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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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Medicaid-Covered Recurring Transportation
Get your Prior Authorization (we make it easy), submit it to us, and your rides are set. Same driver, on-time arrival, text confirmations — all at $0 cost to you.
No more broker hold times. No more no-shows. No more guessing if your ride will show up. Dream Care Rides specializes in recurring Medicaid transport for dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, therapy, and more.
Where are you in the process?
Do I Qualify?
If you can answer "yes" to all three, we can help you get free rides to your medical appointments.
This includes Fee-for-Service Medicaid and Managed Care plans like Meridian, Molina, Blue Cross Community, Aetna Better Health, or CountyCare.
Dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, physical therapy, wound care, behavioral health, cardiac rehab, or other ongoing treatments. You will need a Prior Authorization — we will help you get one.
Within 10 miles of our Palatine office (northwest suburbs) or our Olympia Fields office (south suburbs). See the full list of cities below.
10-mile service radius
10-mile service radius
How It Works
Getting your Medicaid rides set up is easier than you think. Here is how the process works.
Step 1
Use our step-by-step guide below. We give you the exact phone numbers, a word-for-word script, and a checklist of what to have ready. Most patients finish this in one phone call. Want backup? Call us and we will join the call with you.
Step 2
Fill out the scheduling form on this page or call us at (866) 507-5724. Give us your PA number, appointment details, and preferred schedule. That is all we need to get your rides set up.
Step 3
We assign you a consistent driver who knows your route. You get a text the night before each ride with your pickup time. Your driver arrives on time, helps you into the vehicle, and takes you to your appointment. $0 cost to you.
Use our step-by-step guide below. We give you the exact phone numbers, a word-for-word script, and a checklist of what to have ready. Most patients finish this in one phone call. Want backup? Call us and we will join the call with you.
Fill out the scheduling form on this page or call us at (866) 507-5724. Give us your PA number, appointment details, and preferred schedule. That is all we need to get your rides set up.
We assign you a consistent driver who knows your route. You get a text the night before each ride with your pickup time. Your driver arrives on time, helps you into the vehicle, and takes you to your appointment. $0 cost to you.
Your PA Toolkit
Most patients finish this in one phone call. Here is everything you need to get it done.
Your Medicaid card
Have your Medicaid ID number (RIN) ready
Your doctor's information
Name, phone number, and office address
Your medical facility
Name and address where you receive treatment
Your appointment schedule
Days, times, and how often you go
That is it. Once you have these four things, the call takes about 10 minutes.
You do not need to know the right words. Just read the script below that matches your plan. Fill in your details where you see brackets.
Fee-for-Service Members
"Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME]. My Medicaid ID number is [YOUR RIN]. I need to set up recurring non-emergency medical transportation to [FACILITY NAME] for [TREATMENT TYPE], [FREQUENCY] per week. My pickup address is [YOUR ADDRESS]. I would like to request Dream Care Rides as my transportation provider."
Managed Care Members
"Hi, I am calling about my transportation benefit. My name is [YOUR NAME] and my member ID is [YOUR ID]. I need recurring rides to [FACILITY] for [TREATMENT], [FREQUENCY] per week. Can you set up a standing order? I would like Dream Care Rides as my provider."
Call Transdev (NETSPAP)
Pro tip: When they ask for your preferred provider, say "Dream Care Rides." This routes the ride directly to us.
Call your health plan directly
Meridian Health Plan
via MTM
Molina Healthcare
via MTM
Blue Cross Community
Plan direct
Aetna Better Health
Plan direct
CountyCare
Plan direct
Not sure which plan you have? Look at the front of your insurance card for the plan name. Or call us at (866) 507-5724 and we will help you figure it out.
Call us at (866) 507-5724 and our team will tell you exactly who to call, what to say, and what to expect. We will make sure you have everything you need before you dial.
Call (866) 507-5724Already have your PA number?
Schedule Your Rides NowYour Ride Includes
Every ride comes with these benefits at no cost to you.
On-time pickup at your home address
Assistance getting into and out of the vehicle
Safe, clean, climate-controlled transport
Drop-off at your medical facility
Return ride after your appointment
Same driver assigned to your recurring schedule
Text confirmation the night before each ride
Bring a companion or attendant at no extra cost
All at $0 cost to you
Medicaid rides in Illinois are provided at the curb-to-curb level. Your driver picks you up and drops you off at the curb. This is the standard set by the state for all Medicaid transportation providers.
Your attendant or companion rides free on every Medicaid trip. Just let us know when you schedule so we have a seat ready. There is no extra charge for an additional passenger.
Need assistance from your door to the vehicle? We offer affordable Door-to-Door and Hand-to-Hand upgrades as a private pay add-on. Call (866) 507-5724 to learn more.
Recurring Rides We Specialize In
We focus on recurring medical appointments where reliable transportation matters most. Choose your treatment type to learn more.
Our most common recurring ride. We set up a standing schedule so you never miss a session. Same driver, same time, every week.
Learn More →Cancer treatment rides that you can count on. We accommodate post-treatment fatigue with gentle, patient transport home.
Learn More →High-frequency appointments for 4 to 8 weeks. We build your daily schedule into our route planning for consistent, on-time pickups.
Learn More →Recovery depends on consistency. We get you to every PT session, whether it is post-surgical rehab or chronic pain management.
Learn More →Therapy and counseling appointments. Missed sessions can mean setbacks. We provide reliable, judgment-free transport.
Learn More →Diabetic wound care, post-surgical wound management, and chronic wound treatment. We accommodate wheelchair and stretcher patients.
Learn More →A structured 36-session program after heart surgery or cardiac event. We keep your schedule consistent so you complete the full program.
Learn More →IV treatments for autoimmune conditions, infections, and more. Sessions can last hours. We schedule pickup around your treatment window.
Learn More →Medication-assisted treatment and recovery programs. Consistent attendance is critical to recovery. We help you stay on track.
Learn More →High-risk pregnancy monitoring. Every checkup matters. We provide comfortable, reliable rides throughout your pregnancy.
Learn More →Applied behavior analysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy for children. A parent or guardian rides along at no extra cost.
Learn More →Transportation to structured day programs for adults who need supervision and social engagement. Consistent daily pickup and drop-off.
Learn More →Don't see your treatment type? We cover most recurring medical appointments.
Call (866) 507-5724 to ask about your ridesWhy Switch to Us
Your Medicaid benefit covers the same rides. The difference is who shows up.
| Factor | Typical Broker Experience | Dream Care Rides |
|---|---|---|
| Booking Experience | Call center, 30-60 min hold times, different person every time | Direct phone line. Speak to a real person in minutes. Same contact for all your rides. |
| Prior Authorization | You navigate a confusing system alone with no guidance | Step-by-step guide, phone scripts, and we will join the call with you. Once you have your PA, rides are scheduled within 24 hours. |
| Driver Consistency | Different driver every trip. They may not know your area. | Same driver assigned to your recurring rides. They know your route and your needs. |
| Service Quality | Curb-to-curb with inconsistent drivers and no communication | Curb-to-curb with the same driver every trip, text confirmations, and on-time guarantee. |
| On-Time Performance | Industry average: 75-85%. Frequent late arrivals and no-shows. | Local routes within 10 miles. Target: 95%+ on-time arrival. |
| Communication | No updates. You wait and wonder if the ride is coming. | Text confirmations, driver ETA, and real-time tracking. |
| Problem Resolution | Call the broker, start over, wait on hold again. | Call the same person who set up your rides. Immediate response. |
| Cost to You | $0 (Medicaid covered) | $0 (Medicaid covered) — same benefit, better service. |
Booking Experience
Call center, 30-60 min hold times, different person every time
Direct phone line. Speak to a real person in minutes. Same contact for all your rides.
Prior Authorization
You navigate a confusing system alone with no guidance
Step-by-step guide, phone scripts, and we will join the call with you. Once you have your PA, rides are scheduled within 24 hours.
Driver Consistency
Different driver every trip. They may not know your area.
Same driver assigned to your recurring rides. They know your route and your needs.
Service Quality
Curb-to-curb with inconsistent drivers and no communication
Curb-to-curb with the same driver every trip, text confirmations, and on-time guarantee.
On-Time Performance
Industry average: 75-85%. Frequent late arrivals and no-shows.
Local routes within 10 miles. Target: 95%+ on-time arrival.
Communication
No updates. You wait and wonder if the ride is coming.
Text confirmations, driver ETA, and real-time tracking.
Problem Resolution
Call the broker, start over, wait on hold again.
Call the same person who set up your rides. Immediate response.
Cost to You
$0 (Medicaid covered)
$0 (Medicaid covered) — same benefit, better service.
Schedule Your Rides
Have your PA number ready? Fill out this form and we will set up your recurring rides. You can also call us at (866) 507-5724.
Frequently Asked Questions
Correct. If you have Illinois Medicaid (Fee-for-Service or Managed Care), your non-emergency medical transportation is a covered benefit. We bill Medicaid directly. You pay nothing out of pocket for covered rides.
A Prior Authorization (PA) is pre-approval from Medicaid or your health plan confirming that your transportation is medically necessary and covered. You request it by calling Transdev (for FFS) or your managed care plan. We have a complete step-by-step guide with phone scripts above — most patients finish in one phone call. We can even join the call with you.
Once you submit your PA number to us, we typically schedule your rides within 24 hours. You will get a text with your driver's name and your first pickup time.
No problem. Look at the front of your insurance card — it will show your plan name. If you are still unsure, give us your Medicaid ID number and we will check for you. Call us at (866) 507-5724 or include your Medicaid ID on the intake form.
All Medicaid rides in Illinois are provided at the curb-to-curb level. Your driver picks you up at the curb outside your home and drops you off at the curb of your medical facility. This is the standard service level set by the state for all Medicaid transportation providers. If you need extra help getting from your door to the vehicle, we offer affordable Door-to-Door and Hand-to-Hand upgrades as a private pay add-on.
Yes. Your attendant or companion rides free on every Medicaid trip. Just let us know when you schedule so we have a seat ready. There is no extra charge for an additional passenger.
We operate sedans (ambulatory transport), wheelchair-accessible vans with hydraulic lifts, and stretcher/gurney vehicles including Broda Traversa chairs. Whatever your mobility needs, we have the right vehicle.
We assign a consistent driver to your recurring schedule whenever possible. Your driver will learn your route, your preferences, and your needs. This is one of the biggest differences between us and a broker — you are not a random trip number.
Call us at (866) 507-5724. We will walk you through it step by step. We provide phone scripts with exactly what to say, a checklist of what to have ready, and we will tell you exactly who to call and what to expect.
We will help you understand the denial reason and assist with the appeal. Common reasons include missing documentation or incorrect information. In most cases, you can resubmit with additional documentation from your doctor and get approval. Call us and we will guide you through the resubmission process.