Every fall, people with Medicare get a window to change their coverage for the coming year. For 2027 coverage, Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. When comparing plans, it is easy to focus on premiums, doctors and drug costs and overlook something that matters a great deal to older adults who no longer drive: whether the plan covers rides to medical appointments.

That benefit has been shrinking. According to KFF, 24% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offered transportation for medical needs in 2026, down from 30% in 2025. And for 2027, CNN reported, citing an analysis of CMS data by Medicare Market Insights, that nearly 3.2 million Medicare Advantage enrollees will have to shop for new policies because their insurers are no longer offering their plans. If you or a family member depends on plan-covered rides, this is the year to look closely.

Key Dates for 2027 Coverage

If you are happy with your current coverage, CMS says you generally do not need to re-enroll. But if your plan's costs or benefits changed, those changes take effect January 1 whether or not you act.

What Original Medicare Covers for Rides

Original Medicare's transportation coverage is narrow. Medicare Part B covers ground ambulance transportation when traveling in any other vehicle could endanger your health and you need medically necessary services at a hospital, critical access hospital, rural emergency hospital or skilled nursing facility. Medicare only covers ambulance transport to the nearest appropriate facility that can give you the care you need.

Original Medicare generally does not cover wheelchair van or stretcher van rides, or ordinary rides to the doctor. Medicare's official handbook explains that some plans "may also cover things like rides to doctor visits", which is an extra benefit offered by some Medicare Advantage plans, not part of Original Medicare. For a deeper look at the ambulance rules, see our guide to Medicare coverage for ambulance transport.

The Medicare Advantage Ride Benefit Is Shrinking

Medicare Advantage plans can offer supplemental benefits that Original Medicare does not, including transportation. KFF's analysis of CMS plan data shows fewer plans doing so:

These figures are shares of plans, not of enrollees. No national analysis of 2027 supplemental benefits had been published at the time of writing, but each plan's 2027 benefits, including transportation, are listed in Medicare Plan Finder and in the plan's Summary of Benefits. Expectations differ: CMS said in September 2026 that supplemental benefit offerings are expected to remain stable, while CNN reported that experts expect insurers to trim the generosity of supplemental benefits for 2027, possibly including medical transportation. Either way, do not assume your 2026 ride benefit carries over.

Is Your Plan Going Away in 2027?

Plan exits have become more common. Beyond the nearly 3.2 million enrollees whose plans are ending, according to the Medicare Market Insights analysis reported by CNN, KFF found that the average Medicare beneficiary will have 28 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage to choose from in 2027, down from 32 in 2026. In California, CMS's state fact sheet shows 394 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, compared with 402 in 2026. Los Angeles County remains among the counties with the most plan options, according to KFF.

If your plan's contract with Medicare is not renewed, you can switch to another plan between December 8 and the last day of February of the following year, and you will be enrolled in Original Medicare if you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before your current plan ends. KFF notes that some enrollees are moved automatically into another plan from the same insurer. Either way, a new plan may have a very different transportation benefit, or none at all.

Read the mail: Your plan's Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage spell out what changes in January. Medicare's handbook says that if you do not get these documents, you should contact your plan.

Questions to Ask About a Plan's Transportation Benefit

Plans that offer rides set their own rules. Before you enroll, look in the plan's Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage, or call the plan, and ask:

  1. Does the plan cover transportation to medical appointments at all?
  2. How many rides or one-way trips are covered each year, and is there a mileage limit?
  3. What kinds of vehicles are covered? A benefit built around rideshare or sedan service may not help someone who needs a wheelchair-accessible van or a stretcher.
  4. Where can rides go? Only to doctors, or also to the pharmacy, dialysis, physical therapy or other plan-approved locations?
  5. How far in advance must rides be booked, and who do you call to schedule them?
  6. What is the copay for ground ambulance, and does non-emergency ambulance transport need prior authorization from the plan?

If someone in your family rides to dialysis several times a week, or needs a stretcher rather than a wheelchair, the answers to questions 2 and 3 deserve special attention.

Free Help Comparing Plans

If You Have Both Medicare and Medi-Cal

People with both Medicare and Medi-Cal ("dual eligibles") have another source of ride coverage. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) says that if you have Medicare, your Medi-Cal health plan can help you access Medicare services such as transportation to medical appointments. Medi-Cal's Non-Emergency Medical Transportation covers ambulance, wheelchair van or litter van rides for people who cannot use a car, bus, taxi or other vehicle because of their health, and it requires a prescription from a licensed provider. Our guide to Medi-Cal transportation coverage explains how those rides work.

California also has Medi-Medi Plans, a type of Medicare Advantage plan offered by health plans that combines Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits and coordinates services including transportation. They are for people 21 or older who have Medicare Part A and Part B and Medi-Cal, and they are available in Los Angeles, Orange and Kern Counties, according to DHCS. To learn more, call Health Care Options at 1-800-430-4263.

One important exception: on January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members with Unsatisfactory Immigration Status move to Medi-Cal Fee-for-Service, and DHCS says those who are in a Medi-Medi Plan will leave it on that date. Our article on Medi-Cal's move to Fee-for-Service explains what that means for rides.

If Your Plan Does Not Cover the Ride You Need

West Coast Ambulance provides wheelchair and stretcher transportation across Los Angeles, Orange and Kern Counties, and BLS ambulance and critical care transport in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Medicare and Medi-Cal may cover BLS ambulance transport when it is medically necessary and authorized. Rides booked with us directly or online are private pay, and our pricing guide explains what affects the cost. Before a scheduled trip, our team can check your insurance benefits for free. Call dispatch at 800-880-0556, available 24/7/365, or request a ride online.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage?

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get another chance from January 1 to March 31, 2027 to switch Medicare Advantage plans or return to Original Medicare.

Does Medicare cover rides to doctor appointments?

Original Medicare does not cover routine rides to doctor visits. Part B covers ground ambulance transport when traveling in any other vehicle could endanger your health, and non-emergency ambulance transport in some cases with a written order from your doctor stating that it is medically necessary. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer rides to doctor visits as an extra benefit, but KFF found that only 24% of individual plans offered transportation for medical needs in 2026.

Does Medicare cover wheelchair van transportation?

Original Medicare generally does not cover wheelchair van or stretcher van rides; it covers ambulance transport when other transportation could endanger your health. Some Medicare Advantage plans include transportation benefits, and people who also have Medi-Cal may qualify for Medi-Cal Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, which includes wheelchair van rides when medically necessary.

What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending in 2027?

If your plan's contract with Medicare is not renewed, you can switch to another plan between December 8 and the last day of February of the following year. If you do not join another Medicare Advantage plan before your current plan ends, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare. Check the transportation benefit of any new plan before you enroll.

Where can I get free help choosing a Medicare plan in California?

California's Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) offers free, confidential one-on-one Medicare counseling; call 1-800-434-0222. You can also compare plans at Medicare.gov/plan-compare or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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