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The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) was set up in 1988 as part of the NHS Low Income Scheme, to provide financial assistance to those patients who do not have a medical need for ambulance transport, but who require assistance with their travel costs.
Under HTCS, patients on low incomes or specific qualifying benefits or allowances are reimbursed in part or in full for fares incurred in travelling to traditionally hospital-based NHS services under the care of a consultant, if their journey meets certain criteria.
HTCS is an NHS scheme, operating under the provisions of the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003 as amended. NHS organisations are responsible for its administration, with the support of Jobcentre Plus offices and the Pension Service who will confirm patients' entitlement of qualifying benefits.
Under the NHS Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme, any patient in receipt of the following benefits is eligible to reclaim their travel and/or parking expenses:
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Income Support
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Guaranteed Pension Credit
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Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
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Working Families Tax Credit
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Disabled Persons Tax Credit,
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HC2 and HC3 exemption certificates
If you're on entitled benefits or allowances you get back the full travel costs by using the cheapest form of public transport available, including any concessions or promotions.
If you use a private car you can claim for petrol instead (and car parking charges where unavoidable); currently the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust reimburse mileage on the basis of 12p per mile.
If you're on the NHS low income scheme you may get back all or some of your travel costs depending on which certificate you've been given.
Reimbursement can be done by presenting the current proof of benefit and the car parking counterfoil to the General Office situated in the Link Centre at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. Alternatively you can post your claim using an HC5 form available from each Hospital listed below to one of the Trusts hospitals:
General Office
Royal Cornwall Hospital
Truro
Cornwall
TR1 3LJ
General Office
St Michaels Hospital
Trelissick Road
Hayle
TR27 4JA
General Office
West Cornwall Hospital
St Clare Street
Penzance TR18 2PFPenz
For further details on the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme visit:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport|