Pricing & Payment Options

NEMT costs vary by vehicle type, distance, and region. In Illinois, Dream Care Rides charges: Ambulatory (sedan/SUV) — $30–$60 base plus $3.00 per mile after the first 3 miles. Wheelchair (ADA van) — $40–$70 base plus $3.50 per mile after the first 3 miles. Stretcher (ambulette) — $350–$400 base plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. The base fare covers the first few miles, driver assistance, and vehicle use. Longer trips add per-mile charges. Base rates are per one-way leg; a round trip is two legs. A 10-mile ambulatory leg comes to about $51–$81 in base and loaded mileage, before surcharges, empty miles and tolls; the exact price shows before you book. For a personalized quote, use our NEMT cost calculator or call (708) 505-6994. If you have Medicaid, NEMT is covered at no cost to you — see our Medicaid rides page.

Wheelchair van transportation in Illinois costs $40–$70 as a base fare, plus $3.50 per mile after the first 3 miles. The base fare includes driver assistance, ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp or lift, and securement of the wheelchair inside the vehicle. A 10-mile one-way wheelchair leg comes to about $65–$95 in base and loaded mileage, before surcharges, empty miles and tolls. Base rates are per one-way leg; a round trip is two legs. Ambulatory and wheelchair round trips take 10% off the return leg's base and mileage. Factors affecting cost include distance, time of day, and whether a companion rides along (no extra charge at Dream Care Rides). Weekend rides add +$50 per leg, and major holidays add a fee shown before you book. Use our cost calculator to estimate your trip, or call (708) 505-6994 for an exact quote. Learn more about our wheelchair transportation service.

Stretcher (ambulette) transportation is the most specialized NEMT service and costs $350–$400 as a base fare, plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. The higher cost reflects the specialized vehicle, two-person crew (driver plus attendant), and medical-grade stretcher equipment. Common stretcher transport scenarios include hospital discharge for patients who cannot sit upright, transfers between skilled nursing facilities, and long-distance medical transports. A 20-mile stretcher leg comes to about $440–$490 in base and loaded mileage, before surcharges, empty miles and tolls. Surcharges are flat, per leg: weekends +$50 per leg, oxygen +$25, and major holidays add a fee shown before you book. Dream Care Rides is one of the few Illinois NEMT providers offering stretcher transport with a fully trained crew. See our stretcher transportation page or call (708) 505-6994 for a quote.

Medicaid reimbursement rates for NEMT vary by state and vehicle type. In Illinois, Medicaid reimburses NEMT providers based on negotiated rates with the managed care organizations (MCOs). Patients with Medicaid pay nothing out of pocket — the cost is fully covered. The state sets rate floors, but actual per-mile rates depend on the MCO contract. If you have Illinois Medicaid, your NEMT rides are covered at no cost to you. Dream Care Rides is an approved Medicaid provider for trips starting within 6.5 miles of our Olympia Fields and Palatine bases, and handles the billing directly with your MCO. You do not need to worry about per-mile costs. To schedule a Medicaid ride, visit our Medicaid rides page or call (708) 505-6994. For our private-pay rate schedule, see the rates page.

Long-distance medical transport (trips over 50 miles one-way) costs depend on vehicle type and total mileage. Mileage is $3.00/mi ambulatory, $3.50/mi wheelchair and $6.00/mi stretcher after the included miles. Loaded miles past 50 bill at the long-distance rate: $4.50/mi ambulatory, $5.25/mi wheelchair, $9.00/mi stretcher. A 100-mile ambulatory leg comes to about $396–$426 and a 100-mile stretcher leg about $1,070–$1,120 in base and loaded mileage, before surcharges, empty (deadhead) miles and tolls; the exact price shows before you book. Dream Care Rides provides long-distance medical transport throughout Illinois, Indiana, and surrounding states. We transport patients to major medical centers like Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and specialty hospitals. See our long-distance transport page for details, or call (708) 505-6994 for a custom quote.

Dream Care Rides applies flat surcharges in Illinois, each per leg: Weekend rides (Saturday and Sunday) — +$50 per leg. After-hours pickups — 6–8 PM +$50 (stretcher +$100) · 8 PM–4 AM +$300 · 4–6 AM +$100 · 6–7 AM +$25 (stretcher +$100). Holiday rides — a fee shown before you book. Wait time — $15 per 15 minutes after the first 15 minutes, which are free. Oxygen equipment — +$25. Stair chair service — +$40. Bariatric — +$30 ambulatory or wheelchair, +$175 stretcher. Airport — +$30 per leg that starts or ends at an airport. When you book through our online system, the total quote includes all applicable surcharges so there are no surprises. For Medicaid rides, surcharges are billed to the MCO and not to the patient. Call (708) 505-6994 with any pricing questions.

Dream Care Rides accepts: Medicaid in select service areas (for trips starting within 6.5 miles of our Olympia Fields or Palatine bases, billed directly to your MCO), credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), cash, check, and facility billing for healthcare partners with a signed contract. For eligible Medicaid trips, there is no out-of-pocket cost — we bill your managed care organization directly. Private-pay patients can pay by card at the time of service or set up an account for recurring billing. Healthcare facilities can establish net-30 billing terms. See our payment options page for more detail, or call (708) 505-6994 to discuss billing arrangements.

Yes. A round-trip is generally priced as two one-way trips. However, if the driver waits at your appointment (a "will-call" or "wait-and-return" trip), you pay the two one-way base fares plus wait-time charges ($15 per 15 minutes after the first 15 minutes, which are free). For short appointments (under 1 hour), a wait-and-return trip is often cheaper than booking two separate one-way rides because it avoids two separate dispatch fees. Dream Care Rides can advise on the most cost-effective option based on your appointment length. Use our cost calculator to compare, or call (708) 505-6994.

Nationally, the average one-way ambulatory NEMT ride costs $30 to $80. Wheelchair rides average $60 to $150. Stretcher rides average $250 to $600. In Illinois, Dream Care Rides rates are: Ambulatory $30–$60 base plus $3.00 per mile after the first 3 miles, Wheelchair $40–$70 base plus $3.50 per mile after the first 3 miles, and Stretcher $350–$400 base plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. Your actual cost depends on distance, vehicle type, and time of service. Get a personalized estimate with our cost calculator or call (708) 505-6994.

An ambulette is a vehicle equipped with a stretcher and hydraulic lift for patients who cannot sit upright during transport. Ambulette service costs $350–$400 as a base fare in Illinois, plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. This is higher than wheelchair or ambulatory rates because ambulettes require specialized equipment, a two-person crew, and additional safety certifications. Dream Care Rides operates ambulettes for hospital discharges, facility transfers, and long-distance medical transport. Read our guide on ambulettes for more information, or call (708) 505-6994 for a quote.

Dream Care Rides offers standing-order pricing for patients with recurring medical appointments. Dialysis patients who ride three times per week, physical therapy patients with weekly sessions, and chemotherapy patients with regular treatment schedules can all benefit from standing-order arrangements. While we do not publish a flat discount percentage, standing-order patients receive priority scheduling, consistent drivers, and streamlined billing. For Medicaid patients, recurring rides are fully covered. Contact us at (708) 505-6994 to set up a standing order, or learn more about our dialysis transportation program.

Three ways to get an estimate: (1) Use our online NEMT cost calculator — enter your pickup and drop-off addresses, vehicle type, and trip date for an instant estimate. (2) Call (708) 505-6994 and our team will provide a quote over the phone. (3) Book online and the system will display the estimated cost before you confirm. All quotes from Dream Care Rides include base fare, mileage, and any applicable surcharges so there are no hidden fees.

Dream Care Rides does not charge hidden fees. Our quotes include the base fare, per-mile charge, and any applicable surcharges (weekends, holidays, wait time, oxygen, stairchair). The price you see when booking is the price you pay. Some NEMT providers charge extra for loading and unloading assistance, companion passengers, or fuel surcharges — we do not. Companions ride free. Loading and unloading assistance is always included. Visit our rate schedule for full transparency, or call (708) 505-6994 if you have questions about a quote.