Getting to appointments and managing errands when you cannot drive
Plan rides, coordinate helpers and find local programs while you are not driving
Imagine a 38 year old school librarian whose car was hit on the passenger side at an intersection. Her care team has asked her not to drive while her dizziness settles. This week alone she has two physical therapy visits, an eye appointment, a pharmacy refill and an empty fridge. Her partner works early shifts, and her mother lives an hour away.
When you cannot drive, each trip turns into a small project. Without a plan, it is easy to skip care, or to drive “just this once” before you are ready.
This guide covers a weekly transportation plan, scripts for lining up rides, and programs to check where you live. Our article on staying connected when you cannot drive covers friendships and loneliness, so this one sticks to appointments and errands.
Why a transportation plan is worth the effort
Lack of a ride keeps many people from care. A study of national survey data found that in 2017, about 5.8 million people in the United States, or 1.8%, delayed medical care because they lacked transportation [1]. People with a functional limitation, people living below the poverty line and people on Medicaid were more likely to report this problem [1].
A concussion can put you in more than one of those groups. Time off work may squeeze your budget, and dizziness or fatigue can make a bus trip much harder.
A written plan gives you a backup when a ride falls through, and it spreads the work across several helpers. It also keeps you from feeling pushed to drive before your care team says you are ready. Our article on returning to driving after a concussion covers how that decision gets made.
Build your weekly transportation plan
Set aside 20 minutes on the same day each week. If planning tires you, ask a family member to sit with you and do the writing.
- List every trip you need in the coming week: appointments, the pharmacy, groceries, work and anything else.
- Sort each trip. Does it have to happen in person, or could it become a video or phone visit, a delivery, or an errand a helper runs for you?
- Group what is left. Book appointments back to back when you can, and pair an errand with a ride you already have.
- Match each trip to a first choice ride and a backup.
- Plan around your energy. Book trips for the time of day you feel best, and leave rest time after a long outing.
Worksheet from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
My weekly transportation plan
| Trip and place | Day and time | First choice ride | Backup ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Example: physical therapy, Main Street clinic | Tue and Thu, 9 a.m. | Neighbor, Ana | Paratransit, booked Monday |
Print a fresh copy each week. Keep it on the fridge, with a photo of it on your phone.
Worksheet from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Trip cost log
| Date | Trip | Cost or miles | Receipt saved? |
|---|---|---|---|
Some auto insurance policies repay travel to treatment, as described below, so keep receipts and a mileage record [7].
Compare your options
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Ride and errand options compared
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Family, friends and neighbors | Most trips, including errands | Spread requests across several people |
| Medicaid rides (NEMT) | Covered medical visits | Book ahead; medical office and home only |
| ADA paratransit | Any trip in the service area | Apply first; fare up to twice the bus fare |
| Medicare Advantage ride benefit | Medical trips, if your plan has one | About a quarter of individual plans in 2026 |
| Volunteer driver program | Lower cost rides, including in rural areas | Ask who qualifies and how far ahead to book |
| Taxi or ride app | Trips on short notice | Check the price before you book |
| Telehealth | Visits that do not need hands on care | Ask which visits qualify |
| Grocery or pharmacy delivery | Food and refills | Fees add up; SNAP cannot pay them |
Sources: CMS [2]; NRTAP [3]; NADTC [4, 8]; KFF [9]; HHS [5]; USDA [6]. Rules and availability vary by state and plan.
For short trips on foot or by transit, pick routes with sidewalks and signals, and cross at crosswalks. Skip bikes and e-scooters while dizziness or balance problems continue, unless your care team says otherwise.
Checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Confirm each ride the day before, with the time and the pickup spot.
- Charge your phone and save the number of your driver or ride service.
- Pack water, a snack, your appointment notes, and sunglasses or earplugs if light and noise bother you.
- Wait somewhere safe, off the street, where the driver can pull over legally.
- Text your backup if a ride is more than 15 minutes late.
Coordinating rides with family and friends
Friends and relatives usually want to pitch in, yet many are unsure what you need. A clear system makes it easy for them to say yes.
Pick one coordinator, such as a partner, an adult child or a friend who likes to organize. The coordinator keeps the weekly plan, posts open trips to a group text or shared calendar, and confirms who is driving. You still make your own choices about your care, and the coordinator handles the logistics.
Give drivers the address, the time to leave, how long the visit lasts, and whether to wait or come back. Ask for standing slots, such as every Tuesday morning, since a regular ride is easier to plan around than many one off favors.
Keep the ride safe. Your driver should be rested, sober and free to focus on the road. Set the route before you leave, keep talk light in heavy traffic, and wait until you have parked to make calls. If your driver seems drowsy or rushed, it is fine to switch to your backup.
Medicaid rides and Medicare plan benefits
Medicaid transportation
Medicaid offers non emergency medical transportation, or NEMT, a benefit for members who need help reaching medical visits and getting home again [10]. A CMS fact sheet says you may qualify for a ride when you lack a working car or a driver’s license [2]. It may also help people with a physical or mental disability, and people who cannot make the trip or wait for pickup on their own [2]. Depending on your needs and your state, the ride might be a taxi, car, van, bus or subway [2].
Book the ride ahead of time, and phone again if you have to cancel [2]. You may need to call a caseworker, a ride service or another agency, and a managed care plan’s customer service line can explain its ride benefit [2].
One rule matters for errands. The fact sheet says the driver may take you, or an eligible family member, only to the medical office and back home [2]. A stop anywhere else could lead to charges of stealing from Medicaid for both you and the driver [2]. Plan grocery runs and other errands another way. The fact sheet dates from 2016, though CMS still links to it from its current NEMT page [10]. States run their programs differently, so check with your state Medicaid agency or plan.
Rides through a Medicare plan
Some Medicare Advantage plans include rides to medical care as an extra benefit. A KFF analysis found that 24% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offered transportation for medical needs in 2026, down from 30% in 2025 [9]. Among special needs plans, the share was 67% [9]. What is covered varies, plans can change these benefits from one year to the next, and some limit them to certain members [9]. Call the member number on your card. Ask how many rides you get, how far ahead to book, and whether a helper can come along.
Some trips cannot wait for a ride plan
Ride programs are for planned care. Dial 911 now, or have another person drive you to the closest emergency room, if after a head injury you have [11]:
- A headache that keeps worsening.
- Numbness or weakness, clumsy movements, or a seizure.
- Vomiting that keeps happening.
- Speech that slurs, or acting out of character.
- One pupil larger than the other.
- Not knowing familiar people or places.
- Confusion, restlessness or agitation.
- Fainting, deep drowsiness, or being impossible to wake.
Do not drive yourself, and do not wait for a scheduled ride.
ADA paratransit when a concussion affects how you travel
ADA paratransit is a shared ride service that runs alongside regular buses and trains. Our article on staying connected when you cannot drive covers the basic rules, and a few points matter most after a concussion.
- Eligibility rests on what you are able to do, and it is not supposed to hinge on your diagnosis [3].
- One group that qualifies is people who cannot find their way through the transit system without help, and the examples include people with cognitive disabilities [3].
- Another group is people who cannot reach or leave the stop because of their condition [3].
- Agencies can grant temporary eligibility for a set period when someone has a short term loss of function [3]. Some riders qualify only for certain trips [4].
- Agencies cannot limit trips by purpose, so a ride to the grocery store counts the same as one to the doctor [3].
Applying
Agencies often ask for an application, and some also ask you to come in so they can see whether you can use the regular buses [4]. Once your application is complete, the agency has 21 days to decide. After that, it must give you rides until it formally turns you down [3].
Describe how travel goes on a typical bad day. The librarian might write:
- I get dizzy and unsteady when a bus brakes or turns, and I have to sit down right away.
- Bright, crowded stations give me headaches and scramble my thinking.
- I get confused by transfers and have missed my stop twice.
- After walking two blocks, I am too tired to keep going safely.
Ask your care team whether they can back up the application with a note on how your symptoms affect travel. Once you qualify, you can book a ride during business hours as late as the day before [3]. The agency may shift your pickup by up to an hour either way [3]. Fares are capped at double the standard bus or train fare [4].
Finding local help: volunteer drivers, 211 and aging services
Local options differ a lot from place to place. The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, known as NADTC, names several choices [12]. They include fixed route buses and trains, rides you book ahead (often called dial a ride), volunteer drivers, taxis and other shared rides [12]. Some areas also have one call transportation centers or travel training to help people choose and use their options [12].
Volunteer driver programs have a long record as an affordable option, and NADTC notes how much they matter in rural areas [8]. Ask who the program serves, how far ahead to book, and whether a driver can wait during your visit.
A few places can help you find these services:
- Older adults and their helpers can call the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) about transportation resources [13]. Its website also finds your local Area Agency on Aging by ZIP code [13].
- Dial 211 to reach a local information line. The network has more than 200 local agencies and answers more than 13 million requests a year [14]. Calls are confidential and can be anonymous, and transportation is among the basic needs people call about [14].
- Ask your clinic whether a social worker or case manager can help you find rides.
Fewer trips: telehealth, delivery and insurance help
Telehealth visits
Some follow up visits may work by video or phone. For people with traditional Medicare, home telehealth for care other than mental health is allowed through December 31, 2027, including visits by phone alone [5]. Mental health telehealth at home is now permanent in Medicare [5]. Private plans and Medicaid set their own rules, so check yours. Ask your care team which visits can be virtual, since hands on care such as balance therapy may still need a trip. If screens bring on symptoms, ask for a phone visit instead.
Grocery and pharmacy delivery
Delivery can save a trip, but fees add up. If you get SNAP food benefits, you can buy groceries online in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. [6]. Your benefits cannot pay delivery, service or convenience fees, and you still need your PIN [6]. Retailer websites show who delivers to your address [6]. Ask your pharmacy whether it delivers or mails refills, what it charges, and whether your refills can be lined up for one pickup day.
Taxis and ride apps
Taxis and ride apps can fill gaps on short notice. Check the price before you book, and keep the receipt. Match the car and driver to the app before you get in, and buckle up.
Auto insurance help with travel costs
Some auto policies help with travel to treatment or with household tasks, depending on the state. Two examples:
- New York: in two informal 2005 opinions, the state insurance department’s lawyers said no fault coverage can repay travel to treatment [7, 15]. That can include taxi, bus or train fares, parking and tolls [7]. It falls under “other expenses,” which the current state rule still caps at $25 a day for one year after the crash [16]. Whether a way of traveling is reasonable depends on the facts [7].
- Michigan: a 2019 state consumer guide said PIP could pay up to $20 a day for replacement services [17]. These are routine household tasks, such as housekeeping and yard work, that an injured person can no longer do [17]. That guide applied only to policies written no later than July 1, 2020, and the state has separate guides for newer policies, so ask what yours covers now [17].
Other states work differently, and these examples may not match your policy. Ask your insurer first, then your state insurance department if questions remain. Our article on PIP benefits beyond medical bills has more detail.
Questions to ask a ride program or health plan
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Do I qualify, and what do I need to apply?
- Can I qualify for a short time while I recover from a concussion?
- How far ahead do I book, and what is the latest I can cancel?
- What is the pickup window, and who do I call if the ride runs late?
- Can the driver wait during my appointment, or do I book a separate ride home?
- Can a family member or helper ride with me?
- Which trips are covered: medical visits only, or errands too?
- What does each trip cost me, and is there a yearly limit on rides?
- Does the driver offer help between my door and the vehicle?
- If I am turned down, how do I appeal?
Frequently asked questions
Can a Medicaid ride stop at the pharmacy on the way home?
The CMS fact sheet says Medicaid rides go only to the medical office and back home, and other stops can be treated as stealing from Medicaid [2]. Ask your state Medicaid agency or plan how it handles pharmacy trips, and plan other errands separately.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Not driving for a while does not have to mean missed care or empty cupboards. A weekly plan with a backup for every trip, a ride coordinator and clear requests can keep you moving without getting behind the wheel too soon.
Check what you may qualify for, from Medicaid rides and paratransit to plan ride benefits and volunteer drivers. Rules differ by state, plan and policy, and they change. Before you count on them, confirm details with your state Medicaid agency, transit agency, health plan, auto insurer or state insurance department.
Sources and further reading
- 1Wolfe MK, McDonald NC, Holmes GM. Transportation barriers to health care in the United States: findings from the National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2017. American Journal of Public Health. 2020;110(6):815-822. doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305579
- 2Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Let Medicaid give you a ride. Fact sheet. April 2016. cms.gov/…/nemt-factsheet.pdf
- 3National Rural Transit Assistance Program, Federal Transit Administration. ADA complementary paratransit requirements. Updated January 2026. nationalrtap.org/…/ADA-Complementary-Paratransit-Requirements
- 4National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. ADA and paratransit. Updated November 2024. nadtc.org/…/ada-and-paratransit
- 5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Medicare payment policies (telehealth.hhs.gov). Updated February 5, 2026. telehealth.hhs.gov/…/medicare-payment-policies-during-covid-19
- 6U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Administration. SNAP online purchasing. Updated February 17, 2026. fna.usda.gov/snap/online
- 7New York State Insurance Department (now Department of Financial Services), Office of General Counsel. Informal opinion No. 05-02-01: no-fault reimbursement of transportation expenses. February 2, 2005. dfs.ny.gov/insurance/ogco2005/rg050201.htm
- 8National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. Volunteer transportation. Updated October 2024. nadtc.org/volunteer-transportation
- 9Freed M, Ochieng N, Biniek JF, Damico A, Neuman T. Medicare Advantage 2026 spotlight: a first look at plan premiums and benefits. KFF. December 9, 2025. kff.org/…/medicare-advantage-2026-spotlight-a-first-look-at-plan-premiums-and-benefits
- 10Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Non-emergency medical transportation. Updated August 2025. cms.gov/…/non-emergency-medical-transportation
- 11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion. Updated September 15, 2025. cdc.gov/…/signs-symptoms/index.html
- 12National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. Aging and disability transportation overview. Updated October 2024. nadtc.org/…/aging-and-disability-transportation-overview
- 13Eldercare Locator, U.S. Administration for Community Living. Transportation. Accessed October 2026. eldercare.acl.gov/…/Transportation.aspx
- 14211 (United Way Worldwide). About us. Accessed October 2026. 211.org/about-us
- 15New York State Insurance Department (now Department of Financial Services), Office of General Counsel. Informal opinion No. 05-09-24: no-fault mileage reimbursement. September 19, 2005. dfs.ny.gov/insurance/ogco2005/rg050924.htm
- 16New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 11 NYCRR 65-1.1, Mandatory personal injury protection endorsement. Amended February 8, 2023. Cornell Legal Information Institute. law.cornell.edu/…/11-NYCRR-65-1.1
- 17Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Michigan’s auto insurance law has changed (FIS-PUB 0202). October 2019. michigan.gov/…/cis_ofis_ip202_25083_7.pdf
This article reflects the safety priorities of crash recovery and road safety education. It is general information, not medical, legal, insurance or benefits advice. Ride programs, Medicaid and Medicare benefits, and auto insurance rules vary by state and plan and change over time, so check with the official program or your insurer before relying on them. Talk with your own care team about when it is safe to drive again. Reviewed October 2026.
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