Exceptions or Appeals process.
- Some examples include: Compassionate travel (e.g., travelling to visit a family member who is receiving medical treatment);
- Payment of fees for a doctor's note;
- Travel back to your community of residence if you become sick or injured while away from home;
- Travel when the medically necessary service is available in your community;
- Travel to access medical appointments located outside of Canada;
- Travel to access services that are not considered medically necessary; or
- Travel where the only purpose is to pick up items that do not need to be fitted (e.g., prescriptions, prescription glasses or contacts and some medical supplies and equipment).
Appeals
When a coverage request for travel has been denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. Items and services that are Exclusions cannot be appealed. See the Appeals page for more information about the appeals process.
Client Forms
The forms below are for Clients whose travel is being arranged by FNHB MT Operations. If a PT Clerk is arranging your travel, please contact them for the appropriate forms.
Medical Transportation Checklist
Medical Transportation Request Form
Medical Transportation Confirmation of Appointment Form
Medical Transportation Escort Form
Medical Transportation Confirmation of Attendance Form
