Health benefits
6. Travel to hospital / More information
Travel to hospital
You may be able to claim a refund for the cost of travelling to and from hospital or other treatment centres that you are attending for NHS treatment under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).
The fares of an escort may also be paid if the hospital agrees that you need someone to accompany you for medical reasons. You will be expected to use the cheapest form of transport available.
Fares can be paid in full if the following applies to you:
- if you are automatically entitled to health benefits, or have certificate HC2 (see 'Who can get help with charges?')
- If you have certificate HC3, you may get some help towards the cost of your fares. The amount you have to pay will depend on the maximum amount stated on your certificate.
- If you live in the Isles of Scilly and have to travel to the mainland to get to hospital, there is a set maximum you have to pay towards your travel costs. Leaflet HC12 tells you how much this is, or you can enquire at your local health centre before you go to hospital.
- If you live in the Scottish islands or Highlands and Islands Development Board in Scotland and have to travel at least 30 miles by land (or more than 5 miles by sea) to get to hospital, financial help is available to go towards your costs.
If you are entitled to help with travelling costs, payment is made at the hospital when you visit. You can claim for public transport fares, petrol costs if travel is by car, or contributions towards a local voluntary transport scheme. Parking expenses may also be included. Taxi fares will only be paid if there is no other way you can travel for all or part of the journey.
To claim: Ask the hospital receptionist for the cost of your travel to be repaid to you. You will need to show evidence that you are entitled to this (for example, by showing your certificate HC2 or HC3 or your benefit award letter) and evidence of your travel costs (for example, a ticket or receipt).
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If you cannot get to hospital because you have not got enough money, and you have been refused transport by ambulance or other hospital transport, ask the hospital to send you payment in advance. If you cannot get this in time, you may be able to get a Social Fund Crisis Loan from your local benefits office.
Refunds: If you have already paid travelling expenses to hospital and have only just discovered that you might be entitled to help, you can apply for a refund. The procedure for claiming a refund is the same as for dental charges.
Travelling abroad for NHS treatment
If you are travelling abroad to receive NHS treatment you can get help with the travel costs. Everyone is entitled to help with the costs of travel between the airport, port or train station where you leave the UK and the treatment centre abroad.
But the mode of transport and the amount of money you can spend must be determined by your health authority before you travel. So don't go ahead with treatment abroad until you have spoken with your health authority.
If you are entitled to health benefits you can also claim for help with the cost of travel between your home and the airport, port or train station where you leave the UK. For more information contact your local health authority.
Visiting someone in hospital
If you are visiting a close relative or partner in hospital and you receive Pension Credit, Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance, you may be able to get help with travelling to hospital from the Social Fund.
More information on health benefits
There are two leaflets which give details about health benefits:
- HC11, Help with health costs
- HC12, Charges and optical voucher values (HCS2 in Scotland)
HC11 and HC12 are available from your local benefits office or you can request them by phoning the Department of Health on 0870 155 5455.
To get a copy of HC11W, Help with health costs in Welsh, contact the Welsh Assembly Publications order line on 0845 603 1108. To get a copy of HCS2 call 01506 44 84 00.
Or you can contact the NHS Business Services Authority, Patient Services on 0845 850 1166.
