Does Medi-Cal Cover Medical Transportation? Here's What Sacramento Residents Need to Know

A lot of people with Medi-Cal don't realize this: getting to your doctor's appointment is a covered benefit. Not just the appointment itself — the ride there and back too.

We hear this all the time from families in Sacramento. Someone needs to get to dialysis three times a week, or an elderly parent has a specialist across town, and the family assumes they have to figure out transportation on their own. They don't. If you have Medi-Cal, there's a good chance that ride is already covered.

Let's break it down simply.

What is NEMT?

NEMT stands for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. It's a benefit built into Medi-Cal that covers rides to and from medical appointments — things like dialysis, doctor visits, specialist appointments, therapy, dental care, and even picking up prescriptions.

There are actually two types of transportation Medi-Cal covers:

• NEMT (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation) — For people who can't use a regular car or rideshare because of a medical condition. This includes wheelchair vans, gurney vans, and door-to-door assistance. You need a doctor's written authorization (called a Physician Certification Statement, or PCS form) to qualify.
• NMT (Non-Medical Transportation) — For people who are ambulatory (able to walk) but don't have a way to get to their appointment. This can be a regular car, taxi, rideshare, or even bus passes. No PCS form needed for this one.

Both are covered by Medi-Cal. And according to Disability Rights California, there is no mileage limit on these rides.

Who arranges the ride?

In Sacramento, Medi-Cal transportation is coordinated through a company called Modivcare (formerly LogistiCare). They're the broker — meaning they connect you with transportation providers like WeCare916.

To schedule a ride, you call Modivcare directly:

According to Health Net's provider library, Modivcare also offers interpreter services for all languages — so Vietnamese-speaking members can request a Vietnamese interpreter when booking.

How far in advance do you need to call?

It depends on the type of ride you need:

• Wheelchair or gurney van: Call at least 48 hours in advance
• Regular car or taxi: Call at least 24 hours in advance
• Rideshare: Can be requested same-day (arrives within 1 hour)
• Bus passes: Must be requested 5 days in advance (they're mailed to you)

For recurring appointments like dialysis, you can set up a standing order — one call to schedule all your rides for up to 12 months at a time. That means you don't have to call every single week. Your ride just shows up.

What do you need to have ready when you call?

Have these handy before you dial:

• Your Medi-Cal member ID number (on your card)
• Your doctor's name and address
• Your appointment date and time
• Your pickup address
• Whether you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle

If you can't make the call yourself, a family member, caregiver, or your doctor can call on your behalf.

What if your ride doesn't show up?

It happens. If your driver doesn't arrive on time, Medi-Cal requires the transportation company to either send a replacement or reimburse you for finding your own ride. Call Modivcare's "Where's My Ride" line at the same number above.

A note for our Vietnamese community

Chúng tôi hiểu — navigating Medi-Cal in a second language is hard. If you're not sure whether you qualify, what type of transportation you need, or how to fill out the PCS form your doctor needs to sign, we're here to help walk you through it. Our team speaks Vietnamese and we can help you or your family figure out what you're entitled to.

WeCare916 is launching in Sacramento in Summer 2026, and we're already building relationships with the families and facilities we'll serve. If you want to be on our early access list — or just have a question — reach out here.

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