Most people stop driving after about 75, often because of vision or health issues. If you’re younger than that, you may have stopped driving because of an injury, or perhaps a chronic condition, like Parkinson’s, is keeping you from getting behind the wheel. 

Whatever the cause, you probably still need to get to places like the grocery store, your pharmacy, and your doctor’s office. It may feel like you’re losing your independence, but rideshare options like Uber, Lyft, and taxi services make it easier than ever to retain your mobility when you can’t drive yourself. If you live on a fixed budget, however, booking a taxi or Uber can be expensive. 

If you are on Medicare and need help getting around, you may be wondering if your plan pays for transportation. The answer is yes, but it varies based on your coverage. Read on to understand the ins and outs of the different transportation benefits for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare medical transportation services

Original Medicare will only pay for medical transportation services. It covers emergency ambulance rides if they’re medically necessary. It also covers plane or helicopter transport if you can’t get somewhere quickly enough by car or ambulance.

Reasons you might qualify for emergency medical transportation include:

• You are in a medical emergency
• You’ve lost consciousness
• You’ve lost a lot of blood
• You’re in shock

Medicare will also cover some non-emergency medical transportation if your doctor decides it’s the safest way to get you somewhere. For instance, your transportation may be covered if you can’t walk or sit in a wheelchair, or you need dialysis transportation and have end-stage renal disease. But remember:

• You may need prior authorization before Medicare will pay for the transportation in these cases.
• This is paid through Medicare Part B, so you’ll have a 20% copay after you pay your annual deductible (which is $283 in 2026).

Medicare Advantage medical transportation benefit

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be eligible for a wider range of transportation services, including Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, or NEMT. The benefit you have will depend on your carrier and the plan you choose. Some plans pay for transportation to visits,including:

• Your doctor
• Pharmacy
• Lab testing
• Dentist
• Hearing and vision checkups

How to use your Medicare Advantage transportation benefit

If your Medicare Advantage plan covers medical transportation as a supplemental benefit, there are a lot of things you should know about using this benefit. Following these recommendations can create a more seamless experience in getting you to and from your medical visits.

Planning ahead for Medicare-covered transportation

If you like to plan ahead, you can often schedule your ride in advance. While every carrier is different, you can often sign up as much as 30 days in advance.

If you have less time to plan for the trip, you can typically still book transportation two to three days in advance. If you have an emergency that doesn’t require a trip to the emergency room – like an urgent care visit, a hospital discharge, or a chemotherapy visit, most carriers allow you to schedule a same-day trip. But you will still need to schedule it a few hours in advance.

How to schedule transportation

You can sign up for a ride by:

• Calling the number listed under “transportation” on your member ID card.
• Scheduling the ride online on your plan’s website.
• Calling the transportation company (like Uber or Lyft) directly.

When you call in to schedule through your insurance carrier, operators are typically available during business hours, Monday through Friday, from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s best if you can schedule your trip to the doctor and back at the same time. If you don’t know exactly when your visit will end, you can often make what’s known as a will-call for return trips. When you make a will-call, you may have to wait a bit – the driver usually has a set amount of time to come and get you, often an hour or more.

When your driver is heading your way, they will send you an estimated pickup time. You’ll usually have 5 to 10 minutes to get to your transportation from that time.

You may be able to use your Flex Card to pay for the trip. You’ll want to make sure, before you schedule your ride, that the company you are using accepts these cards.

Medicare Advantage limits to transportation benefits

Medicare Advantage plans typically put some limitations on their transportation benefits, including:

• You will have a limited number of rides per year, often around a dozen trips (and round trips count as two rides).
• You’ll often be limited to a certain distance, like 50 miles for each trip.
• If you miss a ride, it will often still be deducted from your allotted number of trips.

Special circumstances

Make sure to let the driver know if you need a wheelchair, cane, or walker so they can be prepared to assist you if they offer that service.

Some companies, like Uber and Lyft, only offer curb-to-curb services, meaning they aren’t required to help you if you need assistance getting to the car. Let the transportation company know if you’ll need help — organizations like Uber Health, Gogograndparent, and SilverRide are equipped for door-to-door service.

Some procedures may also require you to have a family member, friend, or caretaker drive you home (an Uber or Lyft driver won’t be sufficient), so be sure to check in advance. This is the case for procedures like:

• Colonoscopy
• Tooth extraction with sedation
• Cataract surgery
• Pain management procedures, like a nerve block, that require sedation

Most carriers let you take an adult over age 18 with you on your trip. This may be enough for your doctor to let you leave in an Uber, but be sure to check with your physician or hospital prior to the procedure.

Non-medical transportation options

Some Medicare Advantage plans will pay for trips for a broader range of health and wellness needs, like the grocery store and the gym.

If you have a chronic health condition, you may be eligible for expanded transportation options through Medicare Advantage’s Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). If you qualify for this benefit, you could take trips to places like church, community events, grocery stores, and senior centers. You will likely have a certain number of trips you can take each year without paying a copay.

Finding an MA plan with transportation benefits

If you are signing up for a new plan and want access to free transportation with Medicare, you can use the Medicare Plan Finder. From that web page:

• Type in your zip code or log into your online Medicare account and search Medicare Advantage plans.
• Plans with this benefit will have a green check mark under transportation in the list on the right-hand column.
• You can filter the list, so you only see plans with transportation benefits by clicking on: View all filters, Transportation, Apply filters.

You can also find a plan with a transportation benefit by working with a licensed agent.

Additional options

If you use all your yearly rides and need more, call the member services number (not the transportation number) on your ID card. Your carrier may be able to help you find local, inexpensive transportation services.

If you don’t have a plan with a transportation benefit, there are other options to help you get where you need to go. You may be able to find rides through services like:

• Eldercare Locator, which connects seniors with services in their vicinity
• Rides in Sight, which helps you find local transportation
• Medicaid, if you qualify
• Community resources like local transit companies and Area Agencies on Aging

Losing your ability to drive, even for a short period of time, can make life more difficult. But getting to doctors’ appointments and other health services shouldn’t add to your stress. Medicare Advantage plans can provide some relief, and local and statewide services can assist you as well.