Learn about coverage for medical travel costs

The Medical Travel Program covers emergency air ambulance services and travel costs for medically necessary, insured health services that are not available in your community.

Depending on your needs, you may be approved to travel:

• from your home to Whitehorse; or
• to a facility outside of the territory within Canada.

Download the medical travel with Yukon Insured Health guide.

Program coverage

If an insured medical service is not available in your community, we may cover travel for you to receive that service.

This may include:

• flights;
• mileage reimbursement; and
• emergency air ambulance services.

We reimburse mileage at the in-territory rate of 30 cents per kilometre.

We may also cover travel within the Yukon for: 

• hearing services;
• mental wellness services;
• child development Services;
• outpatient therapy services at Whitehorse General Hospital;
• opioid treatment;
• Mifegymiso; and
• fertility services.

Find more information about in-territory travel for opioid treatment or travel to access medical abortions.

Travel subsidies

If your medical travel is approved, you may receive a subsidy to help with meal and accommodation costs during your trip.

This could include:

• same-day travel: $93 for you and approved escort;
• overnight outpatient travel: $184 per day for you, up to 16 days;
• approved escort for overnight outpatient travel: $93 per day; and
• inpatient stays: escorts may receive $184 per day, depending on approval.

These rates are in place until March 31, 2027. The subsidy starts on your 1st approved travel day. We review subsidy rates each year and adjust them based on the Consumer Price Index.

In-territory

Find more information about travel interruptions, mileage reimbursement rates, flight changes and in-territory subsidies.

Out-of-territory

Find more information about out-of-territory transportation by vehicle and out-of-territory one-way airfare and ticket changes.

Travel escorts

Some patients need help to travel safely. If you cannot travel on your own, your health care provider can request an escort for you. We cover approved escort travel costs if the request meets program criteria.

Learn more about the criteria for travel escorts.

Emergency travel

If you need urgent care that is not available locally, air ambulance services are available 24 hours a day. These services provide fast transportation to the nearest hospital that can help you.

Download the air ambulance guide.

What’s not covered

Visitors and non-Yukon residents

You must pay your own medical travel costs unless you need emergency medical travel. Hospitals and community health centres will organize emergency travel for visitors, but you’ll be billed for the full cost of medevacs or ambulances.

Personal travel

If you travel outside the Yukon for personal reasons, we do not cover:

• air or ground ambulance services;
• hospital transfers;
• escorts; or
• return transportation costs.

This also applies if you extend your medical travel for personal reasons.

You may wish to buy private medical insurance that covers medical travel whenever you leave the Yukon.

Eligibility

To be eligible:

• you must be enrolled in the Yukon Health Insurance Plan;
• the medical service must be provided by a licensed medical practitioner and be medically necessary for your health;
• the service must not be available in your home community;
• you must start your travel in the Yukon;
• a doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner or other authorized health care provider must submit an application before you travel; and
• we must approve your application before you make any travel arrangements.

Coverage through other programs

You may not be eligible for the program if you can access medical travel coverage though a third party or employer.

• Workplace injuries: You may be covered by the Yukon Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board.
• First Nations or Inuit persons: Support may be available through the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
• Military and RCMP: If you’re a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada or the RCMP, your organization may provide coverage.
• Federal employees: You may have benefits through your workplace plan.

How to apply

We must approve your application before you book any travel.

1. Print the Medical travel subsidy form before you travel.
2. Confirm your appointment.
3. Bring the form to your appointment. Ask your health care provider to sign it.
4. Submit the completed form:
   • in the secure drop box at Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, across from the arrivals doors;
   • in the secure drop box at Whitehorse General Hospital, at the intersection to the specialist clinic hallway and the entrance; or
   • by email, fax, mail or drop off directly to Insured Health Services.