Cancer Patient Resources - Transportation

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Transportation Services

At Cowell Family Cancer Center, we recognize the importance of safe, reliable, and affordable transportation to and from your medical appointments. Please refer to the following sections that outline what resources that are available to you based on your insurance, age, and veteran status. If you are experiencing transportation barriers, please call 231-392-8400 to reach our Financial Navigation team.

For Radiation Transportation Services, please call Radiation Scheduling at 231-935-7100.

We will work with you to better understand your challenges and connect you with transportation resources, including:

  • Transportation benefits included in your medical insurance
  • Talking to family and friends about transportation needs
  • County Commission on Aging (typically ages 60 years and above)
  • Scheduled bus route
  • BATA bus or other inter-county bussing

Medicaid

If you have primary or secondary Medicaid coverage, you will need to access the transportation benefits provided through their plan. Medicaid offers rides to and from your medical appointment and mileage reimbursement if you drive yourself.

To access the benefits below, please call the number listed on your insurance card:

  • Mileage reimbursement: Typically, you will need to pre-register your visits with Medicaid and obtain a blank log sheet to keep track of visits, mileage, and obtain signatures from care providers showing you arrived at your appointment. Submit the completed log for reimbursement.
  • Rides: Advance notice of upcoming appointments is usually required. Please check with your Medicaid provider for preferred process. You can schedule multiple rides at one time.

Medicaid and Medicare

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid you are referred to as dual-eligible. Some dual-eligible patients choose to have a Medicare Advantage Plan also manage their Medicaid. These Medicare plans are called Dual Special Needs Plans (DSNP). If you are enrolled in a DSNP, you will receive additional benefits. This includes transportation provided through the plan. Typically, the plan has a contracted transportation provider.

To access your transportation benefits, call the customer service number on the back of your Medicare DSNP card. Let them know you need to access transportation benefits and they will direct you as needed.

DSNPs cannot remove benefits from Medicaid patients, they can only add to them. If you exhaust the benefits provided by the plan, you will then be able to obtain further benefits from Medicaid only. If you are not enrolled in a DSNP plan, but are interested in learning more, please contact Financial Navigation at Cowell Family Cancer Center, and we can review your benefits and options with you.

Medicaid Transportation Contacts

Dual Special Needs Plan: Please call your Medicare plan provider (i.e. Priority, Humana, United etc.) and request transportation benefits. They will connect you with their transportation provider to schedule rides.

Commission on Aging (COA)

If you are eligible for services from the local Council or Commission on Aging (COA), you should seek transportation assistance there first. Transportation assistance may be provided for free or at a discounted rate.

County Commission on Aging Transportation Contacts

If your county COA is not listed and you need help locating a contact number to inquire on transportation assistance, please call Financial Navigation at Cowell Family Cancer Center.

Veterans Affairs

If the VA is paying for your treatment, please contact 231-510-9209 to set up your transportation.

Commercial, Private, or Other

Funding for assistance is not guaranteed. Your eligibility may be based on factors such as specific diagnosis, stage of treatment, and income. Please call 231-392-8400 to reach our Financial Navigation team for more information.