
NEMT vs Ambulance: When Do You Need Each?
NEMT (non-emergency medical transportation) takes stable patients to scheduled appointments for $35
What Counts as an Emergency?
Call 911 if you experience:
We provide NEMT for:
Dream Care Rides is a licensed NEMT provider. We do not provide emergency ambulance or paramedic services.
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March 28, 2026 | Otse Amorighoye, NPI #1033989991 | 8 min read

When you search "medical transportation near me," you need a provider that is licensed, insured, Medicaid-enrolled (if applicable), has the right vehicle for your mobility level, operates on your schedule, and has a track record of showing up on time. In the Chicago metro area and across Illinois and Indiana, dozens of NEMT companies advertise online, but their quality varies dramatically. This guide gives you a concrete checklist for evaluating any provider and explains where Dream Care Rides fits in the landscape.
Before booking with any medical transportation company, verify these eight items:
In Illinois, NEMT providers must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) if operating stretcher vehicles, and comply with Illinois Vehicle Code requirements for commercial passenger vehicles. Ask the provider: "Are you licensed to operate in Illinois?" A legitimate provider will give you a license number without hesitation.
NEMT providers must carry commercial auto insurance with liability limits that meet state minimums (typically $1 million or higher). They should also carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Ask for a certificate of insurance. Any provider that hesitates is a red flag.
If you are a Medicaid beneficiary, the provider must be enrolled with Illinois Medicaid to bill for your trips. Ask for their NPI (National Provider Identifier) number. Dream Care Rides' NPI is 1033989991 — you can verify this at npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov.
A provider that only has sedans cannot serve wheelchair patients. A provider without stretcher ambulettes cannot transport patients who must lie down. Ask: "What vehicle types do you operate?" The three categories are:
Ask what certifications drivers hold. At minimum, NEMT drivers should have:
Verify the provider actually serves your pickup and destination locations. Some providers only operate in specific counties or within a limited radius. Dream Care Rides covers:
View all our coverage area cities.
Check Google reviews, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau. Look for:
Dream Care Rides has a 5.0 Google rating with 38+ reviews. Read them at our Google review page.
The provider should quote you an exact price before you book. If they say "it depends" or "we'll let you know after the trip," move on. Here are the standard Illinois NEMT rates for comparison:
| Service Type | Base Rate | Per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Ambulatory (sedan/SUV) | $35 – $65 | $2 – $4 |
| Wheelchair (ADA van) | $65 – $115 | $3 – $6 |
| Stretcher (ambulette) | $300 – $525 | $5 – $16 |
Any provider charging significantly above these ranges should explain why. Any provider charging significantly below may be cutting corners on vehicle maintenance, insurance, or driver qualifications.
Call any potential NEMT provider and ask these questions. Their answers (and how quickly they answer) tell you a lot:
Dream Care Rides answers all ten of these questions on the first call. Try us: (708) 505-6994.
The Chicago metro area has dozens of NEMT providers ranging from single-vehicle operators to large fleet companies. Here is how the landscape breaks down:
Companies with 20+ vehicles, dispatch centers, and contracts with multiple Medicaid MCOs. They handle high volume but individual patient attention can vary. Wait times on the phone may be long.
Companies like Dream Care Rides that operate a focused fleet, maintain personal relationships with patients, and handle both Medicaid and private pay. The sweet spot for reliability and personal service.
Independent operators with 1-3 vehicles. May offer lower prices but have limited backup capacity if a vehicle breaks down or a driver calls in sick.
Companies like Uber Health and Lyft Healthcare that connect healthcare organizations with rideshare drivers. These work for ambulatory patients only — no wheelchair or stretcher capability, no driver training in patient assistance, no Medicaid billing.
Dream Care Rides serves the following areas with all three vehicle types (ambulatory, wheelchair, stretcher):
Olympia Fields (our headquarters), Matteson, Homewood, Flossmoor, Country Club Hills, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Lansing, Calumet City, and more.
Cicero, Berwyn, Oak Park, Maywood, Bellwood, and surrounding areas.
Elgin, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Evanston, Skokie, and surrounding areas.
Hammond, Gary, Merrillville, Portage, Highland, East Chicago, Crown Point, and surrounding areas.
Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Rockford, and long-distance trips to any Illinois city.
If you have Illinois Medicaid, your NEMT is free. But Medicaid NEMT has limitations:
Private pay eliminates all of these limitations. Book same-day, choose your provider, get an exact pickup time, go anywhere. The tradeoff is cost: $35 – $65+ for ambulatory, $65 – $115+ for wheelchair, $300 – $525+ for stretcher.
Many patients use Medicaid NEMT for routine recurring appointments and private pay for urgent or non-medical trips. Read our guide on supplementing Medicaid with private pay.
Walk away from any provider that:
Dream Care Rides is headquartered at 20000 Governors Dr, Suite 103H, Olympia Fields, IL 60461. We operate throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana with ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher vehicles.
Call (708) 505-6994 or book online to schedule your ride. We quote the exact price on the first call, show up on time, and treat every patient with respect.
Search for NEMT providers in your area, verify their licensure and insurance, check Google reviews, and call for a price quote. In Illinois and Indiana, call Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994 — we serve the entire Chicago metro, northwest Indiana, and statewide Illinois.
Illinois NEMT rates: ambulatory $35 – $65 base + $2 – $4/mile, wheelchair $65 – $115 base + $3 – $6/mile, stretcher $300 – $525 base + $5 – $16/mile. Medicaid covers NEMT at $0. Call (708) 505-6994 for your exact quote.
Yes. Illinois Medicaid covers NEMT at no cost to the patient for all covered medical appointments. Call your MCO's transportation broker to request a ride, or call Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994 and we coordinate with your broker.
Dream Care Rides has a 5.0 Google rating with 38+ reviews and is Medicaid-enrolled (NPI: 1033989991). We operate ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher vehicles across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwest Indiana. Call (708) 505-6994.
For private pay, Dream Care Rides can often accommodate same-day requests depending on vehicle availability. For Medicaid trips, brokers typically require 3-5 business days advance notice. Call (708) 505-6994 to check availability.
Yes. Dream Care Rides serves northwest Indiana including Hammond, Gary, Merrillville, Portage, Highland, East Chicago, and Crown Point. We transport patients between Indiana and Illinois facilities regularly. Call (708) 505-6994.
Dream Care Rides operates ADA-compliant wheelchair vans and stretcher ambulettes throughout our service area. Wheelchair transport starts at $65 – $115 base. Stretcher transport starts at $300 – $525 base. Medicaid covers both at $0. Call (708) 505-6994.
Book private pay NEMT. No insurance required, no authorization, no paperwork. Call Dream Care Rides at (708) 505-6994, tell us where you need to go, and we confirm the price immediately. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover NEMT — check your plan benefits.
Need Medical Transportation?
Call us directly or book online. Upfront pricing, no hidden fees.
Founder & CEO, Dream Care Rides | NPI #1033989991
Licensed NEMT provider headquartered in Olympia Fields, IL.

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