Keeping up with doctor’s appointments is essential to managing health and staying informed, but it can often feel overwhelming. From scheduling and transportation to understanding medical advice and ensuring proper follow-up, there are many details to manage. This is where Understood Care can help. Our advocates serve as trusted guides, working alongside you or your loved one to make the process easier, more organized, and more comfortable.
Personalized Support Before and After Every Appointment
Understood Care advocates provide hands-on help with all aspects of medical visits. We help you schedule appointments, confirm provider information, and prepare for the visit itself. This might include reviewing your questions ahead of time, making sure prescriptions are current, or gathering any medical records needed. After the appointment, we help you understand the doctor’s recommendations and take the right steps to follow through on care instructions, referrals, or additional tests.
A Partner to Help You Understand Your Care
Medical visits can involve unfamiliar language, new diagnoses, or complex treatment plans. Your advocate is there to help translate this information into clear, understandable terms. We make sure you feel confident about what was discussed during the visit and that you know what actions to take next. If something is unclear or left unanswered, your advocate can follow up with your provider to get the information you need.
Coordination Across Your Care Team
Many people receive care from more than one doctor. Your advocate helps ensure that your care is well coordinated across primary care providers, specialists, and other professionals. We help share information between offices, keep records consistent, and make sure appointments align with your overall care goals. This reduces confusion and helps prevent important details from being overlooked.
Support for Getting to and From the Appointment
Transportation should never be the reason you miss a doctor’s visit. Your advocate helps you arrange reliable ways to get to and from appointments. Whether that means booking a ride service, coordinating with a caregiver, or finding community transportation resources, we make sure you have safe and timely access to care. We also consider mobility needs, language assistance, and other accessibility factors to support your comfort and safety.
Emotional and Practical Support Throughout
Doctor’s visits can bring up feelings of stress, uncertainty, or fatigue, especially when managing long-term conditions or complex health needs. Understood Care advocates are here to offer steady support throughout the experience. We are here to listen, provide encouragement, and help you make informed decisions without feeling overwhelmed.
Confidence in Every Step of the Journey
With Understood Care, you are never alone in managing your medical appointments. From the moment you schedule your visit to the follow-up that comes afterward, your advocate is there to help you stay organized, prepared, and empowered. We make it easier to stay connected to the care you need and to move forward with confidence.
Content
- Why your rides may change in 2026
- How rides are usually counted
- What to do now to protect your transportation benefit
- Backup ride options when Medicare Advantage rides run out
- How Understood Care helps you find other transportation programs
- FAQ
Why your rides may change in 2026
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer optional “extra benefits” beyond Original Medicare. These benefits can include things like an over-the-counter allowance, savings programs, and non-emergency transportation. Because these extras are plan-specific, they can change from year to year and your plan must tell you about updates before the new plan year starts.
For 2026, you may see changes such as fewer covered rides, tighter rules about where you can go, or longer lead times to schedule transportation. Even if your plan is not cutting rides, it is still smart to plan ahead because transportation is one of the easiest benefits to “run out” of when appointments stack up.
How rides are usually counted
Transportation benefits are often counted as one-way trips, not round trips. That means a single doctor visit can use two rides: one ride to get there and one ride to get home. (Your plan’s rules may differ, so always confirm with your plan.)
Here is a simple way to think about it:
- 10 one-way rides per year can equal 5 round trips
- 16 one-way rides per year can equal 8 round trips
- If rides are limited to medical appointments only, errands and social trips may not count as covered destinations
If you are managing multiple conditions or you see multiple specialists, those rides can disappear quickly. The earlier you understand your plan’s rules, the easier it is to avoid missed care.
What to do now to protect your transportation benefit
1) Read your Plan Annual Notice of Change
If you are in a Medicare plan, you should receive a Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. This document explains what is changing for January, including coverage and costs.
When you review your ANOC, look specifically for:
- Changes to “transportation” or “non-emergency transportation”
- Ride limits (per year, per month, per trip, or per condition)
- Destination limits (medical only vs. broader approved locations)
- Any new requirements, like prior approval or earlier scheduling windows
2) Confirm the details that matter most for real life
Once you find the transportation section, call your plan (or ask someone you trust to help you call) and confirm:
- How the plan defines a “ride” (one-way vs. round trip)
- Whether wheelchair-accessible vehicles are available
- Whether you can bring a caregiver
- How far in advance you must schedule
- Whether rides are only to medical appointments or also to pharmacies and other essential services
If you are not sure what to ask, it can help to write your questions down first and take notes during the call.
3) Know your enrollment windows if the change is not workable
If transportation is essential for you, plan changes may be a reason to compare options. Medicare has specific times when you can switch coverage:
- Open Enrollment: October 15 to December 7 (changes generally start January 1)
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 to March 31 (if you already have Medicare Advantage, you can make one change)
If you want unbiased help comparing plan options, you can also contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free Medicare counseling.
Backup ride options when Medicare Advantage rides run out
When plan transportation is limited, you may still have safe, affordable options. These programs vary by location, but the categories below are a strong place to start.
ADA paratransit through your local transit system
If you cannot use regular fixed-route public transportation because of a disability, you may qualify for ADA complementary paratransit, a service that public transit agencies provide for people who are unable to use fixed-route systems.
What to expect:
- An application and eligibility process is typically required
- Eligibility is generally based on functional ability (what you can safely do), not just a diagnosis
- Service rules can include service-area limits and reservation requirements
County and city senior or disability transportation programs
Many counties, cities, or regional agencies offer reduced-cost transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. These programs sometimes provide rides beyond medical care, such as to senior centers, grocery stores, or community events.
Common features (these vary by program):
- Low-cost fares, sometimes free depending on income
- Vehicles that accommodate mobility needs
- A form or certification from your clinician explaining why you cannot use standard public transit
A reliable way to find local transportation resources is the federal Aging and Disability Transportation Center’s “Find Services” page and the Eldercare Locator.
Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation (for some people)
If you have Medicaid (including if you are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid), you may have access to non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) for medical appointments, depending on your state program and eligibility rules.
How Understood Care helps you find other transportation programs
If you are facing fewer rides in 2026, you do not have to figure everything out on your own. Understood Care advocates help you:
- Understand how your Medicare Advantage transportation benefit works
- Look for county, city, and agency transportation programs that may be lower cost and may cover more than medical visits
- Track down the right application, help you fill out most of it, and coordinate the clinician portion when a provider certification is required
You can learn more here:
- https://understoodcare.com/care-types/transportation-help
- https://understoodcare.com/care-types/application-help
Practical tips so you do not miss care
- Schedule rides as soon as you schedule appointments, especially for early mornings or specialist visits.
- Keep a running list of your upcoming appointments and estimated rides needed for each month.
- Ask your clinic if tele-health is appropriate for some follow-ups, so you can save rides for visits that truly require travel.
- Build a backup plan now (a second transportation program, a family contact, or a community option) so a last-minute change does not cancel care.
FAQ
- Will Medicare Advantage transportation benefits be reduced in 2026?
Some plans may reduce optional extra benefits like transportation, while others may not. The only way to know what applies to you is to review your ANOC and confirm details with your plan. - How do Medicare Advantage rides work for a round trip appointment?
Many plans count rides as one-way trips, so a round trip can use two rides. Your plan may define rides differently, so confirm directly with your plan. - When should I check my Medicare Advantage transportation benefit for 2026?
Check as soon as you receive your ANOC in the fall, so you have time to compare options during Medicare Open Enrollment if needed. - What if I cannot use the bus because of arthritis, COPD, heart disease, or chronic pain?
You may qualify for local disability transportation options like ADA complementary paratransit or other accessible transportation programs. Eligibility is typically based on your functional ability to use fixed-route transit safely. - Where can I find senior transportation programs near me?
The Eldercare Locator and ACL transportation resource pages can connect you to local services, including transportation. - Who can help me compare Medicare Advantage plans if my rides are cut?
SHIP offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling and can help you understand your options.
References
https://youtu.be/gUrjVFKCo9Q
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/transportation-help
https://understoodcare.com/care-types/application-help
https://www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes
https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/12026-understanding-medicare-advantage-plans.pdf
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11219-Understanding-Medicare-Advantage-Medicare-Drug-Plan-Enrollment-Periods.pdf
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2026-announcement.pdf
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/states/non-emergency-medical-transportation
https://acl.gov/TransportationCenter/FindServices
https://eldercare.acl.gov/home
https://acl.gov/programs/connecting-people-services/state-health-insurance-assistance-program-ship
https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/part-37-transportation-services-individuals-disabilities
https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/civil-rights-ada/frequently-asked-questions
This content is for education only and does not replace guidance from your local SNAP agency or EBT customer service. If you believe you’re experiencing active fraud or feel unsafe, contact local authorities right away.
Deborah Hall
- About: Deborah Hall’s primary specialty is other healthcare benefits access. She helps people apply for coverage, clears questions, and connects them to programs fast.
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