People dealing with medical issues will now be able to travel on ferries sa国际传媒渃ost-freesa国际传媒� locally, according to BC Ferries.

British Columbians who must travel for medical reasons by ferry will now have their $18 booking fee (reservation) waived each way, said a BC Ferries news release.

sa国际传媒淭he new service is available on bookable routes for those who qualify for the provincial governmentsa国际传媒檚 Travel Assistance Program (TAP), which covers transportation costs for eligible B.C. residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical services not available in their own communities,sa国际传媒� reads a statement.

In order to get the complimentary booking with BC Ferries for medical travel, customers must obtain a TAP form from their physician, nurse practitioner, or specialty clinic and obtain a TAP confirmation number from Health Insurance BC.

sa国际传媒淲e understand that travelling while unwell, or to treatments and surgeries, can be stressful,sa国际传媒� said Janet Carson, vice-president, marketing and customer experience. sa国际传媒淩emoving the booking fee is our way of helping with travel certainty while removing the financial burden when travelling to and from doctorssa国际传媒� offices, clinics or hospital.sa国际传媒�

BC Ferries says customers can still use a Medical Assured Loading (MAL) letter on all routes, except those that are fully bookable. MAL is only available for those travelling under the TAP and who have a MAL letter from their medical practitioner that states that it is necessary for them to avoid a wait at the ferry terminal. Customers must present a completed TAP form along with a MAL letter to a ticket agent or a vessel crew member to get priority boarding.

BC Ferries said that 300,000 customers sailed with BC Ferries last year on the provincial governmentsa国际传媒檚 TAP.

sa国际传媒淭he cost of waiving booking fees for medical travel is projected to be in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 annually in foregone revenue and aligns with the TAP programsa国际传媒檚 goal of removing financial barriers to health care,sa国际传媒� said the statement.

Complimentary booking fees for medical travel are now available on the following bookable routes:

Victoria (Swartz Bay) sa国际传媒� Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen)

Nanaimo (Departure Bay) sa国际传媒� Metro Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay)

Metro Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) sa国际传媒� Sunshine Coast (Langdale)

Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen) sa国际传媒� Nanaimo (Duke Point)

Sunshine Coast (Powell River) sa国际传媒� Vancouver Island (Comox)

TAP bookings continue to be available for all customers on routes that are 100 per cent bookable:

Vancouver Island (Port Hardy) sa国际传媒� North Coast (Prince Rupert)

North Coast (Prince Rupert)sa国际传媒� Graham Island (Skidegate)

Vancouver Island (Port Hardy) sa国际传媒� Central Coast (Bella Coola, including sailings to Bella Bella, Klemtu, Shearwater and Ocean Falls) Metro Vancouver (Tsawwassen) sa国际传媒� Southern Gulf Islands

If customers are not able to find space on the sailing they need, or do not have a credit card or Visa/Mastercard debit card to make a booking contact the Customer Service Centre at 1-888-BC FERRY (1-888-223-3779).

Residents relying on the Langdale sa国际传媒� Horseshoe Bay route (Route 3) were the most frequent users (73,000) of the TAP. Customers on the Comox Powell sa国际传媒� River route (Route 17) were the next highest users of the program (27,800), said BC Ferries.

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