Medicaid & Insurance Coverage

Standard Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). However, many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include transportation as a supplemental benefit. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan through carriers like Humana, Aetna, or UnitedHealthcare, check your plan's Summary of Benefits for a "non-emergency medical transportation" or "health-related transportation" line item. The number of covered trips varies — some plans offer 24 one-way trips per year while others offer unlimited rides to covered medical appointments. For patients who need regular transport, such as three-times-weekly dialysis, a Medicare Advantage plan with NEMT benefits can save thousands annually. Dream Care Rides works directly with many Medicare Advantage brokers in Illinois to simplify the process. Call us at (708) 505-6994 to verify your plan coverage, or book online and our team will check benefits before your first ride. You can also learn more about Medicaid transportation options if you hold dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility.

Yes. Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) in all 50 states, including Illinois. Federal law requires state Medicaid programs to arrange transportation for beneficiaries who have no other way to reach covered medical services. In Illinois, Medicaid NEMT is managed through transportation brokers or managed care organizations (MCOs). To use the benefit, you typically need to call your MCO or the state broker at least 48 hours before your appointment to schedule a ride. Dream Care Rides is an approved Medicaid transportation provider in select service areas of Illinois. We handle ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher transport for Medicaid members in those areas throughout the Chicago metro area and Northwest Indiana. To learn the full process for scheduling Medicaid rides in Illinois, read our complete Illinois NEMT guide. If you need help verifying your Medicaid transportation eligibility, call us at (708) 505-6994 or visit our Medicaid rides page.

Many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include non-emergency medical transportation as a supplemental benefit. The coverage varies by carrier and plan tier. Some plans provide a set number of one-way trips per year (commonly 24-48), while premium plans may offer unlimited rides to approved medical appointments. Plans from Humana, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Molina often include NEMT benefits in Illinois. To check your specific plan: (1) call the number on the back of your Medicare Advantage card, (2) ask specifically about "non-emergency medical transportation benefits," and (3) confirm which types of trips are covered. Dream Care Rides accepts many Medicare Advantage plans and can verify your benefits before your first ride. Call (708) 505-6994 for a free benefits check, or visit our payment options page to explore alternatives if your plan does not include transportation.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers dialysis treatment but does not directly cover transportation to dialysis appointments. However, many Medicare Advantage plans specifically include transportation to dialysis as a covered benefit because of its recurring nature — most dialysis patients need three trips per week. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, check whether it covers routine medical transportation. Some plans designate dialysis transport separately with higher trip allowances. For patients with both Medicare and Medicaid (dual-eligible), Medicaid's NEMT benefit covers dialysis transportation. Dream Care Rides provides standing-order dialysis transportation throughout Illinois and Northwest Indiana, which means we schedule your recurring rides automatically so you never miss a treatment. Learn more about our dialysis transportation service or call (708) 505-6994 to set up a standing order.

It depends on your insurance type. Medicaid covers NEMT in all states, including Illinois. Many Medicare Advantage plans include transportation benefits. Most private commercial insurance plans (employer-sponsored) do not cover NEMT, though some high-deductible plans reimburse medically necessary transport with a physician's order. Workers' compensation insurance typically covers transportation to approved medical providers. If your insurance does not cover NEMT, private-pay rates with Dream Care Rides are $50–$60 base + mileage for ambulatory (sedan) service and $60–$70 base + mileage for wheelchair transport. Visit our private pay page or call (708) 505-6994 for a quote. We also accept Medicaid in select service areas — see our Medicaid rides page for details.

NEMT is paid for through several sources: (1) Medicaid — covers NEMT for eligible beneficiaries in all 50 states, (2) Medicare Advantage — many Part C plans include transportation benefits, (3) Private pay — patients or families pay directly, (4) Workers' compensation — covers transport to approved providers, (5) Veterans Affairs — provides travel reimbursement for eligible veterans, and (6) Charitable organizations — some nonprofits fund rides for cancer patients or seniors. In Illinois, Medicaid NEMT is the most common payment method. For patients without Medicaid, Dream Care Rides offers private-pay rates of $50–$60 base + mileage for ambulatory service. See our full rate schedule or call (708) 505-6994 to discuss your payment options.

Original Medicare does not cover wheelchair van transportation for routine medical appointments. However, Medicare Part B covers ambulance transport (including wheelchair-accessible ambulances) when it is medically necessary and no other form of transportation would be safe. Many Medicare Advantage plans do cover wheelchair van NEMT as a supplemental benefit. Dream Care Rides provides ADA-compliant wheelchair transportation with hydraulic lifts and securement systems throughout the Chicago metro area. Our wheelchair van rates in Illinois are $60–$70 base plus $3.50 per mile after the first 3 miles. Check our wheelchair transportation page for details on our fleet and service levels. Call (708) 505-6994 to verify if your Medicare Advantage plan covers wheelchair transport.

Some state Medicaid programs have partnered with ride-share companies for ambulatory NEMT. However, standard Uber and Lyft vehicles are sedans with no wheelchair ramp or stretcher capability, and Uber WAV / Lyft Access (where available) are curb-to-curb only with no trained patient handling. In Illinois, Medicaid NEMT must be provided by licensed, credentialed transportation providers with proper insurance and driver training. Dream Care Rides is a licensed Medicaid transportation provider with vehicles equipped for ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher passengers. Unlike rideshare, our drivers are trained in patient assistance, ADA-compliant wheelchair securement, and door-to-door medical transport — on every trip. For Medicaid-covered rides, visit our Medicaid rides page or call (708) 505-6994.

Original Medicare does not cover NEMT to physical therapy appointments. Medicare Part B covers the physical therapy treatment itself, but not the ride. Some Medicare Advantage plans include transportation benefits that can be used for physical therapy visits, especially if the therapy is part of post-surgical recovery or an ongoing treatment plan. Check your plan's Summary of Benefits or call your plan directly. Dream Care Rides provides reliable transportation to physical therapy clinics across the Chicago metro area, including facilities at Rush, Northwestern, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. See our physical therapy transportation page for service details or call (708) 505-6994 to schedule.

In Illinois, Medicaid NEMT is coordinated through your managed care organization (MCO) or the state transportation broker. The general process: (1) Call your MCO's transportation line at least 48 hours before your appointment, (2) provide your Medicaid ID, appointment details, and any mobility needs (wheelchair, stretcher), (3) the MCO assigns a provider, and (4) you receive confirmation with pickup time and driver details. If you already know you want Dream Care Rides as your provider, you can request us by name when calling your MCO. We are an approved provider in Illinois. For step-by-step instructions, read our Illinois NEMT guide. Questions? Call (708) 505-6994.

Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans include non-emergency medical transportation as a supplemental benefit. The number of covered trips varies by plan — some Humana plans offer 24 one-way trips per year while others provide more. To check your specific Humana plan: call the member services number on the back of your card and ask about "transportation benefits." Humana is one of the most common Medicare Advantage carriers in Illinois. Dream Care Rides works with Humana members regularly and can verify your transportation benefits. Call (708) 505-6994 or book a ride online.

Yes. Federal Medicaid law (42 CFR 431.53) requires every state to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have necessary transportation to and from medical services. In Illinois, this means Medicaid covers ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher NEMT when you have no other way to reach your appointment. The key requirement is that the trip must be to a Medicaid-covered medical service. Coverage includes rides to doctor visits, dialysis, physical therapy, pharmacy, and hospital appointments. Dream Care Rides is an approved Illinois Medicaid NEMT provider in select service areas. Visit our Medicaid page or call (708) 505-6994 to get started.