Veterans Affairs Canada Treatment Benefits
Eligibility check
VAC may pay if you hold a VAC healthcare card, a health professional has assessed the need and recommended the item, and VAC or Medavie Blue Cross pre-authorizes it. Three quick questions. Nothing you choose leaves this page.
Question 1 of 3
You are still serving in the Regular Force.
Regular Force members get their health care from the Canadian Armed Forces, not VAC. If you are releasing, VAC suggests asking for a review of your CAF health services, so you know what VAC can cover afterwards.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You do not have a VAC healthcare card.
The VAC healthcare card comes automatically once you are approved for a disability benefit or another qualifying VAC program. Call VAC at 1-866-522-2122 to ask what you may be eligible for.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You are waiting for a decision on a VAC disability benefit.
VAC's equipment policy allows payment for something bought before your eligibility is decided, if it later proves to be an eligible benefit. VAC also warns that it may not repay purchases made before pre-authorization, so ask VAC before you buy.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
No health professional has assessed you for the item yet.
Most items need a prescription, and many also need a health professional's recommendation. Book an assessment with your doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist; each grid line says who may prescribe it.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You have a card and a recommendation for a power wheelchair or scooter.
In Ontario the grid allows up to $9,000 for an electric wheelchair or $6,000 for a 4-wheeled scooter, once every five calendar years. Each needs a power mobility assessment, two quotes and pre-authorization, and VAC approves only one power mobility item per person.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You have a card and a recommendation for a hospital bed or mattress.
In Ontario the grid allows a hospital bed purchase up to $4,000 once every five calendar years, with a prescription, a recommendation and pre-authorization. Rental, side rails and pressure-relief mattresses have their own grid lines.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You have a card and a recommendation for a change to your home.
VAC pays for home adaptations needed to use approved equipment or to get in and out of your home safely, in a home you own or with the owner's written consent. The Ontario grid lists minor alterations up to $2,500 and major alterations up to $10,000. Stairlifts and porch lifts are not named on the grid, so ask VAC which line applies.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
You have a card and a recommendation for another item.
Manual wheelchairs, walkers, patient lifts, power lift chairs, bath seats, commodes and grab bars are on VAC's Ontario grids, for example up to $4,000 for a manual wheelchair and $600 for a wheeled walker. Your provider asks for pre-authorization. A provider registered with Medavie Blue Cross bills VAC directly; with any other provider you pay and claim within 18 months.
Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers, and coverage is not guaranteed. Questions: call VAC at 1-866-522-2122.
What can be covered
Items on VAC's Ontario benefit grids, grouped by the equipment we supply. Each one needs the prescription and pre-authorization its grid line asks for.
Stairlifts and porch lifts are not named on the grid: ask VAC which line applies before you buy.
We do not do vehicle work: ask VAC directly.
Nothing in that group.
Providers registered with Medavie Blue Cross bill VAC directly, so you do not pay out of pocket. With a provider that is not registered, you pay and ask VAC to repay you within 18 months. We tell you which applies to your item before anything is ordered. Source: veterans.gc.ca
Before you buy
Check your item's line in VAC's benefit grid for Ontario: it says whether a prescription, a recommendation and pre-authorization are needed, the dollar limit and how often. Most items need pre-authorization, which your provider requests from VAC or Medavie Blue Cross (1-866-811-6060), and many need two quotes. A provider registered with Medavie Blue Cross bills VAC directly; with another provider you pay and claim within 18 months. VAC's policy allows payment for items bought before eligibility was decided if they turn out to be eligible, but VAC also warns it may not repay purchases made before pre-authorization, so ask first.
How to apply
There is no separate application for equipment: once you hold a VAC healthcare card, a health professional recommends the item, the provider gets pre-authorization, and then the provider bills VAC or you claim.
You get a VAC healthcare card automatically after you qualify. Questions: call 1-866-522-2122 or send a secure message through My VAC Account. Source: veterans.gc.ca
A doctor, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist assesses your functional need and prescribes or recommends the item, as its grid line requires. Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.ca
Two quotes are required for power wheelchairs, scooters and major alterations, and for many other items over $1,000. Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.ca
Your provider asks VAC or Medavie Blue Cross (1-866-811-6060) for pre-authorization before supplying the item. Most items need it only the first time. Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.ca
A provider registered with Medavie Blue Cross bills VAC directly. With a provider that is not registered, you pay and ask VAC to repay you (form VAC 918 or your Medavie Blue Cross account) within 18 months. Source: veterans.gc.ca
Ask for a first level review, then a final review, as your decision letter explains. Source: veterans.gc.ca
Tick each one as you gather it. Your ticks stay in this browser, and you can add the list to your booking so we know where you are.
Call (905) 798-1853Tick each document as you gather it.
This browser is not keeping your ticks, so they will clear when you leave the page.
How we help
Our part is the equipment: measuring, the quote and the product details, then delivery and service once VAC has pre-authorized it.
Questions
Anything else about the equipment or the quote, ask us. Questions about your application go to Veterans Affairs Canada.
Call (905) 798-1853Yes, if it meets an assessed functional health need. In Ontario, VAC's grid allows a hospital bed purchase up to $4,000 once every five calendar years, with a prescription, a health professional's recommendation and pre-authorization. Rental, side rails and pressure mattresses have their own grid lines.
Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caSee hospital beds
Yes, when you need it mainly for daily living. Ontario limits are $9,000 for an electric wheelchair and $6,000 for a 4-wheeled scooter, once every five calendar years, with a power mobility assessment, two quotes and pre-authorization. VAC approves only one power mobility item per person.
Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caSee power wheelchairs
Yes. The Ontario grid lists a power lift chair purchase up to $1,800 once every five calendar years, prescribed by a physiotherapist and pre-authorized. Two quotes are needed if it costs over $1,000.
VAC pays for home adaptations needed to use approved equipment, or to get in and out of your home safely, in a home you own or with the owner's written consent. The Ontario grid lists minor alterations up to $2,500 and major alterations up to $10,000, with quotes and pre-authorization. Stairlifts and porch lifts are not named on the grid, so ask VAC which line applies before you buy.
Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caBook a free home assessment
Program of Choice 13 is the part of VAC's Treatment Benefits Program for special equipment, home adaptations and vehicle modifications. It covers approved equipment that meets a Veteran's assessed functional health need.
Yes, if the provider meets VAC's requirements. Providers registered with Medavie Blue Cross bill VAC directly. With a provider that is not registered, you pay first and ask VAC to repay you within 18 months; that provider must be licensed or certified in the province, or meet VAC's own requirements.
For most equipment, yes. Each item's grid line shows whether pre-authorization is needed, and your provider can request it from VAC or Medavie Blue Cross at 1-866-811-6060. Most benefits need it only the first time.
Source: veterans.gc.caSource: veterans.gc.caWhat to check before buying
Sometimes. VAC's policy allows payment for equipment bought before your eligibility was decided, if it later proves to be an eligible benefit. VAC also warns that it may not repay purchases made before pre-authorization, so ask VAC first.
Yes. VAC pays for maintenance and repairs not covered by a warranty when a qualified professional does them, and the Ontario grid allows replacement electric wheelchair batteries twice a calendar year with pre-authorization.
No. You receive a VAC healthcare card automatically once you are approved for a disability benefit or qualify for another program such as the Veterans Independence Program or the War Veterans Allowance.
Contacts
Questions about the program, your application or a decision go to Veterans Affairs Canada. Questions about the equipment, measuring and the quote come to us.
The program
The equipment
We prepare a detailed quote and the product details VAC's grid asks for. Questions about your coverage, pre-authorization or a decision go to Veterans Affairs Canada or Medavie Blue Cross.
Book a free home assessmentFree home assessment
We measure, show you what fits and prepare the quote in the format VAC asks for. We reply within one business day.
Unit 16B, 106 Humber College Blvd, Etobicoke M9V 4E4
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Sunday Closed
Directions to EtobicokeUnit 7, 15 Fisherman Drive, Brampton L7A 1B7
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm; Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm; Sunday Closed
Directions to BramptonWritten by Mobility Specialties, updated . Checked against Veterans Affairs Canada's POC 13 policy, its Ontario benefit grid and its Treatment Benefits pages on November 12, 2026. The grid changes weekly. Only Veterans Affairs Canada decides what it covers and how much.
