Attention: Winter weather hazards may disrupt your transportation service. Trips may be limited to emergencies and life-sustaining care only.
What to know
Winter weather can cause problems for transportation. Bad weather may make it hard or unsafe to travel. During this time, only life-sustaining and critical care trips may be available. That includes things like dialysis treatment, chemotherapy or a hospital discharge.
During this time:
- Routine (non-urgent) trips may need to be canceled.
You may also be able to get a trip to warming centers and other places to stay.
If your scheduled trip changes, we will let you know when possible.
Ride to Care is working hard to keep everyone safe.
What you can do
Dress warm: Wear warm clothes and dress in layers
Call Ride to Care with changes
- Sometimes your provider may cancel your appointment or close their office
- Call Ride to Care at 503-416-3955 or toll-free at 855-321-4899 (TTY 711) if you need to cancel or change your trip
Stay informed
- Check the Ride to Care website for service alerts
- Watch or listen to local weather reports
Avoid frostbite and hypothermia: Go indoors or to a warm place. Call 211 to find winter weather help and shelters
Get alerts: Sign up for power company updates, and get local emergency alerts through Oregon Alert
Contact your power company: If you use medical equipment that needs electricity, let your power company know
Access benefits: You may be able to get items such as heaters or portable power supplies, if eligible. Call Customer Service at 503-416-4100 or 800-224-4840 to learn more.
We’ll get you there with Ride to Care
If you have no way to get to a covered health appointment, a free program called Ride to Care can get you there. Contact Ride to Care to talk about free transportation options, including TriMet passes in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties.
Most times, you should call at least 48 hours ahead. You may call on the day of the visit if it is medically necessary and urgent.
Some appointments may require you to call or get approval from CareOregon before help can be provided.
Contact Ride to Care
Portland metro: 503-416-3955
Toll-free: 855-321-4899
TTY: 711
Understanding transportation services
To make transportation services simple, we created a video and a helpful one-page overview of transportation services and benefits. You can watch the video or click on a language below to download the PDF:
- English
- Spanish
- Arabic
- Burmese
- Traditional Chinese
- Simplified Chinese
- Farsi
- French
- Haitian Creole
- Hmong
- Khmer
- Korean
- Nepali
- Romanian
- Russian
- Somali
- Swahili
- Ukrainian
- Vietnamese
2023 NEMT recap
- Total NEMT users
- 30,718
- Total trips
- 1,196,567
- Total distance traveled
- 4,011,670 miles
Ride to Care offers three services:
 | Reimbursement: Ride to Care pays a per-mile rate for mileage to and from health care visits. You can drive yourself, or someone else can drive you. In some cases, Ride to Care pays stipends for meals and lodging when your health care needs take you outside Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington counties. |
 | Public transportation: Ride to Care provides daily or monthly TriMet Hop Fastpasses to take TriMet buses, MAX, the Portland Streetcar and C-Tran. They can also offer fare for other local transit agencies within the Health Share service area. |
 | Vehicle-provided rides: Ride to Care can schedule private and shared rides, in the type of vehicle that’s appropriate to your needs. |
For complete details on these services, visit Ride to Care’s website.
How do I get started with Ride to Care?
Contact Ride to Care to talk about your free transportation options or schedule a ride. They are there to serve you and make access to your physical, dental and mental health appointments simple.
Local: 503-416-3955
Toll-free: 855-321-4899
TTY: 711
Online: ridetocare.com
Ride to Care Rider's Guide
Check out our Rider's Guide for details about the transportation program.
If you want a printed copy of the Rider's Guide, please contact CareOregon Customer Service at 800-224-4840 or TTY 711. We will send you the printed Rider's Guide within five business days.
Ride to Care Reimbursement Guide
Provides a more detailed overview of how the Ride to Care reimbursement process works, including more information about mileage, meal and lodging reimbursements members may be eligible for.
- English: Regular print | Large print
- Spanish: Regular print | Large print
- Arabic: Regular print | Large print
- Simplified Chinese: Regular print | Large print
- Korean: Regular print | Large print
- Russian: Regular print | Large print
- Somali: Regular print | Large print
- Ukranian: Regular print | Large print
Appointment of Representative Form
This form used to designate an authorized representative to navigate any part of the NEMT process on behalf of a member.
Secure Transport Consent Form
This form is used to provide written consent for secure transport, when required.