Medicare-Covered Transportation
Medicare typically does not pay for transportation for routine care. Medicare may cover non-emergency ambulance services only if you have a diagnosed or treated health condition in which other forms of transportation could present a danger to your health. You must provide a written order from a physician that verifies ambulance transportation as medically necessary.
Prior authorization rules may affect you if you use an ambulance company based in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or South Carolina for non-emergency, scheduled, medically necessary ambulance transportation either at least once a week for three or more weeks OR three or more times over a ten day period. For more information, please contact Medicare at any time at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY users 1-877-486-2048).
Alternatives to Medicare-Covered Transportation
If you do not qualify for non-emergency ambulance services, you may be able to access local transportation available in your area. Contacting organizations such as your local Area Agency on Aging chapter may help you find transportation to your physician or healthcare provider.
You may also contact Medicaid or Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) for transportation for routine care if you are eligible. Go to www.Medicaid.gov or www.Pace4you.org for more information.
