VA Medical Transportation in NJ — When VA Rides Fall Short

Medical Transportation for New Jersey Veterans

New Jersey is home to more than 350,000 veterans, many of whom rely on VA healthcare for their medical needs. Getting to VA medical centers and outpatient clinics — sometimes for complex, ongoing care — requires reliable transportation, and the distance or cost of travel can be a barrier. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several transportation programs, but they don't cover every trip: vans run on fixed schedules, volunteer drivers fill up, and reimbursement only arrives after you've already made the trip.

This guide explains every VA transportation benefit available to New Jersey veterans, who qualifies, how to access each program — and exactly what to do when a VA ride isn't available for the appointment you have.

VA Beneficiary Travel Program

The VA Beneficiary Travel (BT) Program helps veterans get to and from VA-approved medical appointments by providing mileage reimbursement or, in some cases, arranging actual transportation. It is administered under 38 CFR Part 70.

Who Is Eligible for VA Beneficiary Travel?

You may qualify for VA Beneficiary Travel if you meet any of the following criteria:

• You have a service-connected disability rated at 30% or higher
• You are traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition (any rating)
• Your income is below the VA means test threshold (the same threshold used for determining VA healthcare copays)
• You are traveling for a VA-ordered compensation or pension exam
• You receive a VA pension
• You are traveling for care at a VA Community Care authorized provider

Service-Connected vs. Non-Service-Connected Eligibility

Not all veterans are equally eligible — the VA uses a tiered system. Veterans with a VA-rated service-connected disability of 30% or greater are exempt from the Beneficiary Travel deductible, and veterans traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition may qualify for reimbursement regardless of income. Veterans rated at 100% service-connected (P&T) are among the highest-priority beneficiaries for transportation assistance.

Veterans who do not have a service-connected rating, or whose rating is below 30%, may still qualify if they meet income thresholds similar to those used for VA means-tested care — but a per-trip deductible applies unless they qualify for an exemption. Veterans receiving VA Pension benefits are generally eligible for Beneficiary Travel regardless of their service-connected rating percentage.

What Does VA Beneficiary Travel Cover?

The most common form is mileage reimbursement at the current VA-approved rate (check with your VA facility for the current rate per mile, as it is periodically updated). Reimbursement covers the most direct route from your home to the VA facility and back.

Special modes of transportation are also covered when medically necessary:

• Common carrier (bus, train) — reimbursed at actual cost up to the mileage reimbursement equivalent
• Wheelchair-accessible van — when a veteran cannot travel by standard vehicle due to disability
• Ambulance or ambulette — when medically required

For veterans who need more than a standard van seat — wheelchair or stretcher transport — the VA calls this Special Mode Transport, and authorization typically requires a physician's order. Ask your VA care team to place the order before your appointment date; without prior authorization, special mode trips are usually not reimbursable.

How to File for VA Beneficiary Travel Reimbursement

You can file for reimbursement:

1. Online at va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/ using VA Form 10-3542 (Veteran's Claim for Travel Reimbursement)
2. At the VA facility on the day of your appointment at the Beneficiary Travel office (usually near the entrance or outpatient registration)
3. By mail to your VA medical center's Beneficiary Travel office

Claim within 30 days of your appointment — late claims may be denied. A deductible applies to some trips unless you are exempt based on your service-connected rating or financial status. Keep copies of all receipts if using common carrier transport.

NJ VA Medical Centers and Clinics

New Jersey veterans receive VA care at several facilities. Understanding where you'll be traveling helps plan your transportation:

• VA New Jersey Health Care System — East Orange Campus (East Orange) — the primary inpatient and specialty care facility for NJ veterans
• VA New Jersey Health Care System — Lyons Campus (Lyons, Somerset County) — specializes in mental health and substance use treatment
• Toms River VA Outpatient Clinic (Ocean County)
• Hackensack VA Outpatient Clinic (Bergen County)
• Tinton Falls VA Outpatient Clinic (Monmouth County)
• Paterson VA Outpatient Clinic (Passaic County)
• Newark VA Outpatient Clinic (Essex County)

Veterans in northern New Jersey may also access care at the Manhattan VA Medical Center (James J. Peters VAMC in the Bronx) or the VA Hudson Valley system, depending on their enrollment.

Veterans Transportation Program (VTS) and DAV Transport

The Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) — sometimes called the Veterans Transportation Service — provides scheduled van transportation from community pickup points to VA medical centers. This free service is available to veterans who meet VA eligibility criteria. The East Orange and Lyons campuses each have transportation coordinators who manage these routes; contact your nearest VA facility's Voluntary Services office to ask about VTP van schedules in your area.

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization also operates free transportation services in New Jersey. DAV volunteer drivers use DAV vehicles to transport veterans from their homes or community pickup points to VA facilities. To access DAV transport, contact your local NJ DAV chapter or the transportation coordinator at your VA facility. Veterans who need this service should sign up in advance, as schedules fill quickly.

VA Community Care and Transportation

The VA MISSION Act expanded veterans' access to community (non-VA) healthcare providers. If you're authorized for community care — seeing a private-sector doctor, specialist, or therapist at VA expense — the Beneficiary Travel benefit may cover your transportation to community care appointments as well, subject to eligibility criteria.

Four things to know about community care transport: the community care authorization must be in place before the appointment; you must still submit a travel reimbursement claim for each community care trip; special mode transport to community care providers requires the same physician's order as VA facility transport; and if you're unsure whether a community care appointment qualifies, call the VA travel office before your appointment — not after.

What to Do When VA Transportation Falls Short

VA transportation programs are valuable but not seamless. VTP vans run on fixed schedules and routes, DAV volunteer availability varies by county, special mode authorization takes time, and Beneficiary Travel only reimburses after you've already made the trip. Private NEMT fills those gaps. Veterans call Delta when they:

• Need transport on a day or time when VA van service isn't available
• Require a wheelchair-accessible van or stretcher transport and VA special mode authorization hasn't come through
• Are going to a community care appointment that VA transport doesn't cover
• Need same-day or urgent transport after a discharge or schedule change
• Want a dedicated, door-through-door ride rather than a shared van route

Delta Medical Transportation provides wheelchair van and stretcher transport for NJ veterans across all 21 counties, and we issue detailed invoices you can submit with your Beneficiary Travel reimbursement claim. Contact Delta to arrange veteran-friendly medical transportation.

Coordinating VA and Medicaid Transportation

Some NJ veterans are enrolled in both VA healthcare and NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid). For veterans who qualify for both, coordination of benefits rules generally make VA the primary payer for service-connected conditions and Medicaid the secondary or alternative payer for non-service-connected conditions. If you have both VA and Medicaid coverage, speak with both your VA social worker and your Medicaid MCO about coordinating transportation benefits to maximize coverage.

Veterans Service Organizations That Can Help

Navigating VA transportation benefits can be confusing. Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) accredited by the VA provide free assistance in understanding and accessing your benefits. Key VSOs active in New Jersey include:

• American Legion (NJ Department) — Posts throughout the state with trained service officers who can help with VA claims and transportation access.
• VFW New Jersey State Council — Veterans of Foreign Wars posts offer transportation assistance programs and service officer guidance.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — Operates a national transportation network specifically for veterans, with volunteer drivers in many NJ counties.
• New Jersey Division of Veterans Services (DVS) — Connects veterans with county-level transportation programs funded through the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
• AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Vietnam Veterans of America — All have NJ chapters with service officers who can help veterans understand transportation entitlements.

Key Resources for NJ Veterans Seeking Transportation

• VA Beneficiary Travel: 1-855-574-7286
• VA NJ Health Care System Travel Office: 908-647-0180 ext. 4450
• NJ Division of Veterans Services: 609-530-6961
• DAV Transportation Network: 1-833-833-0107
• NJ 211 (statewide resource hotline): Dial 2-1-1

For more information about medical transportation coverage options in New Jersey, visit our insurance coverage page. Delta Medical Transportation is proud to serve New Jersey's veteran community. Contact us to arrange your next medical transport.