What Uber Health is and who can use it
Uber Health is a ride service designed for non-emergency medical trips — appointments, dialysis, physical therapy, lab work, discharge from hospitals. It is not an ambulance service and does not handle emergencies. A healthcare provider, hospital discharge planner, social worker, or care coordinator orders the ride on your behalf through Uber Health's system, not through the regular Uber app.
You do not order the ride yourself. Instead, a staff member at your healthcare facility or care program creates the request in Uber Health's platform, which then sends a driver to pick you up at a scheduled time. The ride goes to the medical appointment or location the provider specifies. You pay nothing out of pocket — the healthcare organization or program pays Uber Health directly.
Uber Health operates in select cities across the United States. Coverage varies by region, so your provider will know whether the service is available where you live. If it is available, your healthcare team can tell you whether they use it for your type of appointment or condition.
Key Takeaways
- A healthcare provider, hospital, or care coordinator orders your Uber Health ride — you do not use the regular Uber app or order it yourself.
- The service covers non-emergency medical trips only: appointments, dialysis, therapy, lab work, and hospital discharge, not urgent or emergency situations.
- You pay nothing; the healthcare organization or insurance program that ordered the ride pays Uber Health directly.
- Uber Health is available only in certain cities, and your provider will tell you whether it is an option for your care.
- The ride is scheduled in advance by your healthcare team, not booked on demand like a regular Uber.
How the booking and payment process works
Your healthcare provider — a doctor's office, hospital, dialysis center, rehabilitation facility, or social worker — initiates the Uber Health request through their account on Uber Health's platform. They enter your pickup location, destination, appointment time, and any special needs (wheelchair accessibility, for example). The system then dispatches a driver and sends you pickup details, usually by text or phone call.
Payment happens between Uber Health and the healthcare organization or program that ordered the ride. This may be your insurance plan, a Medicaid managed care plan, a hospital system, a home health agency, or a community health program. You do not receive a bill and do not pay a copay. The ride is covered as part of your care or program benefits.
Some healthcare organizations use Uber Health for all their patients; others use it only for specific programs or conditions. Ask your provider whether Uber Health is available for your appointment before your visit date. If it is, they will handle the booking. If it is not, they can tell you what transportation options they do offer.
What to expect on the day of your ride
You will receive a notification — usually a text message or phone call — with the driver's name, vehicle details, and estimated pickup time. The driver will arrive at your scheduled pickup location. You can track the driver's location in real time through the information sent to you, similar to tracking a regular Uber ride.
Let the driver know if you need extra time to get to the car, have mobility equipment, or require a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Drivers are trained to assist passengers and can help with walkers, canes, or other mobility aids. If you have a service animal, the driver will accommodate it.
The driver takes you directly to the medical facility or location your provider specified. You do not need to tell the driver where to go — the destination is already programmed into the system. After your appointment, if you need a return ride, your provider must order that separately through Uber Health; it is not automatic.
Accessibility and special needs accommodations
When your healthcare provider books the ride, they can request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle if you need one. Specify this when your provider places the order. Drivers are trained to assist passengers with mobility challenges and can help you in and out of the vehicle.
If you use a service animal, the driver will allow it in the vehicle. If you need to bring a caregiver or companion with you, mention this when the ride is booked so the system can assign a vehicle with enough space. Some Uber Health vehicles can accommodate a passenger plus one or two companions.
If you have other medical or accessibility needs — oxygen equipment, a dialysis bag, a walker — tell your provider when they book the ride. Drivers are instructed to handle medical equipment carefully and to allow extra time for boarding and exiting if needed.
When Uber Health is not available or not the right option
Uber Health does not operate in all cities. If you live in an area without coverage, your healthcare provider will tell you and can suggest other transportation options, such as medical transportation services, paratransit, or volunteer driver programs.
Uber Health is not for emergencies. If you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, or any life-threatening symptom, call 911 for an ambulance. Uber Health is for scheduled, non-urgent medical trips only.
Some healthcare organizations do not use Uber Health even if it is available in their area. They may use a different transportation vendor, offer their own shuttle service, or refer you to local paratransit or medical transportation programs. Ask your provider what transportation they offer for your appointment.
How Uber Health differs from regular Uber and other ride services
Regular Uber is a consumer app where you book and pay for rides yourself. Uber Health is a separate system used only by healthcare organizations to book rides for their patients. You cannot order an Uber Health ride through the regular Uber app, and you cannot use Uber Health to book a personal trip to a restaurant or friend's house.
Uber Health is also different from medical transportation services or paratransit programs run by your city or county. Those programs often require advance booking, serve people with disabilities or low income, and are subsidized by government funding. Uber Health is a private service that healthcare organizations contract with to move patients to and from appointments.
Some insurance plans and Medicaid programs now cover Uber Health rides as a benefit, similar to how they cover other medical services. This is different from using your own Uber account and hoping insurance will reimburse you — with Uber Health, the healthcare provider and payer handle everything, and you pay nothing.
What to do if your ride does not arrive or there is a problem
If your driver is running late, you will see the updated arrival time in the notification you received. If the driver does not arrive within a reasonable time, contact your healthcare provider's office immediately. They have a direct line to Uber Health support and can investigate or rebook your ride.
If you are uncomfortable with the driver, vehicle condition, or any aspect of the ride, tell your provider right away. Do not get in the vehicle if you feel unsafe. Your provider can cancel the ride and request a new one or arrange alternative transportation.
After your ride, if you had a problem — the driver was rude, the vehicle was dirty, you were dropped off at the wrong location — report it to your healthcare provider. They can file a complaint with Uber Health and request a credit or replacement ride. Keep notes of the date, time, and what happened so you can describe it clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Uber Health for any medical appointment?
Uber Health covers non-emergency medical trips: appointments, dialysis, therapy, lab work, and hospital discharge. Your healthcare provider decides whether to use Uber Health for your specific appointment. Some providers use it for all patients; others use it only for certain programs or conditions. Ask your provider whether it is an option for your visit.
What if I need a ride back from my appointment?
Your provider must order a return ride separately through Uber Health. The outbound ride does not automatically include a return trip. Ask your provider to book both the pickup and return when they schedule your appointment, or let them know you will need a return ride so they can arrange it.
Do I need to have a smartphone or app to use Uber Health?
No. Your healthcare provider orders the ride through their system, not yours. You will receive pickup details by text or phone call. You do not need to download an app or have a smartphone, though tracking the driver's location is easier if you have a phone to receive the notification.
What happens if I miss my scheduled pickup?
Contact your healthcare provider's office right away. They can reach out to Uber Health to cancel the ride or reschedule it. Depending on how late you are, the driver may wait a few minutes, but do not assume they will. Call your provider as soon as you know you will be late.
Is Uber Health covered by insurance or Medicaid?
Some insurance plans and Medicaid programs now cover Uber Health rides as a medical transportation benefit. Your provider will know whether your plan covers it. You will not see a bill or copay — the coverage is handled between your healthcare organization and your insurance plan.