Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Colorado program

Rides to appointments, paid by the state

Health First Colorado helps you get to covered medical appointments when you need a ride.

What it is

Health First Colorado helps you get to covered medical appointments when you need a ride.

Repeated clinic trips can become a large cost during treatment. Health First Colorado's ride benefit offers a way to reach covered care. Longer trips and out-of-state travel need their own review.

Eligibility rules
  • Your child needs Health First Colorado, no other transportation and a trip that meets the covered medical ride rules.
  • Since July 1, 2026, MediDrive serves Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties.
What you get
  • Rides to covered appointments when the medical ride rules are met.
  • Approved travel support, with separate limits for mileage, lodging and meals.
What the help includes
  • Other counties continue using their local transportation arrangements. Meals and lodging are listed for approved out-of-state travel.
  • The ride benefit has no family charge.
If you decide to apply
  1. Contact MediDrive in its nine counties, or ask your county for the local ride service.
  2. Have your appointment details ready and request a standard ride at least two business days ahead.
  3. Ask the ride service about approval before arranging out-of-state travel.

MediDrive: 855-489-4999 in the nine listed counties; local service elsewhere · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • The transport broker or local service checks the trip. The clinic can help with scheduling future appointments and rides together.
Good to know

Travel approval does not establish approval for the treatment itself.

Other details
  • The broker or local ride service decides how to handle an urgent same-day request. It confirms mileage, accompanying-parent eligibility, meal and lodging amounts before the family relies on reimbursement.
  • In the nine Denver-area counties, call MediDrive (855-489-4999) at least two business days ahead; elsewhere your county's own ride service books trips. Mileage, a traveling parent, meals and lodging all need approval before you spend, and families on SNAP cannot claim meals.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could the ride benefit help with clinic trips, and what limits would make it difficult for our schedule? If it is useful, could you help us set it up and check travel costs?”

Why I’m asking: I want a dependable way to reach treatment without letting repeated travel costs overwhelm us.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Book at least two business days ahead and ask for prior approval for out-of-state trips.

Your social worker

The clinic can book the next ride at each visit.

The care team

Nothing.

Who decides
The transport broker or the local provider.
Ask your social worker
“Can you set up rides to clinic through Health First Colorado, and book the next one at each visit?”

How to apply

First step: In the nine broker counties call 855-489-4999. Elsewhere ask the county for your local ride provider.

  1. Book the next ride while you are still at the clinic.
  2. For travel out of state, ask for prior approval before you book anything.

Where it starts: In the nine counties call MediDrive on 855-489-4999. Elsewhere ask the county for your local provider.

What to gather

  • The Health First Colorado card
  • Appointment dates and the clinic address

How long: Book two business days ahead for a standard ride.

What a yes looks like

A booked ride with a pickup time, or mileage arranged.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Ask which provider covers your county now; the state is mid-transition.

Watch out

  • A standard ride needs two business days' notice.
  • Nine counties moved to one broker in July 2026; elsewhere keep using your local provider.
  • Travel approval is not approval of the treatment itself.

Dates that change this

2026-07-01: MediDrive serves nine counties from July 1, 2026. Other counties retain current arrangements until HCPF announces their transition; the current county route needs confirmation before booking.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Rides to appointments, with meals and lodging listed for approved out-of-state travel. Book a standard ride two business days ahead.

  • $2 — Advance notice for a standard ride

Covers: Rides to and from medical appointments · Meals and lodging listed for approved out-of-state travel

What it costs the family: Nothing.

The eligibility facts, as published

Coverage
Health First Colorado
Geography
MediDrive in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld; the local provider elsewhere

The trap: A standard ride needs booking at least two business days ahead, which does not fit a same-day call from the clinic. Ask the clinic to book the next appointment's ride while you are still there.

Where I read this

← Back to your options