Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans increasingly include a supplemental transportation benefit - a set number of covered rides per year, often to plan-approved destinations. But the rules vary by plan. This short guide explains how the benefit works in San Diego County.
Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not generally cover non-emergency medical transportation. Medicare Advantage plans bundle additional benefits, and transportation is one of the more popular supplemental offerings. If you have an MA plan from Humana, Kaiser, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, SCAN, Anthem Blue Cross, or Blue Shield, check your Evidence of Coverage for transportation details.
What is typically covered
MA transportation benefits usually cover a limited number of one-way trips per year, often between 12 and 60 depending on the plan. Covered destinations are usually doctor visits, clinic appointments, pharmacy, and sometimes fitness centers. Dialysis and wheelchair trips may be carved out or have specific requirements.
Some plans contract their transportation through rideshare networks (Uber Health, Lyft) for ambulatory trips, and through dedicated NEMT providers for wheelchair and gurney service. DayLight works with multiple MA plans.
How to use the benefit
Call your plan’s member services line or use the plan app to request a ride. The plan routes the request to its contracted transportation network. DayLight is contracted with several networks in San Diego, so we often appear as the assigned provider for wheelchair or gurney trips.
If your plan does not cover a specific trip (for example, a long-distance visit or a trip beyond your annual ride limit), you can book DayLight directly as private pay.
Key takeaways
- Original Medicare usually does not cover NEMT. Medicare Advantage often does.
- Check your Evidence of Coverage for ride limits and eligible destinations.
- DayLight is contracted with multiple MA plan transportation networks.
- Private pay is always an option for trips beyond the MA benefit.