THE ROYAL Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust has urged patients to check whether they could be eligible to claim back travel expenses.
Patients who receive certain benefits and exemptions may be able to claim back expenses related to their travel to and from care appointments and services through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.
Claimants of a number of social benefits and exemptions have travel costs associated with their specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests reimbursed through the scheme.
Patients who qualify for Universal Credit, Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Child Tax Credits, or have an HC2 or HC3 Low Income Certificate, may also qualify for help when travelling for NHS services.
The scheme also aids those who don’t qualify for any of these benefits, but who are on low income and have savings of less than £16,000.
The Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust has warned that many patients may not realise that they can claim travel costs back, and encourages those who claim benefits or are named on an NHS tax credit exemption certificate to check whether they’re eligible.
Dom Hardy, chief operating officer of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said “It’s vital for patients to be able to attend hospital appointments to prevent long-term problems with their health.”
Mr Hardy said that the scheme is there to help people who find the cost of travelling to appointments a challenge, and aims to make sure that “everyone has an equal opportunity to access the healthcare they need.”
To check eligibility, patients can consult the cashier’s office at their place of treatment, the Patient Advice and Liaison Services, or visit the NHS website.
Reimbursement can be claimed at the cashier’s office at the patient’s place of treatment, with travel receipts and proof of both referral and benefit qualification.
