Service Types & Vehicles

Dream Care Rides operates three categories of vehicles: (1) Ambulatory vehicles — sedans and SUVs for patients who can walk and sit independently. These are used for routine doctor visits, physical therapy, and pharmacy trips. (2) Wheelchair vans — ADA-compliant vans with hydraulic lifts or ramps and wheelchair securement systems. Used for patients who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility. (3) Stretcher vehicles (ambulettes) — specialized vehicles with a hydraulic stretcher lift and medical-grade stretcher. Used for patients who cannot sit upright, including post-surgical and SNF transfer patients. All vehicles are inspected regularly, climate-controlled, and equipped with GPS tracking. Learn more about our wheelchair fleet or stretcher fleet, or call (708) 505-6994.

Ambulatory (sedan/SUV) — for patients who can walk to the vehicle, climb in, and sit with a seatbelt. Rates: $30–$60 base plus $3.00 per mile after the first 3 miles. Wheelchair (ADA van) — for patients who remain in their wheelchair during transport. The van has a ramp or lift and tie-down securement. Rates: $40–$70 base plus $3.50 per mile after the first 3 miles. Stretcher (ambulette) — for patients who must lie flat during transport. A two-person crew loads the patient on a stretcher. Rates: $350–$400 base plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. Choosing the right service type depends on the patient's mobility level. When booking with Dream Care Rides, our team helps you select the correct vehicle. Call (708) 505-6994 or visit our rate schedule.

An ambulette is a non-emergency medical vehicle equipped with a hydraulic stretcher lift and medical-grade stretcher for patients who cannot sit upright during transport. Unlike an ambulance, an ambulette does not carry advanced life-support equipment and is not staffed by paramedics. Ambulettes are used for hospital discharges, skilled nursing facility transfers, and long-distance medical transport where the patient is stable but non-ambulatory. Dream Care Rides operates ambulettes with trained two-person crews throughout Illinois. Rates are $350–$400 base plus $6.00 per mile after the first 5 miles. Read our detailed ambulette guide or visit our stretcher service page. Call (708) 505-6994 to book.

An ambulance is an emergency medical vehicle staffed by EMTs or paramedics, equipped with advanced life-support equipment (defibrillators, IV lines, medications), and dispatched through 911 for medical emergencies. An ambulette is a non-emergency transport vehicle with a stretcher and hydraulic lift for stable patients who cannot sit upright. Ambulettes are used for scheduled medical trips, not emergencies. The cost difference is significant: ambulance rides often cost $1,000 to $3,000+, while ambulette service at Dream Care Rides is $350–$400 base + mileage. If your situation is not an emergency but you need to lie flat, an ambulette is the appropriate and more affordable choice. See our stretcher service page or call (708) 505-6994.

Bariatric transportation is specialized medical transport for patients who weigh over 300 pounds or require wider seating, reinforced stretchers, and heavy-duty lift equipment. Standard wheelchairs and stretchers have weight limits that bariatric patients may exceed. Dream Care Rides offers bariatric-capable vehicles with reinforced stretchers and wide-body wheelchair options for patients in the Chicago metro area. If you or a loved one needs bariatric transport, call (708) 505-6994 to confirm vehicle availability and discuss your specific needs. We also provide bariatric hospital discharge transport — see our hospital discharge page.

Curb-to-curb — the driver picks you up and drops you off at the curb. You are responsible for getting from your door to the vehicle and from the vehicle to the building entrance. Door-to-door — the driver comes to your door, escorts you to the vehicle, and escorts you to the door of your destination. Door-through-door — the driver assists you from inside your home, through the door, to the vehicle, and escorts you inside your destination building. Dream Care Rides offers all three service levels for ambulatory and wheelchair passengers. Stretcher transport is always "room-to-room" or "bed-to-bed." Call (708) 505-6994 to specify your service level when booking.

Yes. Uber offers "Uber WAV" (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) in select major cities including Chicago, and Lyft offers "Lyft Access" in similar markets. However, both services are curb-to-curb programs — the driver stays with the vehicle. Suburban availability is inconsistent, wait times can exceed 30-60 minutes, and advance scheduling for recurring medical appointments is unreliable. For patients who need door-to-door or hand-to-hand assistance, Dream Care Rides provides the higher service level required — with drivers who complete PASS wheelchair securement certification, Q-Straint four-point tie-downs on every van, and guaranteed vehicle availability on every booking. Compare your options on our comparison page or call (708) 505-6994.

Hand-to-hand service is our highest ambulatory service level. The driver physically guides the patient from their home, assists them into the vehicle, and escorts them to the medical staff at the destination. Bed-to-bed service is the stretcher equivalent — the crew transfers the patient from their bed onto the stretcher, transports them, and transfers them into the bed at the destination facility. These service levels are appropriate for patients with cognitive impairments, severe mobility limitations, or those transitioning between care facilities. Call (708) 505-6994 to request bed-to-bed or hand-to-hand service. Learn more about our senior transportation options.

NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation) is a private or Medicaid-funded service specifically for trips to medical appointments. Paratransit is a public transit service (like Pace in Chicago) required by the ADA for people with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route buses. Key differences: NEMT is door-to-door, medically focused, and available on-demand. Paratransit is shared-ride, available for any purpose, but must be booked 1-3 days in advance and may involve long ride times due to shared routing. Dream Care Rides is an NEMT provider offering dedicated, on-time medical transport. Learn more in our Illinois NEMT guide or call (708) 505-6994.

No. If you use your own wheelchair, our drivers will secure it in the van. If you do not have a wheelchair but cannot walk, let us know when booking and we can arrange a transport wheelchair for the trip. There is no extra charge for using our transport wheelchair. Dream Care Rides ensures every wheelchair passenger has a safe, comfortable ride regardless of whether they own a chair. Call (708) 505-6994 or book online.

NEMT stands for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. It refers to transportation services that take patients to and from medical appointments when they are not in an emergency situation. NEMT includes ambulatory sedans, wheelchair vans, and stretcher vehicles (ambulettes). It is distinct from 911 ambulance service, which is for emergencies. NEMT is covered by Medicaid in all states and by many Medicare Advantage plans. Dream Care Rides is an Illinois-based NEMT provider serving the Chicago metro area and Northwest Indiana. See our full service list or call (708) 505-6994.

NEMT stands for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. It is the industry term for scheduled, non-urgent rides to and from medical appointments, including doctor visits, dialysis, physical therapy, hospital discharges, and pharmacy trips. NEMT vehicles range from sedans to wheelchair vans to stretcher ambulettes, depending on patient needs. In Illinois, NEMT is covered by Medicaid and many Medicare Advantage plans. Dream Care Rides provides all three NEMT vehicle types. Visit our rate schedule or call (708) 505-6994 to book a ride.