As of Nov. 17, the mileage reimbursement rate for travel to Veterans Administration facilities increased from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile, under the fiscal year 2009 VA appropriations act.

Service-connected disabled veterans, veterans receiving VA pensions and veterans with low incomes are eligible for the reimbursement of travel expenses for medical care, compensation and pension examinations and vocational rehabilitation counseling and the like.

The VA appropriations law instructed the VA to retain the current deductible amounts for beneficiary travel at $7.77 for a one-way trip and $15.54 for a round trip, with a calendar month cap of $46.62.

However, under the 2008 Veterans’ Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act, on Jan. 9, 2009, those deductibles decrease to $3 for a one-way trip, $6 for a round trip, with a maximum of $18 per calendar month.

According to the VA, deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}