Getting to dialysis three times a week is one of the biggest practical challenges of treatment. If you have Medi-Cal and no reliable way to get there, Medi-Cal may cover your rides. Here’s how the two types of transportation work, how to book them, and what to do when a ride doesn’t show.
Quick answer
Medi-Cal has two ride benefits. NMT (non-medical transportation) covers regular car rides, rideshare, or bus passes for members with no other way to get to covered appointments. NEMT (non-emergency medical transportation) covers wheelchair vans, gurney vans, or ambulances for people who can’t safely use regular transportation, and needs a provider’s prescription. Most members book through their Medi-Cal health plan’s member services or ride line. Ask about setting up standing rides for your dialysis schedule.
NMT vs NEMT
- NMT (non-medical transportation): For full-scope Medi-Cal members who have no other way to get to covered medical appointments. Can include rides in a car or rideshare, public transit passes, or in some cases mileage reimbursement for a friend or family member who drives you. No prescription needed.
- NEMT (non-emergency medical transportation): For people whose medical or physical condition means they can’t use a car, bus, or rideshare, such as needing a wheelchair van or stretcher. Requires a prescription or certification from a licensed provider. Your dialysis team can help with the form.
How to book
- In a Medi-Cal managed care plan (most members): Call the member services number on your plan ID card and ask for transportation. Many plans use a separate ride vendor with its own phone line or app.
- In fee-for-service Medi-Cal: Request rides through DHCS’s transportation request process.
- Book as early as your plan allows. Many ask for a few business days’ notice for routine rides.
- Have ready: your Medi-Cal ID, clinic address and phone, chair time, return time, and any mobility needs.
Set up standing rides
Because dialysis is a fixed schedule, ask the ride vendor to set up recurring or standing orders for your treatment days, so you don’t have to book every single trip. Confirm how the pickup back home works. Some vendors schedule a fixed time, others want you to call when you’re done. Tell the clinic which vendor you use.
If this sounds familiar
Your ride home keeps showing up an hour late, so you’re sitting in the lobby exhausted after every treatment. Write down dates and times, call the ride vendor to complain, and then call your health plan’s member services and file a grievance. Tell your clinic social worker too, since repeated problems affect your care and they can often help escalate.
When rides go wrong
- If a ride is late or doesn’t come, call the vendor right away, then call the clinic to tell them you’re delayed
- Keep a log of late and missed rides
- File a grievance with your health plan. You have the right to complain about transportation.
- If you still can’t get a fix, contact the Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman
- Have a backup plan. See What to Do When Your Ride Falls Through.
Other ride options
If you don’t qualify for Medi-Cal rides, look into Medicare Advantage plan ride benefits, ADA paratransit, county senior transportation, and nonprofit programs. See Dialysis Transportation in California. Also, check whether you can drive yourself safely after treatment: Can You Drive Yourself Home After Dialysis?
Save your ride numbers
Add your ride vendor, plan member services, and backup drivers to your contact sheet.
Where to go next
- Keep it all in one place: The 90-Day Dialysis Planner
- Missed treatment: Missed a Dialysis Treatment?
- Social worker help: What Does a Dialysis Social Worker Do?
- Costs: The Hidden Costs of Dialysis
The main thing to remember
If you’re on Medi-Cal and can’t get to dialysis on your own, ask your health plan about NMT or NEMT. Set up standing rides, keep a log of problems, and file a grievance if rides keep failing.
Sources
- California DHCS: Medi-Cal Transportation
- DHCS: NMT Frequently Asked Questions
- DHCS: Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman
General education only. This article offers general information about Medi-Cal transportation benefits, which can vary by plan and change over time. Confirm details with your Medi-Cal health plan or DHCS.