You Can't Afford Transportation to Your Doctor's Appointment.
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Transportation Gap Most People Don't Realize Exists
You have a medical appointment. You have a car. But gas costs money you don't have. You have to choose: fill the tank or buy groceries?
Or maybe you don't have a car. You can take the bus, but the round-trip bus fare is $6. That doesn't sound like much—until you have 3 appointments in a month. That's $18 you don't have.
Many Medi-Cal members miss healthcare because they can't afford transportation to get there.
Fact #1: Transportation cost is the #2 reason Medi-Cal members skip or delay healthcare (after lack of insurance)—and yet most don't know their plan reimburses transportation costs.
Here's what most Medi-Cal members don't know: If you don't have reliable transportation to medical appointments, your Medi-Cal plan will reimburse your transportation costs—whether that's mileage for your car, bus passes, taxi vouchers, or train fare.
What NMT Covers
Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) reimburses:
Mileage – For using your own car (IRS standard mileage rate)
Bus passes – Full cost of bus or public transit passes
Taxi vouchers – Cost of taxi to medical appointment
Train tickets – For regional transportation
Any reasonable transportation method – Whatever is least costly and appropriate
Coverage includes transportation to:
Medical appointments (physician, specialist, clinic)
Dental appointments
Mental health appointments
Substance use disorder treatment
Medication pickup
Medical supply pickup
Who Qualifies for NMT?
If you:
Have Medi-Cal through Health Net or Health Plan San Joaquin
Have no valid driver's license
Have no working vehicle in your household
Cannot safely travel or wait for services alone
Have physical/cognitive/mental/developmental limitations preventing transportation
Lack money for gas or transit fare
You likely qualify for NMT.
It's this simple: If you attest that you have no other way to access covered Medi-Cal services, you qualify.
How NMT Works
The Process:
Call your Medi-Cal plan at least 5 days before your appointment
Explain your transportation situation
You arrange your own transportation (drive, take bus, call taxi)
Keep your receipt or document your mileage
Submit documentation to your plan for reimbursement
Or:
Your plan provides you with transportation vouchers (bus passes, taxi vouchers) before you need them
How Much Can You Get Reimbursed?
The plan covers the most cost-effective transportation method that meets your needs:
Mileage – Standard IRS rate (currently around 67 cents per mile, though rates change)
Bus pass – Full cost of monthly or trip pass (usually $30-$50)
Taxi – Actual cost, typically $8-$15 per trip
Train – Actual ticket cost
The goal is least expensive, not most convenient. If you could take a $3 bus instead of a $20 taxi, the plan covers the bus.
Fact #2: Members with transportation support (either NEMT or NMT) attend 80% of medical appointments, compared to 55% without support—directly translating to better health outcomes and reduced emergency care utilization.
How Help Is Hope Helps You Access NMT
If transportation costs are preventing you from attending appointments:
Complete our intake form and tell us about your transportation barriers
Our team explains your NMT options
We help you request transportation support from your plan
You get reimbursed for transportation costs
You access the healthcare you need
Comprehensive transportation coordination.
Transportation Shouldn't Cost You Your Health
You deserve healthcare. You shouldn't have to choose between transportation and groceries.
Book a session with our care team and let's get you connected to Non-Medical Transportation reimbursement. Your Medi-Cal plan covers it. Stop skipping appointments because of transportation costs. Get reimbursed. Get to your care. Get healthier.
Hope is not a luxury. It is a lifeline. Let us help you access the transportation reimbursement you deserve.
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