How Much Does NEMT Cost in Chicago?

Most NEMT providers make you call and wait for a callback to find out what a ride costs. That is backwards for something you are trying to budget for, especially if it is a recurring trip three times a week. Here is the actual math.

The two numbers that make up every fare

Every trip has a base rate for the service level, plus a per-mile charge for the distance. There is no separate fuel surcharge, no evening or weekend markup, and no fee for wait time under 20 minutes.

• Wheelchair transport: $68 base + $3.85/mile
• Ambulatory transport: $42 base + $2.75/mile
• Stretcher transport: $325 base + $6.50/mile
• Bariatric transport: $175 base + $6.00/mile

A wheelchair trip from Oak Park to a dialysis center four miles away runs about $83. The same service level across town, twelve miles, runs closer to $114. Distance is the variable; the base rate for a given service level does not change by neighborhood or time of day.

Why stretcher costs so much more than wheelchair

Stretcher transport requires two attendants on every trip, not one driver, plus a full-recline cot with rail restraints and, often, a stair carry. That is a different labor cost structure than a single driver with a lift, and the base rate reflects it. If a rider can sit upright and transfer into a wheelchair van instead, that is the cheaper and usually more comfortable option; a good dispatcher will tell you if stretcher is not actually necessary rather than defaulting to it.

What actually changes the price

• Distance. The only variable in the formula above. Longer trips outside the core service area are quoted individually rather than by the standard per-mile rate.
• Wait time over 20 minutes. Billed at $18/hour in 15-minute increments, most relevant for a "wait and return" appointment like a short imaging visit.
• Round trip vs. one way. A round trip is simply two one-way fares. There is no discount for booking both legs together, but there is also no penalty; the return leg is open-ended and dispatched when the rider is actually ready.

What does not change the price: time of day, day of week, or how far in advance you book.

If you are covered by Medicaid or a broker

Most riders on this kind of trip are not paying these rates out of pocket. If a Medicaid managed care plan or an NEMT broker covers the ride, MedCompass bills them directly and verifies eligibility before the trip, not after it. Bring your member ID when you book. If your plan is not directly billable, we can usually tell you that on the same call rather than after the ride happens.

Getting an exact number

The formula above is exact, not a ballpark, for any address inside the core service area. Use the cost calculator to plug in a real pickup and destination, or start a booking to see the same number with your actual trip details and any add-ons.