If you own a vehicle and still drive regularly, you might drive yourself to your medical appointments. This gives you complete control over the trip. Because you don't have to rely on anyone else, you don't have to worry about running late or being forgotten.
Driving yourself might not always be an option, however. If you're sick or have an urgent medical situation, driving yourself could be dangerous. You might not be focused on the road, and your reaction time could be delayed. It can be very risky to drive a vehicle when you're experiencing a medical situation. Driving yourself is ideal for routine checkups or specialist visits if they're simply monitoring your condition. Never drive yourself if the reason for the medical visit would impair your driving in any way.
Another option for getting to appointments is asking a friend or family member to take you. This option is flexible because you don't have to worry about making an appointment or dealing with limited schedules like you might face with public transportation options. It also gives you a chance to spend time together.
This option might not work well in all situations. If you use a mobility device, such as an electric wheelchair, regular vehicles often don't accommodate it. Also, if you have an urgent medical situation, your friend might not feel comfortable transporting you.
The logistics can also make this transportation option difficult. If your family member or friend doesn't live nearby, it can be a hassle for them to get to you. The appointment also has to work with their schedule. If you have a lot of medical appointments, it could become a challenge for your friend or family member to take you to every appointment. Plus, if the person taking you forgets about the appointment, you could end up being late or missing the appointment completely.
If you live in a larger area with public transportation, you can take those services to get to your appointments. You can often buy a monthly pass to keep the costs low if you need transportation services frequently.
There are some limitations to using public transportation. Stops are limited, which means there might not be one near your home or the medical offices you visit. Sometimes, you need to transfer to different lines to get to different parts of the city. Plus, it's not always easy to use public transportation if you have a walker or wheelchair. You're also limited to the schedule of the public transportation system, which means you might have to leave extra early to get to your appointment on time.
If you want on-demand transportation, ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft are an option. You can schedule the ride when you need it and get dropped off right at the medical office. However, ride-share drivers use their personal vehicles, which means they often can't accommodate mobility devices. This option can also be a lot more expensive than other options, so it might not be financially feasible if you have lots of appointments. However, it could be a good last-minute option if the ride you had lined up doesn't work out.
Many communities have senior transportation programs that are free or low-cost. For example, Arlington offers the Handitran program for elderly and disabled passengers. The fare is $2 for a one-way trip, or you can get a monthly pass for $55 with unlimited rides. Some churches and nonprofit organizations also offer transportation to things like medical appointments, with volunteers driving you.
Paid medical transport services can work well if you have mobility issues. These services are for nonemergency transport and often use accessible vans or small buses to transport people. The drivers typically help with things like getting in and out of the vehicle and getting into the medical office. This option is often more convenient than public transportation because you have a trained person with you, and you can schedule the service so you don't have to go early.
Medical transportation usually isn't covered by Medicare or other health insurance unless you're transported by an ambulance for a medical emergency. Medicare Part B may cover some nonemergency ambulance transportation if it's deemed medically necessary and there's not another safe way to transport you there. Some optional Medicare Advantage programs offer coverage for nonemergency medical transport. Review your coverage to determine if medical transportation is covered for you.
One of the advantages of living in an assisted living community like Bethesda Gardens is the access to transportation. Many communities offer scheduled transportation as part of their community amenities. Residents of Bethesda Gardens can use the scheduled transportation service for things like appointments, shopping and events. This amenity makes it easy to get where you need to go, whether you have a vehicle or not.
