What Medicare covers for transportation
Medicare does not pay for routine transportation to doctor's offices or hospitals. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers the medical care itself — the visit, the procedure, the test — but not the ride to get there. If you need a car, taxi, bus fare, or rideshare to reach a covered service, you pay for that yourself.
The one exception is non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT), which some Medicare Advantage plans include as an extra benefit. This is not standard across all plans, and the coverage rules vary widely. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan and transportation is important to you, the plan's coverage details will spell out whether rides are covered, how many per year, and which providers you can use.
Medicaid, which is separate from Medicare, does cover NEMT in most states for people who are may be able to access for both programs. If you are on both Medicare and Medicaid (sometimes called "dual may be able to access"), Medicaid may pay for your transportation even though Medicare does not.
Key Takeaways
- Original Medicare does not cover transportation to medical appointments, even if the appointment itself is covered.
- Some Medicare Advantage plans offer non-emergency medical transportation as an optional benefit, but you must check your specific plan's details.
- If you are on both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid may cover your transportation to medical visits.
- Other programs — including Medicaid, senior centers, and local nonprofits — may offer rides even if Medicare does not.
- Volunteer driver programs and public transit discounts for seniors are often free or low-cost alternatives in your area.
How to check if your Medicare Advantage plan covers transportation
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the coverage details are in your plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage document, which you receive each year. Look for sections titled "Transportation," "Non-Emergency Medical Transportation," "NEMT," or "Supplemental Benefits." Not all plans list this the same way, so you may need to scan the whole document or use the search function if it is digital.
The fastest way is to call your plan's member services number, which is on your insurance card. Tell them you want to know whether the plan covers rides to medical appointments. Ask how many trips per year are covered, whether you need to arrange the ride in advance, and which transportation providers are in-network. Write down the answers so you have them for later.
If your plan does cover transportation, you will typically need to call ahead to book the ride through an approved provider. Do not assume you can use any taxi or rideshare service — most plans contract with specific companies, and you may have to pay out of pocket if you use someone else.
Medicaid transportation if you are dual may be able to access
If you receive both Medicare and Medicaid, your state's Medicaid program may cover non-emergency medical transportation. This is called NEMT, and most states include it as a covered service. Medicaid will pay for rides to any Medicaid-covered medical appointment — doctor visits, dialysis, mental health treatment, and others.
To use Medicaid transportation, you usually have to request the ride in advance, often 24 hours before your appointment. You will call a Medicaid transportation broker or managed care plan (depending on how your state runs the program) and give them your appointment details. They arrange the ride and send a driver to pick you up. You do not pay anything out of pocket.
The catch is that Medicaid transportation is not always fast or convenient. Drivers may pick you up well before your appointment time, and the route may include other stops. But if you have no other way to reach a medical visit, it is a real option. To find out how to request a ride in your state, call your Medicaid caseworker or your state's Medicaid hotline.
Other programs that may cover or provide rides
Several programs outside Medicare and Medicaid offer transportation for seniors. Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) often run or know about local senior transportation services, some free or very low-cost. Call your local AAA — you can find it through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 — and ask what rides are available in your area.
Many senior centers, community health centers, and nonprofits run volunteer driver programs or subsidized shuttle services. These are usually free or charge a small donation. Some focus on rides to medical appointments; others are general transportation. Your local AAA can point you toward these programs.
Public transit agencies in many cities offer reduced fares for seniors (usually age 65 and up) and people with disabilities. Some also run paratransit services — door-to-door or curb-to-curb rides for people who cannot use fixed-route buses. You may may have access to for paratransit if you have a mobility limitation. Contact your local transit authority to learn about senior fares and paratransit.
What to do if you cannot afford transportation
If you are struggling to pay for rides to medical appointments, start by calling 211 (a free helpline) and telling them you need transportation help. They will search a database of local programs and give you phone numbers for services in your area. Many are free or charge based on what you can afford.
If you have a specific medical condition — cancer, dialysis, heart disease — ask your doctor's office or hospital social worker whether they know of transportation programs for patients with that condition. Many hospitals and large medical practices have partnerships with transportation services or can point you toward disease-specific nonprofits that help with rides.
If you are on a very tight budget and have no other options, ask your doctor whether any appointments can be done by phone or video visit instead. Medicare covers telehealth visits, and you would not need transportation at all.
How Medicare Advantage plans decide what transportation to cover
Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to offer extra benefits that Original Medicare does not, including transportation. Plans decide which extra benefits to offer based on what they think will attract members and what they can afford. This means one plan in your area might cover 12 rides per year, while another covers none, and a third covers unlimited rides but only to in-network providers.
Plans can also change their benefits from year to year. If your plan covered transportation last year, it might not this year, or the coverage might be more limited. This is why you need to check your plan's current benefits every year during the annual enrollment period (October 15 to December 7). If transportation matters to you and your current plan is cutting it, you can switch to a different plan that still offers it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Uber or Lyft if my Medicare Advantage plan covers transportation?
Only if your plan contracts with those services. Most Medicare Advantage plans that cover transportation work with specific medical transportation companies, not rideshare apps. If you use Uber or Lyft without checking first, you will likely have to pay the full cost yourself. Always call your plan to ask which providers are covered before you book a ride.
Does Medicare cover transportation if I am homebound?
Original Medicare does not cover transportation for homebound people. However, if you are homebound and on Medicaid, Medicaid's NEMT program may cover rides. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover transportation for homebound members, but you have to check your specific plan. Your doctor can also refer you to local senior services that may provide free or low-cost rides for people who cannot leave home easily.
What if I need transportation to a mental health appointment?
Original Medicare covers mental health visits but not the transportation to get there. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, check whether it covers transportation to behavioral health appointments — some do, some do not. If you are on Medicaid, Medicaid's NEMT program covers rides to mental health appointments just like any other medical visit.
Can I get reimbursed for mileage if I drive myself to a medical appointment?
Medicare does not reimburse mileage or gas for driving yourself to a covered appointment. Some people can deduct medical mileage on their taxes, but that is a tax question, not a Medicare question. If you drive yourself, the cost is yours to cover.
How do I know if I am dual may be able to access for Medicare and Medicaid?
You are dual may be able to access if you are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time. If you are not sure, call your state's Medicaid office or your local social services agency and ask. You can also call 1-800-677-1116 (the Eldercare Locator) and ask to be connected to a benefits counselor who can tell you whether you may have access to for Medicaid.