Medical transportation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What medical transportation is

A medical transportation service moves patients to and from appointments, treatment or hospital visits, with vehicles equipped for wheelchairs or stretchers when needed. You need it when a patient cannot travel safely by private car or public transit.

Signs you need it

  • The patient cannot sit upright in a regular car or needs a wheelchair
  • The patient needs a stretcher or a lift for the trip
  • The patient is recovering from surgery and cannot drive or ride alone
  • The patient needs regular rides to dialysis, therapy or other treatment
  • The family cannot provide a safe ride to a hospital or clinic

What the pro does

  • Confirms the patient's needs, the vehicle type and the medical appointment times
  • Checks the vehicle and the equipment, such as the ramp, lift or stretcher
  • Helps the patient in and out of the vehicle with the right transfer method
  • Drives the route with care and keeps the patient secure during the trip
  • Delivers the patient to the right entrance and confirms the return ride

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The vehicle type, such as a wheelchair van or a stretcher transport
  • Whether the patient needs a stretcher, a lift or a wheelchair
  • The distance and the number of trips
  • Whether the trip is scheduled or urgent
  • Whether an attendant or a second staff member is needed
  • Whether waiting time for the appointment is included

What a written quote should spell out

  • The vehicle type and the equipment used
  • The pickup and drop off times and locations
  • The level of assistance and any attendant
  • Waiting time, mileage and any tolls
  • Whether the provider bills insurance or the patient pays directly

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the vehicle and provider registered and insured for this type of transport?
  • Are your drivers trained in patient transfers and safe securing?
  • Do you bill my insurance, and what do I need to provide?
  • What happens if the appointment is delayed?
  • Will the driver wait and bring the patient home?
  • What happens if the patient needs help during the trip?

Red flags

  • Drivers who cannot explain how the patient will be secured
  • Will not confirm the vehicle equipment before the trip
  • Asks for cash with no written receipt for insurance purposes
  • Says it can take any patient without checking the needs

What you can do yourself

Write down the patient's mobility needs, any equipment they use, and the appointment times. Share the medical team's instructions with the provider. Do not transfer or lift a patient yourself unless you have been trained, and ask the provider to handle the transfer.

Licenses and permits

Commercial passenger transport commonly needs state or federal registration and insurance, and medical transport providers often need additional rules for the vehicles and the staff. Check with the state or federal authority that oversees passenger and patient transport before you book.

Medical transportation questions

Will my insurance pay for medical transport?

It depends on your plan and the medical reason for the trip. Ask your insurer and the provider how billing works before the trip.

What if the patient needs a stretcher?

Tell the provider when you book. Stretcher transport needs a vehicle and staff equipped for it, and the provider should confirm this in writing.

Is an attendant required?

It depends on the patient's needs and the provider's rules. Ask the provider and the medical team which level of help is needed.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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