24% of Medicare Advantage Plans Include Transportation Benefits
Transportation is one of the most practical yet often overlooked aspects of healthcare access for older adults in the United States. A significant number of Medicare Advantage enrollees may have access to non-emergency medical transportation as part of their plan benefits, though coverage varies widely depending on the insurer, region, and plan type.
Only about one in four Medicare Advantage plans currently includes some form of transportation benefit, according to available data. For millions of older Americans, getting to and from medical appointments is not simply an inconvenience — it is a genuine barrier to receiving consistent care. Understanding which plans offer this benefit, and what it actually covers, can make a meaningful difference in how beneficiaries manage their health.
Understanding the Transportation Benefit Landscape
When Medicare Advantage plans include transportation, it typically refers to non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) — rides to doctor appointments, dialysis centers, pharmacies, or other healthcare-related destinations. These are not taxi services for general use but are specifically structured to support medical access. Some plans offer a set number of one-way trips per year, while others provide broader coverage depending on the enrollee’s health status or condition. The scope and limits of this benefit differ substantially from one plan to the next, which is why reviewing plan documents carefully matters.
The Broader Context of Medicare Advantage Benefits
Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is offered by private insurers approved by the federal government. These plans are required to cover everything that Original Medicare covers, but they can also offer supplemental benefits — and transportation is one of them. Over the past decade, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the types of supplemental benefits that plans are allowed to offer, including non-medical services that address social determinants of health. Transportation falls squarely into this category. Despite this flexibility, adoption across the plan market remains uneven, with only around 24% of plans choosing to include it.
Specialized Plans Show Different Priorities
Certain Medicare Advantage plan types are more likely to include transportation benefits than others. Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), which serve individuals with serious health conditions or both Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, tend to have higher rates of transportation coverage. This reflects a recognition that these populations face greater mobility challenges and more frequent healthcare interactions. Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) models are also increasingly being used to tailor supplemental benefits to specific health needs, which may further expand transportation access for eligible enrollees.
Medicare Plan Coverage
For beneficiaries trying to determine whether their current plan includes transportation, the first step is reviewing the plan’s Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage document. The Medicare Plan Finder tool available on Medicare.gov also allows users to filter and compare plans by supplemental benefits. It is worth noting that transportation benefits, when included, often come with restrictions — such as requiring advance scheduling, limiting trip distances, or covering only specific types of destinations. Understanding these details in advance can help avoid gaps in care access.
Looking Forward: The Case for Expanded Access
Public health researchers and advocacy organizations have increasingly highlighted transportation as a critical factor in health outcomes for older adults. Missing appointments due to lack of transportation is linked to worse chronic disease management, higher rates of emergency department use, and increased hospitalizations. As the Medicare Advantage market continues to evolve, there is growing discussion about whether CMS should create stronger incentives — or requirements — for plans to offer transportation benefits more broadly. Expansion of telehealth services has partially addressed some access gaps, but in-person care remains essential for many older adults, particularly those managing complex or ongoing medical needs.
The conversation around transportation in Medicare Advantage is ultimately a conversation about equitable access to care. For the roughly three-quarters of enrollees whose plans do not include this benefit, understanding alternatives — including state Medicaid programs, local Area Agencies on Aging, and volunteer driver networks — can be an important part of navigating the healthcare system successfully.
