All clients must register even if you have used our transportation services in the past.
Eligibility
- Age 60 or older
- A resident of Whidbey Island. We serve Whidbey Island residents only; the Camano Center has taken over transportation for Camano residents.
- Must not be on Medicaid/Apple Health
Cost of a ride
- The full cost of a ride includes a $15 pick-up fee for each leg of the trip plus $1.02 per mile based on the average mileage between pick up and destination. Trips expected to last three hours or more will include an additional $15 meal allowance for the driver.
- Clients pay all parking and ferry fees.
Sliding Fee Scale
- Rides are available on a sliding scale basis (discounts of 20% to 100% depending on need).
- To qualify for the sliding scale, you will be asked to provide basic financial information for household combined income (including spouse and dependents). Acceptable documents include a recent tax return (first page only), social security benefits letter, or retirement statements.
- Please allow up to two weeks to process and complete your registration and income verification before your first ride.
- If you are able to pay full price for a ride, income verification is not necessary.
Scheduling
- Ride requests must be made at least one week in advance to allow time to match you with a driver. We are unable to accommodate ride requests submitted with three business days’ notice or less.
- All services are provided based on the availability of a volunteer driver.
- We provide rides 8:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. We cannot provide rides that fall entirely outside of this time. However, if part of your trip falls outside of these hours, we will work with you on a case-by-case basis per driver availability.
- When requesting a ride please provide the date, check-in time, estimated appointment duration, facility name, and facility address.
- One person or a service dog can accompany you, however we must be informed in advance so that we can match you with a driver whose vehicle can accommodate the extra passenger.
- Please inform us in advance if you need to bring any equipment, e.g., walker, oxygen, etc.
- After a driver has been assigned, the driver will contact you to confirm the pick-up time and any other details.
Payment Policy
- Payment is due once your ride is confirmed and a driver assigned. Please make your payment prior to the trip.
- The fee must be paid to ISR (not the driver) by credit card or check.
- To pay via credit card: call ISR: 360-321-1600.
- To pay via check: Make payable to Island Senior Resources, write the date of the ride in the comment section, and send it to Attn: Med Rides, ISR, PO Box 939, Freeland, WA 98249.
- Clients with outstanding balances will be unable to schedule rides until the account is paid in full.
Pay it forward
- ISR does not receive any governmental or grant funding for this program and we rely on generous individuals to subsidize those in need. If you wish to donate above and beyond the cost of your trip, please make a separate donation to ISR on the Donate Page.
Need a Ride?
- Registration includes income verification if needed, so be prepared to submit the required documents.
- Questions? Speak to our Medical Transportation staff by calling 360-321-1600 or emailing med.rides@islandseniorservices.org
Other Transportation Programs
Camano Island Residents
- The Camano Center provides medical transportation to Camano Island residents.
- Contact Angie Bayley by phone: 360-387-0222, email abayley@camanocenter.org.
Medicaid Recipients
- Northwest Regional Council provides medical transportation to Medicaid recipients.
- Contact Northwest Regional Council at 360-738-4554 to schedule rides.
Veterans Ride-Link Van Program
- The Whidbey Veterans Resource Center in Langley offers free transportation to the VA Hospital & Clinics on the mainland is available for Veterans and their families. We also offer transportation to NAS Whidbey for commissary shopping and administrative appointments.
- Contact 360-320-9008.
Air transport for medical services across the Western USA
Angel Flight West delivers health and hope using donated flights to serve those with healthcare or other compelling human needs.
- In the air, Angel Flight West links volunteer pilots and commercial airlines with people whose non-emergency health needs require air transportation to access care.
- On the ground, volunteer drivers ferry passengers to and from their departure and destination airports.
- Air and ground services are provided at no cost to passengers.
Learn more here: angelflightwest.org
South Whidbey at Home
- South Whidbey at Home is a membership-based nonprofit dedicated to helping older (55+) South Whidbey residents remain in their homes and active in the community. They offer transportation to appointments, shopping, errands, educational events.
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Contact: phone 360-331-1971, email callmanager@swathome.org
Island Transit – Paratransit
- Island Transit’s Paratransit service is considered a “safety net” for those individuals with disabilities whose disability still prevents them – not merely makes use more difficult – from using the fixed route system, even when it is fully accessible.
- To apply, click here.
- Contact phone 360.678.7771, email dwells@islandtransit.org
Interested in Driving?
The Medical Transportation program needs more team members. More and more seniors are turning to us for help; unfortunately, we do not have enough volunteers to meet their needs.
If you like to drive, own a car, and enjoy meeting new people, then this is the volunteer program for you! Through volunteering, you will establish new friends and enjoy giving back.