
Airport Stretcher Transport: What Patients & Families Need to Know
Airport stretcher transport costs $300 to $525 base rate plus $5 to $16 per mile. A two-person crew
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Dream Care Rides is a licensed NEMT provider. We do not provide emergency ambulance or paramedic services.
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March 25, 2026 | Otse Amorighoye, NPI #1033989991 | 6 min read

Stretcher transport near Chicago costs $300 to $525 base rate through Dream Care Rides — not the $1,200+ you would pay for an ambulance when no emergency exists. We provide bed-to-bed ambulette service with two trained attendants, a hydraulic stretcher, and a hydraulic lift across Chicago, Cook County, Will County, and northwest Indiana. If you or a family member needs to lie flat during a medical transport and is medically stable, this is the service you need. Call (708) 505-6994 or schedule a stretcher ride online.
Stretcher transport — also called ambulette service — moves patients who cannot sit upright but do not need an ambulance. The patient lies on a hydraulic stretcher inside a non-emergency vehicle. Two trained attendants handle loading, unloading, and patient transfers at both ends of the trip. No EMT or paramedic is onboard because the patient is medically stable.
This service exists because there is a gap between wheelchair-accessible vans and ambulances. If you had hip surgery, a spinal procedure, or a condition that requires you to remain supine, you need more than a wheelchair van. But you do not need sirens, cardiac monitors, or a $1,200 bill. You need a stretcher transport.
Dream Care Rides stretcher transportation in Chicago is priced as follows:
| Component | Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Base rate | $300 – $525 | ||
| Per mile | $5 – $16/mi | ||
| Weekend surcharge | 1.5x base | 1.5x base | 1.5x base |
| Holiday surcharge | 2.25x base | 2.25x base | 2.25x base |
| Wait time | $15 – $30 per 15 minutes | ||
| Onboard oxygen | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Stairchair assist | $25 | $25 | $25 |
For comparison: ambulatory sedan transport starts at $35 – $65 base, and wheelchair transportation in Chicago starts at $65 – $115 base. Use the NEMT cost calculator to get an estimate for your specific trip distance.
| Trip | Distance | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ingalls Memorial to home in Matteson | 6 miles | $330 – $621 |
| UChicago Medicine to SNF in Homewood | 18 miles | $390 – $813 |
| Rush to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab | 4 miles | $320 – $589 |
| Advocate South Suburban to home in Harvey | 5 miles | $325 – $605 |
See the full Dream Care Rides rate card for all service types and surcharges.
You need stretcher transport if you are medically stable but cannot sit upright for the duration of the trip. Common situations:
If you can sit upright for 30 minutes, wheelchair transport at $65 – $115 is the more cost-effective option. If you need medical monitoring during the ride, you need an ambulance, not NEMT.
Here is the step-by-step process for a typical stretcher transport with Dream Care Rides:
The entire process is door-through-door — actually room-to-room. You are attended from the moment we arrive until you are settled at your destination.
You have three options:
Book 48 to 72 hours in advance when possible. Same-day stretcher transport is available but subject to vehicle availability.
Medicaid covers non-emergency stretcher transport when a physician certifies the patient cannot travel by wheelchair or sedan. Prior authorization is required. Your doctor or discharge planner submits the request. Dream Care Rides accepts Illinois Medicaid directly.
Original Medicare does not typically cover NEMT stretcher transport. Some Medicare Advantage plans include NEMT benefits — check your plan's supplemental transportation benefit.
Most stretcher transports are private pay. You pay the base rate plus mileage at the time of service. We accept credit card, debit card, and cash.
Read about hospital discharge transportation options for more details on coverage.
Dream Care Rides headquarters is at 20000 Governors Dr Suite 103H, Olympia Fields, IL 60461. We provide stretcher transport across:
$300 to $525 base rate plus $5 to $16 per mile. A 10-mile trip costs roughly $350 to $685. Weekend trips are 1.5x and holidays are 2.25x base. Call (708) 505-6994 for an exact quote or use the NEMT cost calculator.
Ambulances carry EMTs and medical equipment for emergencies. Stretcher transport is for medically stable patients who cannot sit upright. No EMT onboard. Cost is $300 – $525 versus $1,200+ for an ambulance.
Yes. Two attendants bring the stretcher to your room, transfer you, load you via hydraulic lift, and reverse everything at your destination. You never need to stand or sit.
Yes. Call (708) 505-6994 or book online. You do not need the hospital to arrange it. We coordinate pickup timing with nursing staff on your behalf.
48 to 72 hours is ideal. Same-day stretcher transport is available depending on vehicle availability.
Illinois Medicaid covers non-emergency stretcher transport when medically necessary and pre-authorized by a physician. Dream Care Rides accepts Medicaid directly.
Chicago, all of Cook County, Will County, DuPage County, Lake County, and northwest Indiana. Base: Olympia Fields, IL 60461.
Yes. Onboard supplemental oxygen is available for a $25 surcharge via nasal cannula. Patients requiring continuous clinical oxygen management should use ambulance transport.
About the Author: Otse Amorighoye is the Founder and CEO of Dream Care Rides (NPI #1033989991), headquartered at 20000 Governors Dr Suite 103H, Olympia Fields, IL 60461. Dream Care Rides provides non-emergency medical transportation throughout Chicago, Cook County, and the greater Illinois-Indiana metro area.
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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