# HealthSpring Transportation: MTM Health Rides, Trip Limits by Plan, and the Booking Rules

Canonical URL: https://nemtguide.com/health-plans/healthspring-medicare-advantage/ · Updated 2026-09-30

HealthSpring transportation is a Medicare Advantage ride benefit that MTM Health has booked since March 1, 2026, at 1-866-214-5126. For 2026, 97 of the 224 HealthSpring plans sold to individuals include rides, and 28 of those have no trip limit. Members book at least 48 hours ahead. Transportation companies get HealthSpring trips by joining MTM's network.

- One vendor books every HealthSpring Medicare ride: MTM Health, since March 1, 2026, so MTM's network is the only way into this work.
- The rules are the same in every 2026 HealthSpring ride plan: 48 hours notice, 70 miles each way, and a late cancel costs the member a trip.
- Ambulatory members who can get text messages may go by rideshare, so a company's edge is wheelchair, walker, and other special needs trips.
- HealthSpring's dual plans carry the richest benefit: 20 of its 38 ride-plan D-SNPs have no trip limit.
- No HealthSpring True Choice PPO plan includes rides, so look for TotalCare, Achieve, and Preferred HMO members in your counties.

## HealthSpring Medicare Advantage rides at a glance

| Fact | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Who books the ride | MTM Health, the only ride vendor for HealthSpring Medicare Advantage members since March 1, 2026: 1-866-214-5126 (TTY 711), or the MTM Link Member app |
| 2026 plans with rides | 97 of the 224 HealthSpring plans sold to individuals: 38 of 39 dual special needs plans, 7 of 8 chronic condition plans, and 52 others |
| Trip limits | 28 plans have no limit, 13 of them in Texas. The other 69 allow 10 to 50 one-way trips a year, most often 10 (15 plans), 50 (14), 24 (11), and 30 (11). |
| Booking notice | At least 48 hours before the appointment. Shorter notice is reviewed case by case, on urgency and whether a driver is free. |
| Late cancels | A member who cancels less than 2 hours before the trip has it deducted from the trips left for the year |
| Distance | Up to 70 miles each way. Longer trips need prior authorization and are covered only for specific medically necessary services. |
| Approval | All 97 ride plans mark the benefit as needing authorization in their 2026 filing with CMS. The vendor contacts the plan for approvals. |
| Vehicles | Taxi, rideshare, van, or medical transport. Rideshare carries ambulatory members who can get texts; members with special needs ride with NEMT drivers. |
| Plan types | Only HMO and HMO-POS plans include rides. None of the 38 HealthSpring True Choice PPO plans does. |
| Where the plans are | 25 states. Texas has 18 ride plans, then Georgia (12), Florida (10), Pennsylvania (9), Tennessee (8), and Alabama (7). |

HealthSpring is the Medicare Advantage brand of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which bought The Cigna Group's Medicare Advantage business in March 2025. CMS's 2026 plan files still carry the Cigna Healthcare marketing name, but every plan is named HealthSpring. Rides are an extra benefit in 97 of the 224 HealthSpring plans sold to individuals for 2026. Since March 1, 2026, one company books every one of those trips: MTM Health.

## Who books HealthSpring rides

HealthSpring told health care providers on February 26, 2026 that MTM Health would replace Modivcare as the sole provider of nonemergency medical transportation for its Medicare Advantage members, starting March 1. The full story of that switch, and what it meant for Modivcare's providers, is in [HealthSpring's move to MTM Health](https://nemtguide.com/news/healthspring-mtm-medicare-rides/).

For your dispatcher, two things matter now:

- **One booking line.** HealthSpring's 2026 evidence of coverage documents send members to "HealthSpring's transportation vendor" at 1-866-214-5126 (TTY 711). MTM's member notice says that number stayed the same when MTM took over.
- **The app.** Members can also book, view, and cancel rides in the MTM Link Member app, which lists HealthSpring Medicare (national) among its plans as of September 2026. A member with no set return time taps "I'm Ready," and MTM says the driver should arrive within one hour. Plan your [will-call returns](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/will-call-trip/) around that hour.

## Which HealthSpring plans include rides

HealthSpring's plan names tell you which kind of member you are carrying. TotalCare and TotalCare Plus are its dual special needs plans, for members with both Medicare and Medicaid. Achieve plans are chronic condition plans. Preferred, Courage, Premier, Primary, and Alliance are HMO or HMO-POS plans, and True Choice plans are PPOs. For 2026:

| Plan type | HealthSpring plans | With rides | One-way trips a year in the ride plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual special needs (TotalCare, TotalCare Plus) | 39 | 38 | No limit in 20. Then 50 in 8, 40 in 5, 30 in 3, and 24 in 2 |
| Chronic condition (Achieve) | 8 | 7 | No limit in 3. Then 40, 30, 24, and 10 |
| Other HMO and HMO-POS plans | 139 | 52 | No limit in 5. The rest 10 to 50, most often 10 (14 plans) and 20 (10) |
| True Choice PPO plans | 38 | 0 | None |

A ride there and back uses two trips, so a 24-trip plan covers one round trip a month. The unlimited plans cluster in a few states: Texas has 13 of the 28, Florida 6, Mississippi 3, Alabama and Missouri 2 each, and North Carolina and Pennsylvania 1 each.

### Where the ride plans are

| State | Ride plans | One dual plan with rides there | Its yearly trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 18 | TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) in 18 counties around Houston and East Texas, including Harris, Fort Bend, and Montgomery | No limit |
| Georgia | 12 | TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) in 48 counties, including Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Chatham | 30 |
| Florida | 10 | TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) in 13 counties, from Pinellas and Hillsborough to Orange and Marion | No limit |
| Pennsylvania | 9 | TotalCare Plus (HMO D-SNP) in 26 counties, including Philadelphia and Allegheny | No limit |
| Tennessee | 8 | TotalCare Plus (HMO D-SNP) in 62 counties, including Davidson and Hamilton | 50 |
| Alabama | 7 | TotalCare Plus (HMO D-SNP) in 30 counties, including Jefferson, Mobile, and Montgomery | No limit |
| Mississippi | 4 | TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) in 20 counties, including Hinds and Harrison | No limit |
| Ohio | 4 | TotalCare (HMO D-SNP) in 23 counties, including Cuyahoga, Hamilton, and Summit | 40 |
| North Carolina | 3 | TotalCare Plus (HMO D-SNP) in 37 counties, including Mecklenburg, Wake, and Guilford | No limit |

The other ride plans are in Arizona and Missouri (3 each), Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Washington (2 each), and Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah (1 each). See the [Texas guide](https://nemtguide.com/states/texas/) and [MTM Health in Texas](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/mtm-health/texas/) for the largest market.

## The trip rules in HealthSpring's 2026 plans

The Transportation row in chapter 4 of every 2026 HealthSpring ride plan's evidence of coverage carries the same rules, whether the plan is TotalCare in Texas or Courage in Tennessee. Only the number of trips changes. Here is what each rule means for a transportation company:

| Rule in the evidence of coverage | What it means for your company |
|---|---|
| Members contact the vendor at least 48 hours before the appointment | Routine HealthSpring trips are booked at least two days out. Requests with less notice are reviewed case by case on urgency and on whether an NEMT driver is free, so a company with a free driver may pick up short-notice trips. |
| A cancellation less than 2 hours before the trip is deducted from the member's remaining trips | Treat it like a [late cancellation](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/late-cancellation/). Ask MTM how your agreement handles a trip that was canceled at the door. |
| Each one-way trip may run up to 70 miles | Trips past 70 miles need prior authorization and are covered only for specific medically necessary services. MTM gets the approval from the plan, so wait for it before you roll. |
| Ambulatory members may be sent by rideshare, if they can receive text messages | Rideshare takes the easy trips. Rideshare may also be unavailable for some kinds of trips and some areas, which leaves those rides to NEMT companies. See [NEMT versus rideshare](https://nemtguide.com/guides/nemt-vs-rideshare/). |
| Members with special needs ride with traditional NEMT drivers whose vehicles fit wheelchairs, walkers, and similar equipment | Wheelchair vans and trained drivers are what HealthSpring work needs from you. |
| An NEMT driver may carry several members at once. A rideshare carries one, though a family member or escort may be allowed | You may group HealthSpring members on one run. |
| Rides arranged outside the vendor are not covered, and the member pays | Carry a HealthSpring member on a plan ride only when MTM assigns the trip. |

Every 2026 plan charges a $0 copay for these rides and says prior authorization may be required. In CMS's files, all 97 ride plans mark the benefit as needing authorization. Benefits can change on January 1, 2027, so check each plan's 2027 evidence of coverage before you plan next year's standing rides.

## How to get HealthSpring trips

1. **Find the HealthSpring plans in your counties.** Search [Medicare Plan Finder](https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/) by ZIP code, or pick your state on HealthSpring's evidence of coverage page. Look for TotalCare, TotalCare Plus, Achieve, and the HMO plans. True Choice PPO members have no ride benefit.
2. **Apply to MTM Health.** Use the Join Our Network application on MTM's service providers page. MTM says it replies quickly when it needs providers in your area and keeps your file when it does not. Its credentialing, insurance limits by state, and claim rules are on our [MTM Health provider guide](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/mtm-health/).
3. **Ask MTM what your agreement covers.** Get in writing whether it includes HealthSpring Medicare members, in which counties, and for which vehicle types. MTM arranges rides for many plans, each with its own service area.
4. **Lead with what rideshare cannot do.** Wheelchair capacity, walker-friendly vehicles, and drivers trained to help members in and out are the trips HealthSpring's rules keep for NEMT companies.
5. **Enroll in your state's Medicaid program.** TotalCare members have Medicaid too, and those with full Medicaid can use the state's Medicaid rides when the plan's trips run out. See [dual special needs plans](https://nemtguide.com/glossary/dual-special-needs-plan/).
6. **Set up the Medicare paperwork.** Plan trips make your company a downstream entity, with exclusion checks and long record keeping. See [Medicare Advantage transportation](https://nemtguide.com/guides/medicare-advantage-transportation/).

If you drove HealthSpring trips for [Modivcare](https://nemtguide.com/brokers/modivcare/) before March 1, 2026, those trips no longer come from Modivcare.

## Who to call

| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| HealthSpring members' rides, booked by MTM Health | 1-866-214-5126 (TTY 711) |
| Help with the MTM Link app or portal | MTM Navigator Line, 888-597-1189 |
| Joining MTM Health's network | The Join Our Network application on MTM's service providers page |
| HealthSpring Provider Customer Service, for doctors and facilities | 800-230-6138, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central, Monday to Friday |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does HealthSpring cover transportation?

Some HealthSpring plans do. For 2026, 97 of the 224 HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans sold to individuals include routine rides to plan-approved places, at a $0 copay. Nearly every dual special needs plan has them, but no True Choice PPO plan does. The Transportation row in chapter 4 of the plan's evidence of coverage gives the yearly number of one-way trips.

### Who is HealthSpring's transportation vendor?

MTM Health. HealthSpring moved its Medicare Advantage rides from Modivcare to MTM as its sole provider on March 1, 2026. Members call 1-866-214-5126 (TTY 711), the number printed in HealthSpring's 2026 evidence of coverage documents, which MTM now answers. They can also book on MTM's website or in the MTM Link Member app.

### How far in advance do HealthSpring members need to book a ride?

At least 48 hours before the appointment, under the 2026 evidence of coverage. A request with less notice is reviewed case by case, based on how urgent the trip is and whether an NEMT driver is available. A member who cancels less than 2 hours before the trip has it deducted from the trips left for the year.

### How many rides does a HealthSpring plan give?

From 10 one-way trips a year to no limit, depending on the plan. For 2026, 28 plans are unlimited, including 20 dual special needs plans such as HealthSpring TotalCare in the Houston area and TotalCare Plus in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. HealthSpring TotalCare in 48 Georgia counties allows 30, and TotalCare Plus in 62 Tennessee counties allows 50.

### How far will a HealthSpring ride go?

Up to 70 miles each way. A longer trip needs prior authorization and is covered only when it is needed for specific medically necessary Medicare or plan-covered services. The transportation vendor asks the plan for the approval, so a driver should not start a long trip until the broker confirms it.

### How do I become a HealthSpring transportation provider?

Join MTM Health's network, because HealthSpring does not contract with ride companies directly for this benefit. Apply on MTM's service providers page, then ask your MTM contact in writing whether your agreement covers HealthSpring Medicare members, in which counties, and for which vehicle types.

### Is HealthSpring the same as Cigna Medicare?

HealthSpring is the new name for the Medicare Advantage business Health Care Service Corporation bought from The Cigna Group in March 2025. CMS's 2026 plan files still show the plans under the Cigna Healthcare marketing name, while the plans themselves are named HealthSpring TotalCare, Achieve, Preferred, and so on.

## Official resources

- [MTM Health: Apply to join the transportation network](https://www.mtm-inc.net/service-providers/)
- [MTM Health: MTM Link member app and portal guides](https://www.mtm-inc.net/mtm-link/)
- [HealthSpring: Find a plan's evidence of coverage](https://www.healthspring.com/medicare/member-resources/eoc)
- [HealthSpring: Notice of the move to MTM Health (February 26, 2026)](https://www.healthspring.com/providers/news/2-26-2026-medical-transportation)
- [Medicare.gov: Medicare Plan Finder (plans sold in your ZIP code)](https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/)