Free Rides to Doctor Appointments in Texas: How to Book Medicaid Transportation (2026)

If you have Texas Medicaid, CHIP perinatal, or the Children with Special Health Care Needs program, you can get a free ride to your medical appointments. It is a covered benefit, it costs you nothing, and most people never use it because nobody told them it exists.

This is called Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). In rural counties like Polk, Walker, San Jacinto, and Liberty — where the nearest specialist can be an hour away — it is often the difference between keeping an appointment and skipping care.

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What NEMT covers

• Rides to the doctor, dentist, therapy, dialysis, and behavioral health visits
• Rides to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription (in connection with a covered visit)
• Gas mileage reimbursement if a friend or family member drives you
• Bus passes or rideshare in areas where they are available
• Meals and lodging when you must travel a long distance for care
• An attendant to ride with a child or a member who needs help

NEMT does not cover ambulance trips or emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.

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Step 1: Find out who your plan is

Your ride is arranged by your Medicaid managed care plan, not by the state. Look at the front of your medical ID card — it will say Superior, Wellpoint, Molina, UnitedHealthcare, Texas Children's Health Plan, Community Health Choice, and so on.

Each plan uses a transportation vendor: MTM, SafeRide Health, or ModivCare.

Step 2: Call the ride line for your plan

These are the transportation numbers published by Texas Health and Human Services (verified August 2026):

Your health plan	Ride vendor	Phone number to book a ride
Aetna	MTM	1-866-411-8920
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas	ModivCare	1-866-824-1565
Community First Health Plan	SafeRide	1-855-932-2335 (Option 2 for "Where's My Ride")
Community Health Choice	MTM	1-844-572-8194
Cook Children's Health Plan	MTM	1-844-572-8195
Dell Children's Health Plan	MTM	1-844-867-2742
Driscoll Health Plan	SafeRide	1-833-694-5881
El Paso Health	MTM	1-833-931-3844
FirstCare Health Plan	MTM	1-833-779-3105
Molina Healthcare of Texas	SafeRide	1-866-462-4857
Parkland Community Health Plan	MTM	1-833-931-3844
Scott & White	MTM	1-877-447-3101
Superior HealthPlan	SafeRide	1-855-932-2318 (Where's My Ride: 1-855-932-2319)
Texas Children's Health Plan	SafeRide	1-888-583-0110
UnitedHealthcare (STAR / STAR+PLUS / STAR Kids)	SafeRide	1-888-462-6050
Wellpoint — STAR	MTM	1-833-721-8184
Wellpoint — STAR+PLUS	MTM	1-844-867-2837
Wellpoint — STAR Kids	MTM	1-844-864-2443

TTY users can dial 711. Most ride lines answer 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Source: Texas HHS — Health Plan Transportation Contact Information

If you are not sure which plan you have, call 2-1-1 (or 1-877-541-7905) and choose the Medicaid option, or check your Your Texas Benefits account.

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Step 3: Book at least 2 business days ahead

Most plans ask for 48 hours' notice (2 business days) for a routine appointment. Urgent trips, hospital discharges, and dialysis can usually be arranged faster — say the word "urgent" when you call.

Have this ready when you call:

• Your Medicaid ID number
• The date and time of your appointment
• The clinic's name, full address, and phone number
• Your pickup address and a callback number
• Whether you use a wheelchair, need a car seat, or need someone to ride with you

Ask for the trip confirmation number and write it down.

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Step 4: On the day of your ride

• Be ready at least 15 minutes early. Drivers usually give a pickup window, not an exact minute.
• Rides are curb to curb — the driver meets you outside, not at your door, unless you were approved for door-to-door help.
• If the driver is late, call the "Where's My Ride" line for your plan (same number, usually an option in the menu).
• Call to cancel if your appointment changes. Repeated no-shows can affect future rides.

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Getting paid to drive yourself (mileage reimbursement)

If you have a car, or a friend or relative can take you, most plans will reimburse mileage. You must register the driver before the trip — that is the step most people miss. Call your plan's ride number and ask for the "individual transportation participant" or mileage reimbursement program, then have the clinic sign your trip form at the appointment.

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What if you don't have Medicaid?

You still have options in rural Texas:

• Rural transit districts (like Brazos Transit District in the Piney Woods counties) run low-cost demand-response rides — call ahead a day or two.
• Area Agencies on Aging arrange senior rides to medical appointments.
• Volunteer driver programs, including our own volunteer drivers, cover trips no agency will.
• 2-1-1 Texas can search transportation programs by ZIP code.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Medicaid transportation really free?
Yes. There is no copay for NEMT for eligible Texas Medicaid, CHIP perinatal, and CSHCN members.

How far in advance do I have to book?
Two business days for routine care. Urgent trips and hospital discharges can be same day.

Can someone ride with me?
Yes. Children must have a parent or approved adult, and members who need assistance can have an attendant.

Can I get a ride to the pharmacy?
Yes, when it is connected to a covered medical visit.

What if my ride never comes?
Call the "Where's My Ride" line right away, and file a complaint with your plan's member services if it keeps happening.

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We can make the call with you

If phone trees and hold times are the barrier, that is exactly what we do. Request help and a navigator will find your plan, book the ride, and confirm it with the clinic — free.