Meal coverage from Blue Cross

Unknown Soldier. - I would go back and recheck on this one. Like Bigrex I do pscy, massage appts. I usually put them in every 6 mths, and always get mileage, parking, and a meal, if it falls over the lunch time. VVV

AirLog wrote:Hi Bigrex,

I have been going to the hospital on and off for over two years now (radiation therapy, oncologist appointments, physio, dental, etc). VAC, thru Blue Cross, has covered me for parking, travel, meals, etc. Standard rates from TB.

Steve

I submitted a years worth of travel/meal claims . The mileage was granted but the meal was not even though the dr. Appointments fall with the hours of the lunch stipulation, they said that a meal claim was not “ authorized “, it’s for a pensioned condition, so who has to authorize it, my CM.?

I asked them for certain records they had on file, and they said that I would need to come see them to ensure I got the ones I needed. So I did. The Vets co-located next to VAC centers certainly have the advantage of having a face to face with a Case Manager whenever they want in this regard. My brother in Halifax sees his all the time...pops in whenever he needs something. In my 15 years dealing with VAC, I have had a Case Manager come see me once for my VIP. Other than an OT visit several years ago, no more visits. Now that I am DEC, I don't have a Case Manager anymore, so up to Halifax I went to get access to my records. Once you exit Voc Rehab, you are unplugged from the Case Management system.

I had the same issue with my CM. While she was on mat leave a CM came to Edmonton to cover her case load. I had to travel to Edmonton to see this CM (about 100 kms round trip + parking). I tried to claim this under HRT but was denied as visits to see your CM are not covered under medical travel. Seeing your CM is (mandatory/expected) while you are part of voc/rehab and as such claiming expenses such as mileage, parking, etc is not an approved expense. I didn't challenge this as I felt that seeing my CM 3 or 4 times a year plus phone calls wasn't an expense that I wanted to debate.

AirLog

Unless the policy has changed, your CM should go to you as bigrex mentioned.

My CM's in the past have travelled to my place. Usually they have a bunch of in home visits to make when they head out of office for that reason. March of Dimes will also send personnel out for home visits. And depending on your rehab program and location, I've had a psychologist travel to my house 45km from one town to the next for 2 years.

I'd question your CM on the policy.

Well, if it's only a visit with your CM, then they should be coming to you, not the other way around. They, at least, would be paid for the mileage, and per diem. I know the CM's in Halifax used to travel to Sydney, a couple of per year, while that office was closed, to visit those clients

A little bit off topic, but not by much.   I had to travel from Greenwood to Halifax to see VAC Case Manager for a scheduled appointment.  That's about 150 kms one way.  I was surprised to learn that I could not claim any mileage, as it was for administration with them, and not for a medical purpose.  Perhaps they should open a satellite office in the Annapolis Valley, given that there is a large sign at Exit 17 that says "Home of Atlantic Canada's Largest Air Force Base"...and just before that, at Exit 14, there is a road that leads to Land Forces Atlantic Training Center Aldershot...but I digress.  I ought to have retired with my Navy buddies, instead of my AF or Army friends.

Bigrex,

I forgot to mention that I am only able to claim meals, mileage, parking, escort, etc for my approved conditions. The HRT claim form on my VAC account explains all that you can claim.

Steve

Thanks guys, I'll let him know in the morning

Hi Bigrex,

I have been going to the hospital on and off for over two years now (radiation therapy, oncologist appointments, physio, dental, etc). VAC, thru Blue Cross, has covered me for parking, travel, meals, etc. Standard rates from TB.

Steve

Well this is what I found.. starting here..
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/treatment-benefits/tb-coverage-travel
says this "For meals, the amount paid cannot exceed the meal allowances set out by the National Joint Council's Appendix C."

And this says .. or not the Joint council thats later..
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/1272
Also states National Joint Councils, so
Para 9
"Meal costs incurred by the client while travelling to receive treatment benefits, subject to paragraph 13, may be covered. (Payment shall not exceed the appropriate meal allowances set out in the National Joint Council’s Appendix C and cannot be made for meals served free of charge on a commercial carrier, i.e. airplane, train). Meals will be considered for reimbursement when there is evidence of travel being required over meal hours.

For the purpose of this policy, meal allowances may be paid when travel, or travel and the appointment, occurs over the entire two hour period between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for breakfast; 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for lunch; and 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. for supper.
Meal allowances may be paid outside the hours indicated in paragraph 9 (a) if a reasonable explanation is provided (e.g. clients undergoing medical tests or obtaining treatment where fasting is required)."

National Joint Councils Page
http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d10/v238/s659/en
This is a chart and wouldn't copy over well so you'll have to go to page and follow the chart I guess..

My father has been having to go do a lot of medical appointments this year, that take all day. So he is wondering how much VAC will reimburse for his meals during those days at the hospital. Does anyone know what the coverage includes?