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Request Assistance for Free Medical Transportation | Mercy Medical Angels

Request Assistance for Free Medical Transportation | Mercy Medical Angels

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Health
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Eligibility
Patients needing transportation to healthcare who meet financial eligibility requirements
Auto Summary
Mercy Medical Angels is a national 501(c)(3) that arranges FREE non-emergency medical travel for patients who can't afford it — gas cards for driving yourself, bus and Amtrak tickets, coach commercial airline tickets (plus one escort when medically necessary), and volunteer-pilot flights. To qualify you generally need household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, a medically necessary U.S. trip (ground 50+ miles one-way or 100+/month; air 200+ miles), and the ability to travel without medical supervision. Apply at least 7 days but no more than 45 days before your appointment; 3–4 weeks ahead is ideal. Commercial flights carry a small income-based processing fee. Call 800-296-3797. California Medi-Cal members: ask your plan about free NEMT/NMT first for in-state trips. Verified 2026-05-30.
Value
Free medical transportation via airline tickets, gas cards, bus and train tickets for patients in need
Espanol
Solicitar Asistencia para Transporte Médico Gratuito | Mercy Medical Angels — Organización sin fines de lucro que ofrece transporte médico gratuito a pacientes que califican financieramente. Proporciona boletos de avión comercial, vuelos con pilotos voluntarios, tarjetas de gasolina y boletos de autobús o tren para llegar a citas médicas.
URL
https://www.mercymedical.org/request-assistance
Last verified 2026-05-17. Mercy Medical Angels is active and accepting applications nationwide.

What you get

Mercy Medical Angels is a national 501(c)(3) that arranges free non-emergency medical travel for patients who can't afford it. There is no charge to patients for the transportation itself. Options include:
  • Gas cards for driving yourself to appointments.
  • Bus and Amtrak tickets for ground travel.
  • Commercial airline tickets (coach) for the patient plus, when medically necessary, one escort.
  • Volunteer pilot flights on private planes donated by volunteer pilots.
The coordinator matches the option to your distance, medical needs, and how far in advance you ask. [Source: mercymedical.org/patients/how-it-works (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Who qualifies

You generally must meet all of the following:
  • Income: Household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for your household size.
  • Medical need: Travel is for medically necessary care or a clinical trial — for example cancer treatment, dialysis, cardiac procedures, organ transplant evaluations, surgery, mental health treatment, or diagnostic testing.
  • Distance:
    • Ground: 50+ miles one way, or 100+ miles total per month for repeated local trips.
    • Air: 200+ miles.
  • Able to travel without medical supervision — you can sit upright with a seatbelt and walk with minimal help.
  • Advance notice: Apply at least 7 days before your appointment, and no more than 45 days before.
  • U.S. travel only — no international trips.
[Source: mercymedical.org/patients/eligibility (accessed 2026-05-17)]

How to apply

  1. Start the request online at travel.mercymedical.org/request — pick your transportation type and fill in the appointment details.
  1. Send in your documents. You'll need:
      • One income proof: most recent full tax return; or Social Security / Disability benefit statement plus the last 3 months of bank statements; or the benefit statement plus an IRS Non-Filing Letter. Pay stubs and W-2s alone are not enough.
      • Appointment proof: a letter from your doctor, a patient-portal screenshot, or an appointment reminder.
      • For commercial flights, your doctor also fills out a medical clearance form that Mercy Medical Angels faxes to them.
  1. Wait for the match. A coordinator reviews your file and picks the best option (gas card, bus, plane, etc.).
  1. Confirm and travel. They send you the tickets, card, or pilot details.
Plan for 3–4 weeks if you can — that's the sweet spot. If your appointment is sooner than 7–10 days out, call rather than apply online.
[Source: mercymedical.org/patients/how-it-works (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Fees and out-of-pocket costs

The travel itself is free. For commercial airline tickets, there is a small income-based, nonrefundable processing fee determined after your income paperwork is reviewed. If you need in-flight oxygen, the airline may require a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) and you pay any oxygen-related travel fees yourself. [Source: mercymedical.org/request-assistance (accessed 2026-05-17)]

Common pitfalls

  • Applying too late. Inside 7 days, the online forms won't help — call the phone line instead.
  • Applying too early. Requests more than 45 days out are not processed; set a reminder.
  • Sending only pay stubs. They don't count as income proof on their own — use a tax return or benefit statement plus bank statements.
  • Local-only trips under 50 miles generally don't qualify unless they add up to 100+ miles in a month.
  • Patients who need hands-on medical care in transit are not eligible — this program is for ambulatory patients.

How to get help

  • Phone: 800-296-3797 during business hours (use this for urgent or short-notice trips).

If you're a California Medi-Cal member

If you're enrolled in Medi-Cal, your managed-care plan must also cover Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) and Non-Medical Transportation (NMT) to covered services — often at no cost. Ask your plan first; that may be faster than a national charity for routine in-state trips. Save Mercy Medical Angels for long-distance and out-of-state care.

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