Hopelink: Free Hospital Transportation

Of the nearly 600,000 King County residents enrolled in Medicaid, a federal program providing health insurance to adults and families with limited income, over 63,000 people are served by Hopelink. The nonprofit organization aims to provide social services around the King County area, assisting with anything from utility bills to food insecurity, according to the organization’s website. In particular, Hopelink provides transportation to and from local hospitals for individuals enrolled in Medicaid, and this service is essential to those who are unable to transport themselves to their appointments.

However, in recent months concerns have arisen among patients using Hopelink regarding its reliability. Because the organization operates on a volunteer basis, there are not always enough vehicles or available volunteers to serve all those who rely on its services.

“As a volunteer at EvergreenHealth hospital, there have been too many instances where patients are waiting for hours just to get picked up. Just last week, we had a woman put on hold who was waiting over three hours before her transportation arrived,” said senior Zoey Lin.

Lin also described countless other patient concerns with the service. One instance at EvergreenHealth hospital had a patient on an oxygen tank waiting long enough for their tank to run out of air. These delays in Hopelink’s ability to provide its services pose very real risks to those who rely on them.

Despite the concerns with the organization’s reliability, it is difficult to find a solution to this issue. Hopelink relies on volunteers rather than paid employees, who aren’t always available to help. Even with recent drawbacks, without the organization, many patients are left isolated and unable to get the care they need. Additionally, with the Trump administration’s looming federal cuts to Medicaid across the nation, the future of Hopelink’s ability to serve King County residents remains shrouded in mystery. These concerns raise questions about the responsibilities of the government to provide its citizens the means to get the essential care that they need.

In the meantime, it is extremely valuable when residents of King County choose to give back to their neighbors if they have the means to do so. If you can, volunteer, donate, fundraise. Find Hopelink’s website at https://www.hopelink.org/