Does Medicare Cover Transportation to Medical Appointments?

Getting to a doctor’s appointment isn’t always as simple as hopping in the car. Not everyone drives. Some folks live out in the country. Others might not feel comfortable behind the wheel anymore, especially if they’ve got a health condition or are recovering from surgery.

So it’s a fair and important question:

Does Medicare help with transportation to medical appointments?

The answer? Sometimes — but it depends on the situation, and the type of Medicare plan you have.

If you’re on Original Medicare, transportation coverage is pretty limited. Medicare will typically cover an ambulance ride if it’s an emergency and there’s no safe alternative — say, you’re having chest pain, or you’re seriously injured and need immediate care.

It may also cover non-emergency ambulance transport, but only if your doctor certifies that it’s medically necessary. That could be the case for someone on dialysis, for example, or someone who’s physically unable to get in and out of a car due to a chronic condition.

But when it comes to routine appointments — like a scheduled checkup, follow-up, or physical therapy — Original Medicare doesn’t cover transportation unless it meets that strict medical-necessity requirement.

Now, here’s where things can look different: if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) is offered by private insurance companies, and some plans include extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t — including transportation to and from medical appointments. That might look like a certain number of rides per year, or access to a rideshare service partnered with your plan.

The key is that it varies by plan. Some include it, some don’t. It’s worth checking.

And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what we’re here for. We can look at your plan, see if transportation is included, and if not, explore other options. Depending on your situation, there may be local services, nonprofits, or even Medicaid programs in your area that offer ride assistance to Medicare-eligible individuals.

At the end of the day, getting to your appointments shouldn’t feel like a barrier to staying healthy. If transportation has been a challenge for you or someone you love, reach out. We’re happy to talk through what your Medicare plan covers — and what other solutions might be available.