How the travel grant program works?

The Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) program offers financial assistance to Northern Ontario residents who need to travel long-distances for specialized medical services or procedures at a ministry-funded health care facility.

 

For eligible applicants, travel grants are based on the distance you need to travel to reach the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility that can provide the required health care services without delay.

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To qualify, you need to:

• have traveled at least 100 kilometers (km) one-way to access the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility services that are not available locally

• submit your NHTG application to the Ministry of Health (MOH) within 12 months of the date of treatment

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PLEASE NOTE: YOU NO LONGER NEED YOUR FAMILY PHYSICIAN TO COMPLETE AND SIGN YOUR TRAVEL GRANT IF YOUR SERVICE DATE IS ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 1, 2024. THE SPECIALIST SERVICE PROVIDER MUST FILL OUT AND SIGN THE TRAVEL GRANT

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Eligibility

Below are the following eligibility conditions for the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) program:

• You are an OHIP-insured Ontario resident on the date of treatment.

• Your primary place of residence is in the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Rainy River, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, or Timiskaming.

• You have been referred for specialty medical services. “Specialty medical services” means medical services rendered by the following:

  • a medical specialist who is certified by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

  • a Winnipeg (Manitoba) physician enrolled on the Manitoba Health Specialist Register and permitted to bill as a specialist

  • a physician who holds a specialist certificate of registration issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in a recognized medical or surgical specialty other than family or general practice

  • a general practitioner with a GP Focused Practice designation with the CPSO

  • a non-specialist Dentist participating in the Cleft Lip/Palate Program or the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program

  • a ministry-funded health care facility

• You have received a referral for a ministry-funded health care facility-based procedure under the Health Insurance Act, to be performed by a provider within the facility (such as, a midwife for hospital childbirth or a technician for a PET scan). Some examples of ministry-funded health care facilities and qualifying procedures are:

  • a cleft lip and palate clinic

  • a clinic that tests for low vision

  • a clinic that can fit artificial limbs and walking aids and is approved by the ministry's Assistive Devices program

  • the Speech Foundation of Ontario, Toronto Children's Centre

  • chemotherapy at a regional cancer center

  • MRI or dialysis services performed in a hospital

  • ultrasound or Pulmonary Function Testing services performed in a hospital

• The nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility able to provide the type of care or procedure you require in Ontario or Winnipeg (Manitoba) is at least 100 kilometers from your area of residence.

When you are not eligible

You do not qualify for the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) program if:

• the health care service is not an OHIP-insured benefit

• the care is related to a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board claim

• your employer pays for your medical services or travel costs

• another government program or organization pays for your travel (such as Non Insured Health Benefits)

• the health care services have to do with a private insurance company (for example, if there is third-party liability for medical travel costs, such as medical services related to a motor vehicle accident)

• you travel round trip by ambulance

• the nearest specialist or ministry-funded health care facility is within 100 kilometers of your area of residence

• your trip is for something other than health care

• you are travelling to visit a sick relative in hospital

• your travel is not within Ontario or Winnipeg (Manitoba)

Note: If you travel one way by ambulance and the other way by car or public transportation, you may qualify for a partial grant.

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What costs does the NHTG program help pay?

Travel:

Whether you are traveling by car, air, bus or rail, travel grants are always paid at a rate of 41 cents per kilometer (based on the round-trip distance) between your area of residence (centre of town) and the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility able to provide the required OHIP-insured services.

Accommodation Allowance

The NHTG program offers an accommodation allowance for patients who:

• meet the travel grant eligibility criteria

• travel a one-way distance of at least 100 kilometers to reach the nearest medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility able to provide the required services

• submit original accommodation receipts in their name or as a guest to prove accommodation expenses (for patients under the age of 18, an accommodation receipt can be in the name of their parent or guardian)

 

You may be eligible for additional accommodation allowance if it is necessary to spend more than 1 night out-of-town to access medical specialist services or ministry-funded health care facility-based procedures.

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For all NHTG applications with a date of treatment (Service Date) of December 1, 2024 or later, Accommodation Allowance of $175–$1,150 is paid, based on the number of medically-necessary lodging nights declared by the provider in Section 5. For all applications with a Service Date prior to December 1, 2024, the Accommodation Allowance range is $100 to $550.

Number of nights:                         Service dates before December 1, 2024        Service dates on or after December 1, 2024

1                                                      $100                                                                   $175

2                                                      $200                                                                   $350

3                                                      $250                                                                   $475

4-7                                                  $500                                                                   $1,025

8+                                                   $550                                                                   $1,150

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The medical specialist or ministry-funded health care facility provider must indicate the number of nights in Section 6 of the application form.

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Will the NHTG Program cover all my travel costs?

No. The grant helps you pay for some medical travel related costs, but does not cover all expenses, such as meals or taxi services

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How is the travel grant calculated?

Example 1 - Eligible grant from Point A to Point B

The one-way distance in this example is 160 km.

The grant is the two-way distance multiplied by 41 cents per km.

160 km (the one-way distance) x 2 (the two-way distance) x 0.41 (cents per km travelled) = $131.20

Example 2 - Eligible grant from Point C to Point D

The one-way distance in this example is 300 km.

It was necessary for 1 night out-of-town in this example.

• Travel grant calculation is 300 km (the one-way distance) x 2 (the two-way distance) x 0.41 (cents per km travelled) = $246.00

• Accommodation allowance is $175.00 (for 1 night)

Total payment to the patient for the trip is $246.00 (for the calculated travel grant) + $175.00 (for the accommodation allowance of 1 night) = $421.00

Example 3 - Eligible grant from Point C to Point D

The one-way distance in this example is 300 km.

In this example, a specialist/ministry-funded health care facility provider determines that 3 nights out-of-town are medically necessary.

• Travel grant calculation is 300 km (the one-way distance) x 2 (the two-way distance) x 0.41 (cents per km travelled) = $246.00

• Accommodation allowance is $475.00 (for 3 nights)

Total payment to the patient for the trip is $246.00 (for the calculated travel grant) + $475.00 (for the accommodation allowance of 3 lodging nights) = $721.00

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Receipts

Receipts are required for proof and audit purposes to ensure appropriate spending of public funds.

Only original receipts will be accepted and applications will not be processed unless an original receipt is provided as proof of payment for an accommodation or commercial transportation expense.

Official itemized receipts must be submitted along with your application for the accommodation allowance. “Itemized receipt” refers to a receipt that lists the item(s) purchased and the individual price(s) for each item. This could include a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast. The accommodation receipt must include:

• the name of the patient

• the date(s) of stay

• a fee paid for the stay

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Note: The authorization slip for a credit or debit card transaction is not considered an itemized receipt.

 

If traveling by air, bus, or rail, you must submit the original ticket, receipt or itinerary showing:

• a fare paid

• who travelled

• the date of travel

• the destination

Application submission

All applications must be received by the Ministry of Health (MOH) within 12 months from the date of service or treatment. We are not responsible for lost or delayed applications or those sent after 12 months from the date of treatment.

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For each round treatment trip, you must complete a separate application form. Only 1 application can be submitted for each round trip regardless of the number of medical specialists or ministry-funded health care facilities visited during that round trip.

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The NHTG program only accepts application forms and original receipts for accommodation allowance by mail. Do not submit photocopies. Please include your receipts or itinerary for accommodation, bus, rail and air travel, along with those of your travel companion (if applicable).

 

Submit your application and original receipts to:

 

Ministry of Health - Claims Services Branch
Northern Health Travel Grant, Sudbury office
159 Cedar Street, 7th Floor     
Sudbury, Ontario P3E 6A5

 

Note: If your application is incomplete or filled out incorrectly, it will be returned to you, which could lead to payment delays.

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What if my application for an NHTG grant is denied?

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If your application for an NHTG is denied, you can request an internal review or reconsideration within 12 months from the date provided on the denial letter that was mailed to you. Please follow the information and instructions in the denial letter.

If there are exceptional medical circumstances surrounding your treatment trip that may allow an exception to the program eligibility criteria, you may appeal your denial decision to the external and independent NHTG Medical Appeals Committee in writing to:

Medical Appeals Committee
C/O: Northern Health Travel Grant     
Claims Services Branch
159 Cedar Street, 7th Floor     
Sudbury, Ontario P3E 6A5

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