People dealing with medical issues will now be able to travel on ferries B次元官网网址渃ost-freeB次元官网网址� locally, according to BC Ferries.

British Columbians who must travel for medical reasons by ferry will now have their $18 booking fee (reservation) waived each way, said a BC Ferries news release.

B次元官网网址淭he new service is available on bookable routes for those who qualify for the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 Travel Assistance Program (TAP), which covers transportation costs for eligible B.C. residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical services not available in their own communities,B次元官网网址� reads a statement.

In order to get the complimentary booking with BC Ferries for medical travel, customers must obtain a TAP form from their physician, nurse practitioner, or specialty clinic and obtain a TAP confirmation number from Health Insurance BC.

B次元官网网址淲e understand that travelling while unwell, or to treatments and surgeries, can be stressful,B次元官网网址� said Janet Carson, vice-president, marketing and customer experience. B次元官网网址淩emoving the booking fee is our way of helping with travel certainty while removing the financial burden when travelling to and from doctorsB次元官网网址� offices, clinics or hospital.B次元官网网址�

BC Ferries says customers can still use a Medical Assured Loading (MAL) letter on all routes, except those that are fully bookable. MAL is only available for those travelling under the TAP and who have a MAL letter from their medical practitioner that states that it is necessary for them to avoid a wait at the ferry terminal. Customers must present a completed TAP form along with a MAL letter to a ticket agent or a vessel crew member to get priority boarding.

BC Ferries said that 300,000 customers sailed with BC Ferries last year on the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 TAP.

B次元官网网址淭he cost of waiving booking fees for medical travel is projected to be in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 annually in foregone revenue and aligns with the TAP programB次元官网网址檚 goal of removing financial barriers to health care,B次元官网网址� said the statement.

Complimentary booking fees for medical travel are now available on the following bookable routes:

Victoria (Swartz Bay) B次元官网网址� Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen)

Nanaimo (Departure Bay) B次元官网网址� Metro Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)

Metro Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) B次元官网网址� Sunshine Coast (Langdale)

Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen) B次元官网网址� Nanaimo (Duke Point)

Sunshine Coast (Powell River) B次元官网网址� Vancouver Island (Comox)

TAP bookings continue to be available for all customers on routes that are 100 per cent bookable:

Vancouver Island (Port Hardy) B次元官网网址� North Coast (Prince Rupert)

North Coast (Prince Rupert)B次元官网网址� Graham Island (Skidegate)

Vancouver Island (Port Hardy) B次元官网网址� Central Coast (Bella Coola, including sailings to Bella Bella, Klemtu, Shearwater and Ocean Falls) Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen) B次元官网网址� Southern Gulf Islands

If customers are not able to find space on the sailing they need, or do not have a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card to make a booking contact the Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779).

Residents relying on the Langdale B次元官网网址� Horseshoe Bay route (Route 3) were the most frequent users (73,000) of the TAP. Customers on the Comox Powell B次元官网网址� River route (Route 17) were the next highest users of the program (27,800), said BC Ferries.

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