(Washington, D.C.) Starting tomorrow, it will become less expensive for Eastern Washington veterans to travel for medical care.

The Veterans Administration is increasing the reimbursement veterans receive when they travel to VA facilities for medical care. The rate, effective February 1st, 2008, goes from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. This is the first increase in the mileage reimbursement in 30 years.

“Veterans in Eastern Washington have been waiting a long time for this increase.” Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers says. “With the price of gasoline now over $3.00 a gallon, veterans who traveled to Seattle or Portland for care paid for much of the trip out of their own pockets. Although 28.5 cents a mile is still not enough to cover the cost of a trip to Seattle, it is a step in the right direction.”

While increasing the payment, VA, as mandated by law, also equally increased the deductible amounts applied to certain mileage reimbursements. The new deductibles are $7.77 for a one way trip, $15.54 for a round trip, with a maximum of $46.62 per calendar month. However, these deductibles can be waived if they cause a financial hardship to the veteran.

Contact:
Destry Henderson
202-225-2006
202-279-0418