A Veteran with a service-related health condition needed life-saving treatments that were not available in Canada, so his specialist recommended treatment in the USA. The Veteran followed all of the required procedures for pre-approved Health Related Travel but he was still being shuffled between various VAC offices. With only one business day before his departure date and several costly trips ahead, the Veteran still did not have a decision, so he contacted my office for help.
After reviewing the Veteran’s file, we began navigating the pre-approval procedures for Health Related Travel. When my office took a closer look, they discovered that it was unclear who was responsible for making decisions on pre-approved travel out of country. This, inevitably, caused unfair delays for the Veteran.
We contacted the Exceptional Benefits Unit and asked if they could make a decision right away. They obtained all the information about his travel dates and expenses, and they were able to approve his request before his departure date. The Veteran was relieved to learn that his travel expenses were reimbursable.
I’m glad we were able to help. Procedures need to be streamlined and easy to follow, so Veterans can easily access assistance when and where they need it.