Family Raises Concerns Over Rideshare Medical Transport Safety

An 80-year-old man was left stranded in the heat while waiting for a medical transport ride booked through his insurance provider.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:36am

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An Arizona family is voicing concerns about the safety and reliability of rideshare medical transport services after an 80-year-old man was left waiting outside in the heat for over 30 minutes when two Lyft drivers cancelled his ride to a routine medical appointment. The return trip was also problematic, with the man having to sit in a wheelchair in the back of a lifted truck that was too high for him to easily enter or exit.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the potential risks and challenges of using rideshare services for medical transportation, especially for elderly or mobility-impaired patients. It raises questions about the training and preparedness of rideshare drivers to handle medical emergencies or accommodate the needs of vulnerable passengers.

The details

Gerry Greiner says her father, Bill, who is diabetic, was left exhausted and dehydrated after being forced to wait outside in 80-degree heat for 30 minutes when two Lyft drivers cancelled his ride to a wound care appointment. The return trip was also problematic, with Bill having to sit in a wheelchair in the back of a lifted truck that was too high for the 80-year-old to easily get in and out of, extending the trip by two hours.

  • Bill Greiner was left waiting outside in the heat for over 30 minutes when two Lyft drivers cancelled his ride.
  • The return trip took two hours due to the difficulty of Bill getting in and out of the lifted truck.

The players

Gerry Greiner

The daughter of Bill Greiner who is raising concerns about the safety and reliability of rideshare medical transport services after her father's experience.

Bill Greiner

An 80-year-old man who is diabetic and had a problematic experience using a rideshare service for a medical appointment, including being left waiting outside in the heat and having difficulty with the return trip.

United Healthcare

The insurance provider that arranged the rideshare medical transport through its SafeRide benefit program.

Lyft

The rideshare company that provided the transportation for Bill Greiner's medical appointment.

Dr. Uzma Jafri

A Valley physician who specializes in family medicine and geriatrics and raises concerns about the medical training and preparedness of rideshare drivers to handle medical emergencies or accommodate the needs of vulnerable passengers.

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What they’re saying

“The whole time my dad was sitting outside, it was about 80 degrees or so. He was extremely hot and flustered.”

— Gerry Greiner

“My dad had to sit in a wheelchair, off of his foot, by himself. He could barely even speak. He was dehydrated. He hadn't eaten.”

— Gerry Greiner

“The average American is going to spend the last 10 years of their life unable to transport themselves independently. The onus is on that insurance company to find out what that patient's needs are and then provide the appropriate transport.”

— Dr. Uzma Jafri, Family Medicine and Geriatrics Specialist

“They may not even be CPR certified. Can you imagine if somebody had a medical crisis or an emergency?”

— Dr. Uzma Jafri, Family Medicine and Geriatrics Specialist

What’s next

Gerry Greiner says her father has since been approved for medical transport only, but she is calling for more regulations and protocols to be put in place to better protect vulnerable patients using rideshare services for medical appointments.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for insurance providers and rideshare companies to better accommodate the unique needs of elderly and mobility-impaired patients when arranging medical transportation, including ensuring drivers are properly trained and vehicles can safely accommodate passengers who may require additional assistance.