Medicaid members
Medicaid gas cards and mileage reimbursement
The most reliable repeat fuel benefit in the country — and most members do not know they have it.
A “Medicaid gas card” can mean three different real things: (1) non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) paying you mileage or issuing gas vouchers when you have a car but cannot fuel it; (2) your health plan’s healthy-behaviour rewards card, which in several states can be spent on fuel; and (3) a dedicated plan transportation benefit, such as Anthem’s Kentucky offer of up to $100 in gas cards, Uber and bus passes.
The one question to ask: “Does my plan have a transportation benefit or a rewards card I can use for gas, and do I need to call before my appointment?” Prior authorisation before the trip is required in several states.
1. NEMT — mileage or gas vouchers
Non-emergency medical transportation is a mandatory Medicaid benefit. States must ensure enrollees can reach covered medical appointments. Where you have a working vehicle but cannot afford fuel, the benefit can take the form of mileage reimbursement or gas vouchers rather than sending a ride.
North Carolina’s managed care policy is the clearest statement of this anywhere: plans must help members who “have a suitable vehicle but lack the means to use it, through gas vouchers, mileage reimbursement, etc.”
The rules that get claims denied
- Prior authorisation before the trip is common and strictly enforced. Colorado requires that all mileage reimbursement requests be approved before the trip takes place. Wisconsin, through MTM, requires transport to be scheduled by 11:59pm the day before.
- A friend or relative can be paid to drive you. Virginia states that family, friends, caregivers and members may receive mileage reimbursement; the driver needs a valid licence and a safe, available vehicle. Tennessee allows a neighbour, friend or family member as driver, booked through the NEMT call centre.
- Mileage is per vehicle, not per person. Colorado reimburses per vehicle regardless of how many members or escorts travel, on the most direct route only.
- The clinic signs the form. Virginia requires a mileage form signed by the treating facility.
- Some states cover more than mileage. South Dakota may reimburse mileage, lodging and meals.
- California cannot cap your mileage. Managed care plans there may not impose mileage restrictions for medically necessary services, though they may require prior authorisation.
This pays afterwards
Mileage reimbursement arrives weeks after the trip. If your tank is empty today, ask the plan to send a ride instead — that costs you nothing up front — and claim the mileage for trips you can manage yourself.
How to use it
Call the transportation number on the back of your card
Not the general member services line if a separate transport number is printed. Many states contract a broker — the largest are Modivcare, MTM, Veyo, Verida (formerly Southeastrans) and Access2Care.
Call before the appointment, not after
In several states a trip without prior approval cannot be reimbursed at all.
Ask explicitly about mileage and gas vouchers
If you intend to drive yourself or have someone drive you, say so. The default assumption is that you want a ride booked.
Get the mileage form and have the clinic sign it
Ask the clinic reception to sign it before you leave the appointment, not afterwards.
2. Healthy-behaviour rewards you can spend on fuel
This is what many people mean by a Medicaid gas card, and it is real:
| Plan | What it gives |
|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare | Healthy Rewards — fixed dollar amounts for completing healthy behaviours, loaded onto a reloadable card that can be spent on groceries, over-the-counter health items and gas, which “must be pumped at the pump”. Iowa examples: $25 for a yearly well-child visit (ages 3–21), $10 per infant or toddler visit up to eight visits |
| Anthem | Kentucky Medicaid Healthy Rewards — optional, requires completing wellness activities or screenings, with a choice of Mastercard or retailer gift cards. You must enrol before or within 30 days of completing the activity and see an in-network provider |
Amounts and availability vary by state and change annually. Check your plan’s current value-added benefits booklet, not a third-party summary.
3. A dedicated transportation benefit
Separate again from both of the above. Anthem’s Kentucky Medicaid Transportation Essentials benefit offers up to $100 in gas cards, Uber and bus passes. Many Medicare Advantage plans also include a transportation benefit — typically a set number of one-way trips per year — and some include flexible or over-the-counter spending cards. These vary by plan and county, so check your Evidence of Coverage.
What to say when you call
“I have a medical appointment on [date] and I’ll be driving myself. Does my plan cover mileage reimbursement or a gas card for the trip, and do I need to call before the appointment to get it approved?”
Then ask the second question, which is the one almost nobody asks:
“Does my plan also have a rewards card or a transportation benefit I can use for fuel?”
A note on the source material
Several of the state NEMT documents behind this page are between two and four years old, because that is the most recent published version. State policy does change. Always confirm the current rule with your state Medicaid agency or your plan rather than relying on any third-party summary, including this one.
Sources
- NC Medicaid Managed Care non-emergency medical transportation policy.
- Colorado HCPF NEMT billing manual.
- Virginia DMAS fee-for-service NEMT member handbook.
- TennCare NEMT provider FAQs, revised November 2025.
- Wisconsin DHS and MTM member transportation pages.
- South Dakota DSS Title 19 transportation page.
- California DHCS APL 22-008 NEMT/NMT FAQ.
- Molina Healthcare Iowa value-added benefits booklets; Iowa HHS.
- Kentucky CHFS Anthem extra benefits booklet and value-added benefit comparison.
Every figure on this page is taken from the programme's own published material or a government document. Where sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, we say so in the text rather than guessing. See how we verify.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Does Medicaid give you a gas card?
In effect yes, in several forms. Non-emergency medical transportation is a mandatory Medicaid benefit, and where you have a working vehicle but cannot afford fuel it can pay mileage or issue gas vouchers — North Carolina's managed care policy requires plans to do exactly that. Separately, plans such as Molina and Anthem offer rewards cards that can be spent on fuel, and Anthem's Kentucky plan includes up to $100 in gas cards.
How do I get Medicaid mileage reimbursement?
Call the transportation number on the back of your Medicaid or health plan card before the appointment. Several states require prior authorisation and will not pay for a trip taken without it — Colorado requires approval before travel, and Wisconsin requires booking by 11:59pm the day before. You will usually be given a mileage form that the treating clinic has to sign.
Can my friend or family member be paid to drive me?
Yes, in many states. Virginia explicitly allows family, friends, caregivers and members to receive mileage reimbursement, provided the driver has a valid licence and the vehicle is safe and available. Tennessee allows a neighbour, friend or family member as driver, booked through the NEMT call centre. Ask your plan whether your state has a volunteer or family driver programme.
What is the difference between NEMT and my plan's rewards card?
NEMT is a transport benefit tied to specific medical appointments, paid as a booked ride, mileage or vouchers, and usually needing approval beforehand. A rewards card is earned by completing healthy behaviours such as a well-child visit or a screening, and the balance is yours to spend — on fuel, groceries or health items depending on the plan. They are separate benefits and you may be entitled to both.
Does Medicare cover gas or mileage to appointments?
Original Medicare does not reimburse mileage for routine appointments. Many Medicare Advantage plans, however, include a transportation benefit covering a set number of one-way trips per year, and some include flexible spending or over-the-counter cards. Benefits vary by plan and county, so check your plan's Evidence of Coverage or call member services and ask specifically about transportation.