Market scope note: This article covers resources from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is labeled in the text with 🇰🇷 Korea (Korea) or 🇺🇸 U.S. (U.S.) to indicate which country it applies to.
When you need to take a parent to the hospital, or when they need to get to a senior center or community welfare center on a regular basis, "getting there" turns out to be a far bigger barrier than most people expect. For older adults who find public transit inconvenient or have even mild difficulty getting around, simply going outside on their own can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, both Korea and the United States have policies in place to protect the right to mobility for seniors and people with limited transportation access. Below is a summary of the key programs in both countries as of 2026.
🇰🇷 Korea The most fundamental benefit for adults aged 65 and older is free subway rides. Grounded in Article 26 of the Senior Welfare Act (노인복지법), this program allows anyone who has passed their 65th birthday to ride urban rail systems across the country at no charge. By obtaining a senior transit card (우대용 교통카드), riders can pass through the fare gates without buying a single-use ticket each time. These cards can be issued at Shinhan Bank in Seoul, at Nonghyup (농협) locations using the G-PASS card in Gyeonggi and Gangwon regions, and also at local community service centers (주민센터). For bus travel, as of 2026, seniors who are recipients of basic livelihood support (기초생활수급자) or fall under the near-poverty threshold (차상위계층) can receive a transportation cost rebate of up to 53% through K-패스 2.0. Because senior transportation support is a mix of free subway access, K-패스 rebates, and programs that vary by local government, it is important to check the policies specific to your area of residence.
🇰🇷 Korea For seniors with mobility difficulties, there are two main options: special transportation services (특별교통수단, also known as disability and senior call taxis) and voucher taxis (바우처택시). Special transportation services are available to people with limited mobility, including adults aged 65 and older, following a prior eligibility review; fares are set at an affordable rate that varies by region. In 2026, a nationwide integrated reservation system through mobility support centers (이동지원센터) has been established, meaning that once a person registers once, they can use special transportation services anywhere in the country without having to register again separately. This is a significant improvement over the previous system, which required separate registration with each local government. As for voucher taxis, multiple local governments — including Hongseong County (홍성군) and Wonju City (원주시) — began formally introducing or expanding the service in 2026. Under this model, a regular taxi that receives a call dispatch is converted to operate as a voucher taxi, with the goal of reducing wait times and improving convenience.
🇰🇷 Korea Additional benefits offered by individual local governments are also worth keeping an eye on. Some metropolitan and local governments are expanding free rides, discounts, and transportation vouchers — for example, Incheon City offers free city bus rides for adults aged 75 and older. Programs operated by local governments specifically for seniors in rural areas — such as the 100-won happiness taxi (100원 행복택시), which runs at very low fares — are also on the rise. You can find out what mobility support benefits are available in your area by contacting your local community service center (주민센터) or the welfare department of your city, county, or district office (시·군·구청).
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, low-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid (메디케이드) are eligible for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). Under federal law, Medicaid is required to provide NEMT to beneficiaries, and in many cases there is no annual limit on the number of trips for medically necessary appointments. This service may be provided through public transit, taxis, or rideshare services such as Lyft or Uber, and it can be used for a wide range of medical purposes including dialysis, behavioral health, and preventive care. Original Medicare (Part A and B), by contrast, covers very little in the way of transportation costs for routine doctor visits. As for Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, only approximately 24–30% of individual plans include transportation benefits as of 2026 — a narrower range than in 2025 — so it is essential to verify whether a transportation benefit is included when renewing your plan.
🇺🇸 U.S. Even without Medicaid or Medicare eligibility, there are federally supported programs available. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 program, aimed at "enhancing mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities," provides grants to states and local nonprofit organizations; these funds are used for senior center shuttle vehicles, volunteer driver programs, travel training, and similar services. You can also contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) for information about transportation assistance programs in your area. To find the nearest AAA, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or visit their website. It is also useful to know that individuals who are dual-eligible — that is, those who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare — may be able to take advantage of transportation benefits from both programs.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부), 2026 Guide to Senior Health and Welfare Programs (『2026년 노인보건복지사업안내』); 찾기쉬운생활법령정보 (easylaw.go.kr); Korea Policy Briefing (대한민국 정책브리핑, korea.kr) — Transportation Convenience Plan for People with Limited Mobility; International news and Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Wide-Area Mobility Support Center (강원특별자치도광역이동지원센터) — Voucher Taxi 2026; Bravo My Life (브라보마이라이프), 『2026년 달라지는 노인복지 정책』; U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (medicaid.gov) — NEMT; BenefitsUSA (benefitsusa.org) — Medicare Transportation 2026; EliteMedFinancials (elitemedfinancials.com) — Medicare Advantage NEMT 2026; Federal Transit Administration (transit.dot.gov) — Section 5310; Eldercare Locator (eldercare.acl.gov); National Council on Aging (ncoa.org).
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.