Why I travelled 7,000km for healthcare - How Far Would You Go?

Traveling for medical care can be a significant part of managing chronic illness. While the focus is often on treatment and recovery, the logistics of travel can add another layer of complexity to your healthcare journey. Luckily, each state and territory in Australia offers a Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) to help cover transport and accommodation costs for you and a carer. However, these schemes vary in their generosity and specific rules.

My Journey with Long-Distance Medical Travel

I was born in 1983 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, a regional city in Australia. At the time, there were very minimal medical services available to support my complex heart condition. As a result, my family and I frequently travelled from Wagga to Sydney for my medical care (a 450km + journey). Today, the drive takes about four or five hours, but back then, it was a gruelling six to eight-hour journey due to the lack of dual lane highways.

From the very beginning, my parents dedicated an enormous amount of time driving up and down that highway to ensure I received the necessary medical attention. I upped the ante a few times with air ambulance rides. My first air ambulance ride occurred when I was just three days old, taking me from Wagga to Sydney for my first open-heart surgery. At 21, I experienced another air ambulance transfer from Wagga to Sydney due to septicaemia (blood infection) and pericarditis (inflammation of the muscle around the heart).

As an adult, my need for specialised care continued to dictate my travel. I lived in various places, including Newcastle, Perth, and even Cambodia, yet I always travelled back to Sydney for my specialist appointments. So that was about 150+ km from Newcastle for care, over 3,200km from Perth for care in Sydney, and almost 7,000 km from Cambodia back to Sydney! 

My unique condition requires consistent care from the same specialist, regardless of where I live. Today, living in Canberra, I still travel to Sydney for my specialist care and surgeries (almost 300km). This long-term travel has been costly, both financially and emotionally, for me and my family.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned valuable lessons about managing the complexities of long-distance medical travel. Here are just a few of them.

Patient Assisted Travel Schemes (PATS) by State and Territory

All states and territories have some kind of Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) that will help cover things like transport and accommodation for you and a carer. Some PATS are more generous than others, and of course the rules are all different.

Here's a guide to understanding the support available in your state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (IPTAS) The IPTAS provides financial assistance for ACT residents who need to travel interstate for specialist medical treatment not available locally. This includes subsidies for transport and accommodation. For more details, visit https://www.canberrahealthservices.act.gov.au/before,-during-and-after-your-care/staying-at-canberra-hospital/before-you-arrive/getting-here-and-getting-around/travelling-from-outside-canberra.

Northern Territory (NT)

Patient Assistance Travel Scheme (PATS) In the Northern Territory, PATS helps cover travel expenses for patients who must travel over 200 km to access specialist medical services. The scheme also supports accommodation costs. Find more information visit: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/health-subsidies-support-and-home-visits/patient-assistance-travel-scheme.

New South Wales (NSW)

Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) NSW residents who need to travel more than 100 km one way, or 200 km in a week for specialist medical care, can receive subsidies for travel and accommodation through IPTAAS. Learn more here: https://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/for-patients#:~:text=The%20Isolated%20Patients%20Travel%20and,that%20is%20not%20available%20locally.

Queensland (QLD)

Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) PTSS assists Queensland residents who need to travel at least 50 km one way to access specialist medical services. The scheme offers financial help for both travel and accommodation. More details can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/condition/health-consumer-information/patient-travel/patient-travel-subsidy-scheme#:~:text=The%20Patient%20Travel%20Subsidy%20Scheme,public%20hospital%20or%20health%20facility.

South Australia (SA)

Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) South Australia's PATS provides subsidies for travel and accommodation to patients who need to travel over 100 km to access medical services. This includes support for both intrastate and interstate travel. Visit here for more information: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/services/regional+health+services/patient+assistance+transport+scheme/patient+assistance+transport+scheme#:~:text=Through%20PATS%2C%20subsidies%20are%20provided,are%20also%20eligible%20for%20PATS.

Tasmania (TAS)

Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) Tasmanian residents can receive financial assistance for travel and accommodation when needing to travel for specialist medical care not available locally, particularly when the travel exceeds 75 km one way. More information is available here: https://www.service.tas.gov.au/services/health/health-payments-services-and-tools/apply-for-the-patient-travel-assistance-scheme-ptas#:~:text=PTAS%20provides%20financial%20help%20with,travel%20and%20accommodation%20you%20need.

Western Australia (WA)

Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) WA offers support through PATS for residents who need to travel long distances for medical care. This includes financial assistance for both intrastate and interstate travel and accommodation costs. Find more details see: https://www.wacountry.health.wa.gov.au/Our-patients/Patient-Assisted-Travel-Scheme-PATS.

Victoria (VIC)

Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) VPTAS provides travel and accommodation subsidies for Victorian residents who need to travel more than 100 km one way or 500 km a week for specialist medical services. Learn more here: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/rural-health/victorian-patient-transport-assistance-scheme-vptas.

Tips for Navigating Medical Travel

1. Plan Ahead: Ensure you have all necessary medical appointments and travel arrangements booked in advance. Confirm eligibility and apply for PATS support well before your travel date.
2. Understand Your Entitlements: Each PATS has different eligibility criteria and benefits. Familiarise yourself with the rules and ensure you submit all required documentation.
3. Keep Records: Maintain thorough records of your travel expenses, medical appointments, and any receipts. These will be crucial when applying for reimbursements.
4. Travel Safely: If your condition requires special accommodations, such as wheelchair access or specific medical equipment, inform the transport providers in advance.
5. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to ask for help from social workers or patient advocates at your medical facility. They can provide guidance and assistance with navigating travel schemes and other logistical challenges.

Wrap Up

Managing a chronic illness often means traveling for medical care, which can be daunting. However, with the support of Patient Assisted Travel Schemes available across Australia, you can alleviate some of the financial and logistical burdens. It didn’t help me when I lived overseas, by they are helpful for living in Australia. By planning ahead and understanding your entitlements, you can focus more on your health and well-being, ensuring you receive the necessary care with as little stress as possible.

P.S.

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