Travelling for medical appointments?
Our Medical Travel Program provides mileage reimbursement and accommodations to Métis Citizens across the province for eligible medical appointments.
Eligible medical appointments include:
- Health services covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan: https://www.alberta.ca/ahcip-what-is-covered.
- Health services provided by a nurse practitioner.
- Heath services provided by a registered midwife.
- Dental care services provided by a dentist or dental hygienist.
- Vision care services provided by an optometrist.
- Fittings for medical devices or equipment (e.g., hearing aids, wheelchairs, etc.).
Program Qualification Criteria
- Applicant must be a Citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and Alberta resident.
- Mileage Reimbursement: Applicant must be travelling within Alberta to an eligible medical appointment more than 100 km from their residence.
- Medical Accommodations: Applicant must be travelling to an eligible medical appointment in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, or Lethbridge that is more than 300 km from their residence.
OR
100 km from their residence if required or requested by a clinician to stay within the city for more than 24 hours for a course of treatment.
- Provide proof of medical appointment, including patient’s name, name/address of hospital or clinic, date/time of appointment, and type of appointment.
Mileage reimbursements and accommodations will be provided to Citizens while funds last.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Health Program Coordinator at 780-455-2200 or mtp@metis.org.
Note:
Mileage reimbursement requests cannot be made more than 60 days before a medical appointment or more than 60 days after a medical appointment.
Accommodation requests cannot be made more than 60 days and no less than 7 days before a medical appointment.
This program is not intended for medical emergencies. If you or an immediate family member is experiencing a medical emergency, you may still apply, however, we cannot guarantee the application will be processed with less than 7 days’ notice.
Citizens are required to seek services from the provider closest to their home address. We reserve the right to request documentation verifying that services are not available at a nearer facility and may deny travel applications if services can be accessed at a closer location.
Medical Travel Program FAQ
All FAQsHow far in advance do I need to apply for this program?
Mileage reimbursement requests cannot be made more than 60 days before a medical appointment or more than 60 days after a medical appointment. Accommodation requests cannot be made more than 60 days and no less than 7 days before a medical appointment. This program is not intended for medical emergencies. If you or an immediate family member is experiencing a medical emergency, you may still apply, however, we cannot guarantee the application will be processed with less than 7 days’ notice.
What medical appointments are covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan?
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan covers medically necessary physician services and some other services. These other services include:
- Medically necessary surgeries
- Emergency dental, oral, and facial surgeries
- Medically necessary diagnostic services
- Preventative screening services
- Services provided by a psychiatrist
The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan may also cover services from other providers, such as acupuncturists, massage therapists, or physiotherapists, if these appointments are deemed medically necessary (e.g., following a motor vehicle accident). To be eligible to receive mileage reimbursements or accommodations through the Medical Travel Program for appointments with other providers, you must provide a letter or requisition from a physician indicating that these services are medically necessary and eligible for coverage under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.
What medical appointments are not covered through this program?
This program does not provide mileage reimbursements or accommodations for the following types of appointments:
- Surgeries that are not medically necessary
- Services provided by a psychologist, counsellor, social worker, or other mental health providers who are not psychiatrists
- Services from providers who are not physicians, nurse practitioners, registered midwives, dentists, dental hygienists, or optometrists. For example, acupuncturists, massage therapists, or physiotherapists (unless services are deemed medically necessary)
What accommodations are provided through this program?
Eligible participants travelling to Edmonton will be provided accommodations at Renaissance Tower or select hotels with direct billing accounts for the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. Eligible participants travelling to Calgary, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, or Lethbridge will be provided accommodations at select hotels with which the Otipemisiwak Métis Government has direct billing accounts.
Can I book my own accommodation and be reimbursed?
No, we cannot cover privately booked hotel costs through this program. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government will book eligible participants to stay at select hotels with which they have direct billing accounts.
How long can I receive accommodation for?
We can provide accommodation for a maximum of two nights if travelling for a single appointment or for the full duration of your course of treatment, to a maximum of one week.
I have a pet. Can I receive pet-friendly accommodation?
No, we cannot provide pet-friendly accommodations through this program.
How long does it take to receive mileage reimbursements?
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government only provides mileage reimbursements in the form of cheques. Cheques will be mailed to eligible participants. Cheques can sometimes take up to a month or more to be processed and mailed.