Hope Air - Free Travel Program For Patients Needing to Travel For Medical Services

Cancer Care, Financial, and Transportation

Provided by Hope Air

Provides free flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and meal support for patients of all ages who cannot afford to travel to receive specialist medical care.
Hope Air arranges travel for patients who require assistance in accessing specialty medical care far from home. Hope Air offers four main programs, the availability of which and eligibility criteria varies depending on the province of residence:
  • Free Airline Travel: Hope Air provides flights with major airlines like WestJet, Porter, Pacific Coastal, Central Mountain Air, Air Canada, Provincial Airlines and more. Hope Air also offers seasonal small aircraft services through the Volunteer Pilot Program for patients far from commercial airports. This ensures patients can reach distant medical facilities without high travel costs.
  • Free Hotel/Lodge Accommodation: Covers hotel stays for patients and their escorts when traveling through Hope Air. This offers comfortable lodging close to medical facilities, reducing the stress of finding and paying for accommodations. The availability and maximum nights of accommodation vary by province of residence.
  • Meal Vouchers: Hope Air provides meal vouchers for patients and their escorts staying overnight at a hotel that is arranged through Hope Air. Note: meal vouchers are only available as part of the Hope Air accommodation program.
  • Vouchers for Airport Ground Transportation: Hope Air offers vouchers towards ride services through Uber in the city where medical care is provided. This service provides transportation from the airport to the hospital or hotel, and back to the airport.

Eligibility for these programs may vary based on the province of residence. There is no age restriction to access any Hope Air programs, and a referral is not required: anyone may refer a patient to Hope Air, including self-referrals made by the patient themselves. Air travel may include an escort if medically necessary. Please apply for travel assistance by completing the Hope Air Travel Application.
To qualify for Hope Air's free travel services, applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • Long Distance Travel: The patient must travel a long distance to reach specialty medical care where travel by airline would be preferred.
  • Financial Need: Demonstrate a financial need that makes travel expenses a barrier to accessing necessary medical care.
  • Patients must provide their annual gross household income and number of household members, when making an application. We invite applicants to share any related information that would impact our determination of financial need, such as loss of income, change in employment, other significant medical expenses, etc.
  • Confirmed Specialist Medical Appointment: Have a confirmed specialist medical appointment that is covered by the patient’s provincial healthcare plan.
Click HERE to access current information on Hope Air BC programs.

The following information is required in order to complete the Hope Air Travel Assistance Request Application
  • Date of scheduled specialist medical appointment
  • Legal name and date of birth for patient and eligible escourt, all of which must match their government-issued identification
  • Travel dates
  • Gross household income
For individuals without access to a digital device, please call the Hope Air team who can provide support to complete the application form over the phone.

Note: While the application form is presented in English, there is an option available at the top of the page to translate the application to the language of the applicants choosing. Limited support is available for more detailed questions or support via telephone or email for French.

Toll Free: 1-877-346-4673

Public email: info@hopeair.ca

Website: https://hopeair.ca/

Cost: No cost

Referral options:

  • Self-referral
Brochures and Info
Availability

Service area: Province-wide + show cities

Service area cities: 100 Mile House, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Aldergrove, Alert Bay, Alexis Creek, Anahim Lake, Anmore, Armstrong, Ashcroft, Atlin, Bamfield, Banff, Barriere, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Black Creek, Blue River, Boston Bar, Bowen Island, Brentwood Bay, Burnaby, Burns Lake, Cache Creek, Calgary, Campbell River, Canmore, Castlegar, Cathedral Grove, Cawston, Chase, Chemainus, Cherryville, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Christina Lake, Clearwater, Clinton, Cobble Hill, Comox, Coombs, Coquitlam, Cortes Island, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Crawford Bay, Creston, Cumberland, Daajing Giids (Queen Charlotte City), Dawson Creek, Dease Lake, Deep Bay, Delta, Denman Island, Duncan, Edgewood, Edmonton, Elkford, Enderby, Fanny Bay, Fernie, Fort Langley, Fort Nelson, Fort St. James, Fort St. John, Fraser Lake, Fruitvale, Gabriola Island, Galiano Island, Gibsons, Gitlaxt'aamiks (New Aiyansh), Golden, Gold River, Grand Forks, Grand Prairie, Granisle, Greenwood, Hanceville, Harrison Mills, Hazelton, Hope, Hornby Island, Horne Lake, Houston, Hudson's Hope, Invermere, Kamloops, Kaslo, Kelowna, Keremeos, Kimberley, Kispiox, Kitimat, Kwadacha Nation (Fort Ware), Kyuquot, Ladner, Ladysmith, Lake Country, Lake Cowichan, Langford, Langley, Lantzville, Lethbridge, Lillooet, Lions Bay, Logan Lake, Long Beach, Lumby, Lytton, Mackenzie, Maple Ridge, Masset, Mayne Island, McBride, Merritt, Merville, Midway, Mill Bay, Mission, Nakusp, Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay, Nelson, New Denver, New Westminster, Nitinaht, North Delta, North Saanich, North Vancouver, Okanagan Falls, Okotoks, Oliver, Osoyoos, Oyama, Parksville, Peachland, Pemberton, Pender Harbour, Pender Island, Penelakut Island, Penticton, Pitt Meadows, Port Alberni, Port Alice, Port Coquitlam, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Moody, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Princeton, Quadra Island, Qualicum Beach, Quathiaski Cove, Quesnel, Revelstoke, Richmond, Riske Creek, Rock Creek, Rossland, Saanich, Saanichton, Salmo, Salmon Arm, Salt Spring Island, Sardis, Saturna Island, Sayward, Scotch Creek, Sechelt, Shawnigan Lake, Sicamous, Sidney, Skidegate, Slocan, Smithers, Sointula, Sooke, Sorrento, South Surrey, Sparwood, Spences Bridge, Squamish, Stewart, Summerland, Sun Peaks, Surrey, Tahsis, Tatla Lake, Telkwa, Terrace, Tofino, Trail, Tsawwassen, Tumbler Ridge, Ucluelet, Valemount, Vancouver, Vanderhoof, Vernon, Victoria, West Kelowna, West Vancouver, Whistler, White Rock, Williams Lake, Winlaw, Witset, Yale, and Zeballos

Service Types Provided
Cancer Care
Financial
Transportation
Ways to Access
  • Provides transportation

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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