UCare Health Ride
UCare Health Ride provides no-cost transportation to and from your covered medical, dental and pharmacy visits.
Transportation options
Public bus and light rail
For members who live on a participating bus line or light rail line. Call to request passes 14 business days in advance. Monthly passes for qualifying members.
Taxi or volunteer driver
For members who do not live on a bus line. Call Health Ride at least 2 days before your appointment to schedule.
Special transportation services
For members who cannot safely use a bus, cab or volunteer driver due to a mental health condition or physical impairment. Call Health Ride at least 2 days before your appointment to schedule.
Using taxi, volunteer rider and special transportation:
Pick-ups:
- Pick-up locations can be at your home, school, work or shelter
- Pick-up time is up to 60 minutes before your appointment
- The driver will wait 5 minutes at your pick-up location
- The driver will give you a return slip with the phone number to call for your return ride
Return rides:
- Call the number on your return slip to activate your return ride
- Identify yourself as a UCare member
- The driver will wait 5 minutes at your pick-up location
- Return rides may take longer to arrive, depending on traffic and weather
Where can I go?
You can go to these types of visits:
- Medical
- Dental
- Mental health
- Substance use disorder
- Pharmacy
- Durable medical equipment
In case of emergency that needs immediate attention, call 911.
Am I eligible?
The following UCare plan members are eligible for Health Ride. To find the name of your UCare plan, check the front of your insurance ID card and look for “Care Type.”
- Prepaid Medical Assistance Program (PMAP)
- Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+)
- UCare Connect (SNBC)
- UCare Connect + Medicare (HMO D-SNP)
- UCare’s Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) (HMO D-SNP)
- Children on MinnesotaCare
- Adults on MinnesotaCare (limited to colonoscopy and mammogram services)
Reasons a ride may be denied
- Requested ride location is for a non‑covered service
- Your appointment could not be verified
- Personal information could not be verified
- No active medical coverage
- You have access to a working vehicle
Health Ride does limit distance
- Your primary care appointment can be a maximum of 30 miles from your home
- Your specialty care appointment can be a maximum of 60 miles from your home.
If you live in a rural area without a primary care clinic within 30 miles or a specialty care clinic within 60 miles, call Health Ride to discuss.