VA Mileage Reimbursement

Traveling to medical appointments, tests, and procedures can get expensive for veterans and their caregivers. The costs of gas, wear and tear on your vehicle, parking fees, and other transportation expenses add up quickly. The VA travel pay reimbursement program provides a vital source of financial assistance to help veterans and qualifying non-veterans cover these travel costs and other qualifying out-of-pocket expenses related to reaching VA health care services.

Key Takeaways

Eligible veterans can receive mileage, parking, and tolls reimbursement at 41.5 cents per mile.
Covered expenses include public transport, rideshares, and lodging for required overnight stays.
Eligibility criteria include VA disability rating, receiving a VA pension, or meeting income requirements.
There’s a deductible for reimbursements, waivable under certain conditions.

If you are a veteran who needs to travel for medical care, you may be eligible for reimbursement of your travel costs. The VA travel pay reimbursement program offers reimbursement for mileage, transportation, lodging, and other travel costs related to medical appointments. For 2023 and 2024, the VA mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents per mile driven in a personal vehicle. Other covered costs include parking, tolls, rideshares, public transit, airfare, and hotel stays when required.

Learn more about VA mileage reimbursement eligibility guidelines, which expenses are covered, reimbursement rates, and how to file a claim.

What Is VA Travel Reimbursement?

The VA travel pay reimbursement program provides reimbursement to defray travel costs for veterans and qualified non-veterans traveling for medical appointments. This vital program covers expenses like the following:

Gasoline for personal vehicles
Fares for public transportation, including buses, subways, and metro trains
Rideshare services
Taxi fees
Tolls
Airfare
Lodging when overnight stays are necessary
Parking fees
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and incidentals for multi-day trips

This program covers out-of-pocket costs for transportation, accommodations, or meals related to medical care at VA facilities. You can also seek reimbursement for travel related to non-emergency care at non-VA facilities if you receive VA approval in advance.

VA Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Mileage reimbursement is available for distances driven in a personal car. The VA updates mileage rates annually to align with the standard mileage rate published by the Internal Revenue Service. This number estimates the cost to operate a vehicle per mile driven based on factors like fuel prices, maintenance, repairs, and more.

In 2024, the VA mileage reimbursement rate is 41.5 cents per mile driven, the same rate as in 2023.

In addition to the per-mile rate, you must meet a deductible before receiving reimbursement payments. The current deductible is $3 one-way or $6 round-trip for each appointment you attend, up to $18 monthly. After you have met the $18 monthly deductible, the VA will cover the rest of the cost of your approved travel for the remainder of the month.

If you are eligible for VA travel pay reimbursement, the VA waives the deductible if you also meet any of the following criteria:

You receive a VA pension.
You are traveling for a VA compensation and pension exam, or C&P exam.
You are a veteran with a non-service-connected disability whose income in the prior year was below the maximum annual VA pension rate.
You are a non-service connected veteran, and your earnings estimate for the current year does not exceed the VA’s maximum yearly pension rate.
You are a veteran with a service-connected disability whose prior year income falls beneath the VA national income limit for prescriptions and health care benefits.
You are a veteran with a service-connected disability whose earnings expectations for this year do not exceed the national income health care benefits.

If the VA determines you qualify for a waiver, it will automatically waive your deductible. You can also request a waiver in person or in writing.

A veteran with a 100 percent disability rating can receive special monthly compensation through Aid and Attendance and Housebound Allowance. These benefits do not count as a VA pension for determining a waiver.

Am I Eligible for VA Travel Reimbursement?

Eligibility for VA travel reimbursement depends on your status as either:

Veteran Eligibility

Veterans are typically eligible if they travel to a VA or VA-approved health care facility in their area for care and meet at least one of the following criteria:

You have a VA disability rating of 30 percent or higher.
You are traveling for treatment of a service-related condition, even if their rating is below 30 percent.
You receive a VA pension.
You meet certain income requirements.
You cannot afford to pay for travel as defined in VA guidelines
You are traveling to get a service dog, receive VA-approved transplant care, or undergo a scheduled VA C&P exam.

Non-Veteran Eligibility

The VA may reimburse certain non-veterans for transportation and related lodging and meals. Caregivers and others can also qualify in some instances if they are one of the following:

The veteran’s support person or transplant care donor
The veteran’s family caregiver under the VA Caregiver Support Program who is traveling to support the veteran's care or receive caregiver training
The veteran’s medically required attendant who is supporting the veteran's care by traveling with them

What Is Covered by VA Mileage Reimbursements?

The VA travel pay reimbursement program helps pay for reasonable costs related to reaching medical appointments at VA facilities. With proper documentation, you can get reimbursement for the following:

Private Transportation: This includes gasoline costs when driving your car, tolls, and parking fees.
Public Transportation: Fares for buses, subways, trains, Ubers, Lyfts, and taxis are reimbursable.
Lodging and Meals: When overnight travel is required, lodging, meals, and any incidentals related to your trip are included.

Claims can include a combination of these expenses. For example, you could get reimbursed for mileage to the airport plus airfare and hotel costs at your medical destination.

The key is that all included costs must directly relate to travel for VA-authorized health care purposes. The VA does not cover things like rental cars, entertainment, alcohol, and extra hotel nights that are not clinically required.

Qualifying mileage reimbursement covers travel to and from VA health care facilities for the following:

Regular checkups, appointments, and consultations
Urgent care or emergency room visits
Lab tests, diagnostics, medical imaging
Surgeries and inpatient procedures
Physical and mental health therapy
Counseling and support groups
Pharmacy prescription pick-ups
Any other VA-approved health services

With proper documentation, the VA may also cover travel to non-VA medical facilities in certain situations, such as travel for emergencies to the closest appropriate medical facility.

How To Apply for VA Mileage Reimbursement

You can submit claims for reimbursement online through eBenefits or by mail using VA Form 10-3542. Filing online is typically faster. Here are overviews of each process:

Online Application Steps

Go to eBenefits and log into your account.
Select “Apply for Benefits” and choose “Apply for Travel Reimbursement.”
Enter details on authorized travel, such as dates, purposes, and locations.
List odometer readings for mileage claims.
Input any other costs, such as airfare, parking, or lodging.
Upload digital receipts and documents.
Carefully review and then submit your claim.

Filing by Mail Steps

Obtain VA Form 10-3542 from your VA facility or online.
Fill in your personal information and trip details.
Attach paper copies of receipts and supporting documents.
Make a copy of the entire package for your records.
Mail the original materials to your VA regional office.

After submission, the VA will review your claim and supporting documents. You will receive status updates and a decision by mail or online through eBenefits. Approved payments are deposited or mailed.

If you have questions about the VA travel pay reimbursement program, contact Veterans Guide. We can also help you appeal a VA disability claim or obtain a higher VA rating for your disability.

Want to Increase Your VA Rating?

Last Date Modified

April 11, 2024

A member of the Pennsylvania Bar and formerly a partner of a law firm, where he handled a diverse case load, Kevin is the editor of Veterans Guide’s content. He meticulously researches the accuracy of all the information provided by the Veterans Guide website.

On This Page

What Is VA Travel Reimbursement?
VA Mileage Reimbursement Rate
Am I Eligible For VA Travel Reimbursement?
What Is Covered By VA Mileage Reimbursements?
How To Apply For VA Mileage Reimbursement

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