How Does Medicaid Cover Transportation In 2023?

You have probably heard that Medicaid does offer some forms of transportation, but it is not always clear when you can expect to have this covered. When you find yourself needing medical attention, it is important to know what resources are available to make sure you receive the care needed!

Medicaid differs widely from state to state, since it is the state government that is responsible for the Medicaid program for their residents. Fortunately, all of the states do have transportation as a benefit! This means that everyone with Medicaid has access to medical transportation, regardless of which state they reside in. 

If you have been trying to find out more about the Medicaid transportation benefits available to you, then you have found the right article! Here, I will clearly outline everything you need to know about the ins and outs of Medicaid transportation. Read on to learn everything you need to know about transportation in your Medicaid program!

Who Can Recieve Transportation Through Medicaid?

Everyone that has been approved for and enrolled into a Medicaid program has benefits that cover transportation for medical purposes, regardless of the state of residence. However, there are different restrictions from state to state, because each state has the discretion to define what is deemed “medically necessary”.

When you have successfully enrolled in your state’s Medicaid program, you should receive more information about what is deemed medically necessary transportation in your state. 

This will always include emergencies since it is set by the Federal government that those enrolled in Medicaid must be able to have rides to and from emergency providers. 

Some indications that it may not be a time that you are eligible for transportation for medical care are if the care is not an emergency and you do not have an appointment. Further, if you have other safe and reasonable means of getting to an appointment, then Medicaid might deem transportation unnecessary. 

However, this will largely depend on your particular Medicaid program. To learn more about what is covered in your state of residence, click here. This resource will shed more light on the benefits covered in your state as well as multiple ways for contacting your Medicaid program. 

What Kinds of Medicaid Transportation Are Available To Me?

The mode of transportation will depend on what sort of medical care is needed. 

Of course, if you are having an emergency and are in medical distress, then you will receive transportation to the hospital by ambulance. 

For non-emergency transportation covered through Medicaid, you would likely set this up in advance and be told if you were to expect a car, van, or a taxi. 

Once the transportation has arrived, you are allowed to have someone accompany you to the appointment. However, this would need to be an eligible family member or important person. 

Additionally, the transportation can only give you a ride directly to the place that the medical care will be administered and then straight back to your residence. Any stops would be in violation of the policies and could result in you losing benefits.