Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Market is expected to reach US$ 31,872.49 Million by 2031

Private Pay Patient Transportation Segment to Lead Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Market Based on Service Type During 2025–2031

According to our new research study on “Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Market Forecast to 2031 – Global Analysis – by Service Type, Facility, Application, And End User,” the market was valued at US$ 16,714.80 million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$ 31,872.49 million by 2031; it is expected to register a CAGR of 9.7% from 2025 to 2031. Major factors driving the market growth include the increasing need for non-emergency medical transportation and surging incidence of chronic conditions among aging populations. 

Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) refers to transportation services provided to individuals who need assistance traveling to and from medical appointments or healthcare facilities but do not require emergency medical care during transit. This service is typically used by patients who are unable to drive themselves due to illness, disability, or other factors but do not have urgent medical needs that would require an ambulance. NEMT can be provided by a variety of vehicles, including specialized vans, wheelchair-accessible vehicles, or other transport options, and it ensures that patients can access necessary medical services safely and on time. It is often covered by Medicaid and some private insurance plans for eligible individuals.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Market, by Region, 2024(%)

Source: The Insight Partners Analysis

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Market Analysis Based on Segmental Evaluation:

Based on service type, the non-emergency medical transportation market is categorized into private pay patient transportation, insurance backed patient transportation, courier services, and others. In 2024, the private pay patient transportation segment held a significant non-emergency medical transportation market share. Private pay patient transportation offers transportation services for individuals traveling to and from doctor's appointments, hospital visits, pharmacy pick-ups, and other healthcare-related trips. Patients who are not enrolled in Medicaid and do not have their transportation costs covered by insurance or other government programs can avail of these services. Private insurance does not cover transportation fees, requiring patients to pay for non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) out of pocket.

Benefits associated with private pay patient transportation for NEMT companies include custom NEMT rates of reimbursement with higher profit margins for providers compared to Medicaid-covered transportation, the tendency to travel during off-peak hours in addition to regular business hours, and more flexibility in the billing process compared to Medicaid-based services. Currently, private pay transportation is an important aspect for shifting the insurance scenario in the NEMT businesses, especially for non-Medicaid members, as well as the growing penetration of NEMT services into rural and suburban areas, where insurance and Medicaid coverage may be limited.

The scope of the non-emergency medical transportation market report includes an assessment of the market performance in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South & Central America, and the Middle East & Africa. In terms of revenue, North America dominated the non-emergency medical transportation market share in 2023. The growth of the market is driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic illnesses, disabilities, injuries, and obesity.  

The growth of the non-emergency medical transportation market is attributed to increasing prevalence of various diseases, expanding insurance coverage for NEMT, and a high state-wise rate of reimbursement for these services as administrative or medical expenses. In addition, a shift toward patient-centered care, heightened awareness of NEMT, and technological advancements are among the other factors supporting the growth of the market. Chronic illnesses, old age, disabilities, injuries and obesity are just a few of the many reasons owing to which Americans rely on non-emergency medical transportation services. The pandemic generated an enormous need for reliable car transportation to get to appointments, essential doctor visits, and daily treatments. In addition, the increase in the number of senior citizens is contributing to the growth of the non-emergency medical transportation market in the country. Additionally, companies operating in the market are adopting organic and inorganic development strategies for market expansion. Below are a few instances of the same:

• Coastal Medical Transportation Systems (CMTS), a privately owned medical transportation company based in Massachusetts, acquired Transformative Healthcare's medical transportation division in September 2022. This division included LifeLine Ambulance Service and Fallon Ambulance Service. As a result of this acquisition, CMTS became one of the largest ambulance networks in the state, both in terms of the number of patients served and the geographic area covered.
• In September 2022, Baystate Wing Hospital partnered with Quaboag Connector to provide transportation services for healthcare in Massachusetts. This curb-to-curb service offers NEMT, allowing patients to request rides to and from medical appointments at Baystate Wing Hospital facilities.

Canada has a significant high percentage of elderly people and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. According to the Institute of Aging (CHIR) 2023 report, ~73% of the Canadian population was aged 65 years or above, and 1 out of 10 had at least one common chronic disease. Top 10 chronic conditions are hypertension (67.5%), periodontal disease (52.5%), osteoarthritis (38%), ischemic heart disease (27%), diabetes (26.8%), osteoporosis (25.1%), cancer (21.5%), COPD (20.2%), asthma (10.7%), and mood and anxiety disorders (10.5%). Despite increasing concern about health, the prevalence of dementia remains relatively low. Chronic diseases and their management present significant challenges in Canada’s social evolution, particularly as the population continues to age. One critical issue is the inaccessibility of healthcare services due to a lack of transportation options. This problem disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society, including low-income residents in inner cities, many of whom belong to racial or ethnic minority communities.

In Canada, governments and non-governmental organizations are improving policies and programs to support active transportation and build healthy environments in the country. The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) assists eligible British Columbia residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services that are not available in their area. TAP is a corporate partnership between the Ministry of Health and private transport carriers. The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the transportation partners who agree to waive or eliminate their regular fees. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in Canada and partnership programs in the country are contributing to the growth of the non-emergency medical transportation market in the country.

Mexico, like many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), has a broad spectrum of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and lipid disorders. Many people with various NCDs may not be aware that they have a disease, indicating the need for broader screening programs. Obesity and its comorbidities have turned out to be the most important public health problem in the country. In Mexico, obesity has risen significantly to the point where the government has declared it an epidemiological emergency. According to the Pan America Health Organization, ~5.5 million deaths in the American region are caused due to NCDs every year. Additionally, according to the National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) 2024, ~37.1% of Mexican adults are obese, and many people do not have transportation suited to their current needs; if they are overweight and are in a wheelchair, they are incapable of getting into a normal vehicle. Non-emergency transportation helps these people and several others to reach all kinds of medical services. These factors are likely to support the non-emergency medical transportation market growth across the country during the forecast period.

MTM, Inc.; AMR; Xpress Transportation; CJ Medical Transportation; VERIDA; ModivCare; Crothall Healthcare; Elite Medical Transport; Acadian Ambulance Service; Transdev; Ride Health; Roundtrip; Medical Answering Services, LLC; One Call; Stellar Transport; Abba Medical Transportation, LLC; Able Medical Transportation, Inc.; Life Ride; Mobility Transportation Services, Inc.; and ABC Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, LLC are among the leading companies profiled in the non-emergency medical transportation market report.

Based on service type, the non-emergency medical transportation market is segmented into private pay patient transportation, insurance backed patient transportation, courier services, and others. By facility, the non-emergency medical transportation market is bifurcated into intra-facility and inter-facility. In terms of application, the non-emergency medical transportation market is segmented into dialysis, routine doctor visits, mental health related appointments, rehabilitation, and others. Based on end user, the non-emergency medical transportation market is segmented into hospitals & clinics, nursing homes, homecare settings, MCO & state agencies, healthcare payers, and others. Geographically, the market is categorized into North America (the US, Canada, and Mexico), Europe (France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, and the Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Rest of Asia Pacific), the Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa), and South & Central America (Brazil, Argentina, and the Rest of South & Central America).