A $3 ride service cut one couple's $500 monthly Uber bill

Carol Colborn and her husband, William, were spending about $500 a month on Uber to reach medical appointments. Then a health guide pointed them to a local paratransit service, a ride program for people who have trouble getting around. It costs $3 per ride. Colborn, 77, of Mesa, Arizona, says it saves them as much as $400 a month.

The problem

William has moderately severe Alzheimer's disease and needs round-the-clock care. Colborn, his full-time caregiver, was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2025. She had surgery in September and then began chemotherapy. William no longer drives, and she has never driven.

Uber trips ran $30 to $40 each. The cost got so high that the couple mostly stayed home. They stopped going to mass, seeing friends and eating out.

What changed

Earlier this year, Colborn saw a Facebook ad for Ez Health. She describes it as a free or low-cost service that deals with Medicare for you. The couple were assigned a health advocate, called a guide, who walked them through qualifying for help.

• Eight hours a week of respite care, which gives a caregiver a break
• Home visits from a physical therapist, palliative nurse, dentist and phlebotomist
• Subsidized transport, including the $3 paratransit rides

Colborn says the help is tied to federal legislation passed in January 2024, called Community Health Integration. She says it aims to keep people in their own homes as long as possible and supports caregivers.

What it opened up

The couple now use the rides for groceries and health appointments, including Colborn's maintenance therapy for her cancer. They also use them for date nights. She says dining out again has strengthened their marriage.

What to do

For anyone helping an older relative, the lesson is to ask before paying full price. Check whether a local paratransit service runs in your area. Ask whether a Medicare-linked helper can find benefits you may be missing.

What is not known

This is one family's account. The story does not explain who qualifies for paratransit or for the Ez Health help, or what Ez Health charges beyond calling it free or low-cost. It also does not say whether the same services exist in other places. Rules and costs will vary by location.