Hospice Transportation Services in Chicago

Last updated: March 2026

When a hospice patient needs to move between a hospital, hospice facility, or home, Dream Care Rides provides gentle, dignified stretcher and wheelchair transportation with a family member riding along at no extra charge. Stretcher from $300, wheelchair from $65. Call (708) 505-6994.

Schedule a Hospice Transfer

When Hospice Patients Need Transportation

Hospice patients need transportation at some of the most meaningful and difficult moments in their care journey. A patient being discharged from the hospital to begin hospice care at home. A resident of a hospice inpatient facility who wants to visit family one more time. A patient transferring from one hospice facility to another that is closer to the people they love. A patient going to the hospital for a comfort-focused procedure to manage pain.

Each of these trips carries weight that goes beyond logistics. The patient may be tired, in pain, or anxious. The family may be overwhelmed, emotional, or unsure what to expect from the transport. The last thing anyone needs during these moments is a driver who is in a rush, a vehicle that is uncomfortable, or a process that adds stress.

Dream Care Rides handles hospice transportation with the care and patience these situations require. Our drivers are trained in gentle handling, comfort positioning, and working at the patient's pace. There is no clock ticking. There is no rush. The focus is on getting the patient to their destination safely and with dignity, with their family by their side.

How Dream Care Rides Handles Hospice Transfers

Every hospice transfer begins with a conversation. When you call us, we ask about the patient's current condition, mobility level, comfort needs, and where they are going. We match the right vehicle, equipment, and crew to the situation.

Stretcher Transport with Bed-to-Bed Service

For patients who cannot sit upright. Our stretcher ambulettes have hydraulic-lift gurneys and a two-person crew who handle the patient from the bed at the pickup location to the bed at the destination. Stretcher transportation in Chicago includes climate-controlled vehicles and gentle suspension for a smoother ride.

Equipment for Comfort

Broda Traversa reclining transport wheelchairs for patients who need semi-reclined positioning but are not fully supine. Portable oxygen systems ready on every stretcher and wheelchair vehicle. Q-Straint four-point securement for wheelchair patients. Pillows and blankets for comfort during longer transfers.

No-Rush Protocol

Our drivers work at the patient's pace. If the patient needs a moment before being moved, the driver waits. If the family needs a few extra minutes to say goodbye before the transfer, we are there. Hospice transfers are not timed like standard pickups. We build extra time into every hospice trip.

Family Rides Along at No Extra Charge

One family member or companion rides in the vehicle with the patient on every hospice transfer at no additional cost. Being separated from family during transport adds unnecessary anxiety. We keep families together during the trip.

For patients transferring between healthcare facilities, our inter-facility transfer transportation service handles the coordination between sending and receiving facility staff.

Stretcher and Wheelchair Options for Hospice

Pricing depends on the vehicle type and distance. All prices are confirmed upfront before the trip.

Service Level	Base Rate	Per Mile	Service Type
Stretcher	$300 – $525	$5 – $16	Bed-to-bed, room-to-room
Wheelchair	$65 – $115	$3 – $6	Door-through-door

Supplemental oxygen adds $25 per trip. Weekend transfers are billed at 1.5× the base rate. Holiday transfers at 2.25×. Wait time beyond the included window is $15 to $30 per 15-minute increment.

View the complete Dream Care Rides rate card for all service levels and surcharges.

Working with Hospice Agencies and Social Workers

Hospice agencies, palliative care programs, and hospital social workers can set up a facility account with Dream Care Rides to streamline patient transfers. This is especially useful for agencies that coordinate multiple patient transfers per week.

•Standing orders for recurring comfort visits — If a hospice patient has a regular schedule of comfort-focused appointments, set it up once and it repeats. A standing order is not a subscription and carries no long-term commitment.
•Single-call dispatch for urgent transfers — When a hospice patient needs immediate transport, one call to our dispatch team gets a vehicle en route. Facility accounts receive priority routing.
•Monthly invoicing — No per-trip payment processing. Itemized monthly invoices with patient name, date, route, and cost for each trip.

Hospice agencies in the South Suburbs work with our team to coordinate transfers involving Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Advocate South Suburban Hospital Hazel Crest, Ingalls Memorial Hospital Harvey, and facilities throughout Cook County and Will County.

Learn more about our healthcare facility partnerships and how to open an account.

Insurance Coverage for Hospice Transportation

Insurance coverage for hospice transportation depends on the patient's plan and the purpose of the trip.

Medicaid

Illinois Medicaid may cover non-emergency transportation for hospice patients with prior authorization from the managed care organization. Coverage varies by plan and trip purpose. Read our Illinois Medicaid transportation guide for the authorization process.

Medicare Hospice Benefit

The Medicare Hospice Benefit provides limited transportation coverage. Transportation directly related to the terminal diagnosis may be covered under the hospice benefit. Transportation for unrelated medical conditions follows standard Medicare rules. Check with the patient's hospice agency for specific benefit details.

Private Pay

Available immediately with no prior authorization required. The family or patient pays directly with an upfront confirmed price. Private pay is the fastest option when time matters and insurance authorization would cause delays.

Facility Direct Billing

Hospice agencies with a Dream Care Rides facility account receive monthly invoices. The agency handles billing internally and the family does not need to manage payment.

What Families Should Know Before Booking

If you are arranging hospice transportation for a loved one, here is what to have ready when you call:

•Mobility level — Can the patient sit upright in a wheelchair, or do they need to remain lying down on a stretcher? The hospice nurse can help determine this.
•Oxygen needs — Does the patient require supplemental oxygen during transport? If so, we add portable oxygen equipment to the vehicle.
•Comfort positioning — Does the patient need a specific position (reclined, elevated head, side-lying)? Our Broda Traversa chairs and stretcher gurneys accommodate various positioning needs.
•Timing — Book 24 to 48 hours ahead for the best vehicle assignment. Same-day transfers are available. For urgent situations, call immediately.
•What to bring — Comfort items the patient needs during the trip (blankets, medications for the destination, personal belongings). Medical equipment prescribed for the destination facility.
•Family ride-along — One family member rides along at no extra charge. Let the dispatcher know so we assign the right vehicle configuration.

For more details about arranging transport at hospital discharge, read our hospital discharge transportation guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a family member ride along during hospice transportation?

Yes. One family member or companion rides along at no extra charge on every hospice transfer. We want your loved one to have a familiar face beside them during the trip. Let our dispatcher know when you book so we assign a vehicle with appropriate companion seating. For stretcher transfers, the companion sits in the front passenger area of the ambulette.

What is the difference between stretcher and wheelchair transport for hospice patients?

Stretcher transport is for patients who cannot sit upright or who need to remain lying down for comfort during the trip. The ambulette has a hydraulic-lift gurney and a two-person crew for bed-to-bed service. Stretcher base rate is $300 to $525 plus $5 to $16 per mile. Wheelchair transport is for patients who can sit supported in a wheelchair for the duration of the ride. The van has a hydraulic lift and Q-Straint securement. Wheelchair base rate is $65 to $115 plus $3 to $6 per mile. Your hospice nurse or care coordinator can help determine which level matches the patient's current condition.

How far in advance should we schedule hospice transportation?

We recommend booking 24 to 48 hours before the planned transfer whenever possible. This gives us the best vehicle and crew assignment for your loved one. Same-day hospice transfers are available when vehicles are in the area. For urgent hospice transfers, call (708) 505-6994 and we will prioritize dispatching the next available vehicle.

Does Dream Care Rides provide oxygen during hospice transfers?

Yes. Supplemental oxygen is available on all stretcher and wheelchair vehicles for an additional $25 per trip. Our drivers are trained to monitor portable oxygen equipment during transport. If your loved one requires continuous ventilator support or active respiratory therapy during the trip, a BLS ambulance may be more appropriate. Your hospice team can advise on the right transport level.

Can you transport a hospice patient from the hospital to their home?

Yes. Hospital-to-home transfers for hospice patients are one of our most important trip types. Many families choose to bring their loved one home for comfort care, and we handle the transport with the gentleness and care that moment deserves. Our stretcher crews provide bed-to-bed service from the hospital room to the patient's bed at home, including navigating hallways, elevators, and doorways. Call (708) 505-6994 to arrange the transfer.

Does Medicaid cover hospice transportation?

Illinois Medicaid may cover non-emergency transportation for hospice patients when prior authorization is obtained from the managed care organization. Coverage depends on the specific plan and the purpose of the trip. The Medicare Hospice Benefit has limited transportation coverage. Private pay is always available with no authorization required and can be booked immediately. Read our Illinois Medicaid transportation guide for details on the authorization process.

What should we tell the dispatcher when booking a hospice ride?

Tell our dispatcher: the patient's current mobility level (stretcher or wheelchair), whether oxygen is needed during transport, the pickup address and destination address, any comfort positioning needs (reclined, elevated head, etc.), whether a family member will ride along, and any narrow doorways or stairways at the pickup or destination location. This information helps us send the right vehicle and crew.

Do your drivers have training for hospice patient care?

All Dream Care Rides drivers hold current CPR and First Aid certification. Our stretcher and wheelchair crews receive additional training in gentle patient handling, comfort positioning, and hospice-specific sensitivity. Our drivers understand that these transfers require patience, a calm presence, and respect for the patient and family. We do not provide clinical care during transport.

About the Author

Otse Amorighoye is the Founder and CEO of Dream Care Rides, a licensed, insured non-emergency medical transportation provider headquartered in Olympia Fields, Illinois (NPI #1033989991). Dream Care Rides provides gentle, dignified transportation for hospice patients throughout Chicago and the South Suburbs.

Schedule Hospice Transportation Now

We understand this is a difficult time. Let us handle the transportation so you can focus on what matters most.

Call (708) 505-6994 to arrange a stretcher or wheelchair transfer. Family rides along at no extra charge.

Book Online

Otse Amorighoye

Founder & CEO, Dream Care Rides | NPI #1033989991

Licensed NEMT provider headquartered in Olympia Fields, IL.