A patient may be eligible for MTAP if they have active MCP coverage, travel outside their area of residence to access a specialized insured medical service, travel from their Newfoundland and Labrador community of residence to receive the service, and incur eligible out-of-pocket travel expenses. Assistance may also be available when a patient travels to a more distant service location within Newfoundland and Labrador to access care sooner.

MTAP may provide assistance when travel is required for eligible specialized insured medical services, such as specialist physician appointments, treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, or radiation, and certain diagnostic tests. A list of eligible specialized services is available in Step 1 – How MTAP Works.

Examples of travel and services that are not eligible include second medical opinions, travelling outside Newfoundland and Labrador to receive care sooner when the service is available in the province, travelling outside Newfoundland and Labrador or Canada when the same service, or a suitable alternative, is available closer to home, experimental treatments or participation in clinical trials, and travel that includes personal, leisure, or business purposes that are not directly related to an eligible medical service.

Yes. MTAP is a payer of last resort. If the patient has private insurance or another source of travel funding, those benefits must be used before applying to MTAP.

If the patient has private insurance coverage for travel expenses, the claimant must provide a copy of the insurer’s decision showing what was covered and any amounts paid. Claims requiring private insurance information will not be assessed until the required documentation has been received.

Yes. MTAP payments are issued by direct deposit only. The claimant must complete the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supplier registration process before payment can be issued. Information on how to set up direct deposit, including links to the required supplier forms, is available in Step 5 – Direct Deposit.

Usually, yes. Most patients pay eligible travel expenses first and submit a claim to MTAP after travel is complete. Labrador–Grenfell Health Zone residents may qualify for MTAP’s Flight Pass Program, which can provide approved in-province airfare before travel takes place. Information about the Flight Pass Program is available in Step 3 – Application and Claim Packages.

Patients who need help covering travel costs may also wish to explore support programs such as Hope Air. Depending on eligibility, Hope Air may be able to assist with flights, accommodations, and other travel-related expenses associated with accessing medical care. Information about Hope Air is available in Step 2 – Other Sources of Assistance.

The claimant should use the claim form that matches the travel:

• In-Province Flights and Other Travel Costs Claim for airfare, accommodations, and other travel expenses or when claiming private vehicle expenses together with other eligible travel expenses for one in-province trip.
• In-Province Private Vehicle Claim for private vehicle mileage only.
• Out-of-Province Flights and Other Travel Costs Claim for one out-of-province trip.

Information on choosing the correct claim form and completing the form is available in Step 3 – Application and Claim Packages.

A claim must include proof that the patient attended the medical service and any required receipts. Depending on the patient’s circumstances, additional documentation may also be required, such as private insurance information, an out-of-province referral, or escort documentation.

Receipts are required for airfare, purchased accommodations, taxis, buses, ferries, shuttles, and car rentals. Receipts are not required for meal allowances, private accommodations, or private vehicle mileage.

Depending on the patient’s circumstances, MTAP may help with eligible costs such as airfare, accommodations, meal allowances, private vehicle mileage, taxis, ferries, buses, and certain car rental expenses. Program limits and conditions apply.

Accommodation assistance may be available when the treatment location is more than 200 kilometres one way from the patient’s community of residence. Some exceptions may apply.

An escort may be eligible when a physician or nurse practitioner confirms that an escort is medically required, when the patient is under 18 years of age, or when the patient is 80 years of age or older. For more information about escort eligibility, required documentation, and eligible expenses, refer to the MTAP Escort Guide available in Step 1 – How MTAP Works.

The claimant must submit the claim within 12 months of the date of the specialized insured medical service. For travel lasting more than 30 consecutive days, claims must be submitted monthly.