As we get older, living independently often means having accessible transportation. Having accessible transportation is about more than just convenience—it’s also essential to maintaining our health and well-being.

Reliable transportation ensures we can keep on top of our health care needs and stay engaged with our communities, whether we’re going to doctor’s appointments, meeting a friend for lunch, or just running errands.

Family caregivers have typically served as the primary support for transportation. In 2009, according to a University of Southern California (USC) study, family caregivers provided 83% of transportation needs for older adults, totaling 1.4 billion rides.¹ For the 17% of people who didn’t get help from a caregiver: Who did they turn to? Was public transportation an option? Could their family caregiver keep up with the need for frequent rides, like multiple doctor visits ‌a week?

If a family caregiver isn’t an option, and public transportation is difficult to access, you may need other options that are cost-effective, efficient, and effective. According to the USC study, networked transportation (often known as rideshare services) has the “potential to meet the transportation needs of older adults and impact overall health”. Companies like Uber offer access to creative transportation solutions, allowing you to request a ride whenever or wherever you need it.

Are there Medicare plans that cover rideshare services?

In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave Medicare Advantage plans the ability to provide expanded transportation benefits for preventive and wellness services. This means that some plans have flex card benefits that can be applied toward trips to the grocery store and other health-related destinations.

Uber, for example, accepts flex cards as payment for eligible non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) rides and even for grocery and over-the-counter (OTC) item delivery. Note that not every rideshare company accepts flex card payments. If you’re unsure if your Medicare Advantage plan offers these types of services, please check in with your plan.

If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you may have supplemental benefits available for eligible rides. If so, you can add your health benefits card (or flex card) to a rideshare app, like Uber, and use your benefits to pay for eligible rides.

The flex card, which works like a pre-loaded debit card, is a benefit available  through Medicare Advantage plans. It can help older adults pay for eligible out-of-pocket costs. Typically, plan members receive anywhere from $250 to $1,500 loaded onto their flex card to spend on approved benefits.²

What are rideshare services and how do they benefit older adults?

With a rideshare service (e.g., Uber, Lyft), you use a mobile app or phone number to request and pay for rides from drivers. You can use this service to get to and from medical appointments, visit friends or family, or attend activities at your local senior center.

Below are five key advantages to rideshare services:

1. Convenience: Rideshares are available at the touch of a button on your smartphone. You can get where you need to go without waiting for a bus or being on someone else’s schedule.
2. Accessibility: Rideshare drivers pick you up at your home and take you to your destination, which is especially helpful if you have mobility challenges. Depending on where you live, some service providers even allow you to request wheelchair-accessible vehicles. For Uber, in some select markets, Uber WAV is available. Otherwise, Uber riders who use folding wheelchairs can request a ride in all other options available through the Uber app. Uber drivers are expected to accommodate riders using walkers, canes, folding wheelchairs, or other assistive devices.
3. Real-time updates: Rideshare apps provide live updates to keep you informed. Knowing exactly when your ride will arrive can help you plan and have more peace of mind.
4. Affordability: Rideshare services are often a cost-effective option for everyday trips around town—especially if you can use your Medicare Advantage flex card funds for qualifying rides.
5. Safety: Most rideshare companies, like Uber, screen their drivers, and generally perform repeat screenings on a regular basis. Features like real-time GPS tracking and in-app emergency buttons add another layer of reassurance for older adults.

The lack of adequate transportation has many downstream costly effects on older adults. In fact, the USC study also noted inadequate transportation as “a critical problem for older adults as the lack of medical access and activity, as well as social isolation, are known predictors of adverse health outcomes.”¹

That’s why some Medicare Advantage plans, roughly 43%, offer non-emergency medical transportation (or NEMT). This important benefit can help people get to and from medical appointments and can include trips to see your doctor, hospital, or specialist.

Using your flex card for eligible rides can help you avoid missed doctor’s appointments and manage your health more easily. Note that not all Medicare Advantage plans offer this card benefit. If you aren't sure whether your plan offers a flex card, or how it can be used, reach out to your plan provider.

How do rideshare services work with my flex card?

Rideshare companies like Uber allow you to create an account and schedule rides on your smartphone at your convenience. The fare is usually calculated up front and will vary based on the time of day and distance you travel. Other factors also affect fare, such as when there are more riders than available rideshare drivers on the road.

While rideshare requests can be made easily through the company’s app, you don’t need to use an app to request a ride. For example, Uber allows you to easily book rides and use your flex card by calling a toll-free phone number, 1-833-USE-UBER. 

Make the most of your flex card benefits

Rideshare services, paired with your Medicare Advantage flex card, can help you keep important health-related appointments without relying on someone else to drive you. Depending on your plan’s benefits, rideshare can even make it easier to get to and from the grocery store or pharmacy.

What should you do next?

• If you already have a Medicare Advantage flex card that offers rideshare benefits, learn how to use your benefits for qualifying rides and grocery/OTC item delivery. Start using your flex card with Uber.
• If you’re considering a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure it offers a health benefits card with transportation benefits—and that you qualify for this benefit. Some flex cards are only available to people living in certain states or those with specific chronic health conditions.

“We all want to stay active and self-sufficient as we age. Access to transportation plays a major role in that independence: older adults should have the freedom to go where they need to go without relying solely on other people’s schedules,” said Zachary Clark, Global GM of Uber Health.

Rideshare can get you to and from the grocery store and pharmacy, and help you not miss important health-related appointments. Using your Medicare Advantage flex card for eligible rideshare services can help keep you moving the way you want to,” Clark said.

How do I know which Medicare plan is best for me?

Navigating Medicare’s many coverage options can feel overwhelming. If you have additional questions, we’re here to help.

NCOA has trusted partners who are committed to providing accurate, up-to-date Medicare information and guidance at no cost to you. Talk to one of our partners who meet our Medicare Standards of Excellence. You can also contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) for assistance.

Sources

1.  Next Avenue. Study Finds Ridesharing Services Improve Older Adults' Lives. Sept. 8, 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.nextavenue.org/ridesharing-services-improve-lives/.

2. Nerdwallet. What Is the Medicare Flex Card? Jan. 8, 2024. Found on the Internet at https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/medicare-flex-card