An operator can satisfy one insurance document and still fail another. A county may require a certificate and endorsements; a transportation vendor may impose higher or different terms; a facility contract may add insured status or indemnity language; and the vehicle or service type may change underwriting.
Give the licensed commercial insurance professional the current county packet, vehicle list, driver list and every proposed vendor or facility agreement. Confirm the final coverage and certificate wording directly.
The five insurance layers
| Layer | What it can control | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Florida / state-level | The legal category and statewide statutes that may apply, including a separate statutory regime for a qualifying transportation network company. | Whether the operation is an ordinary county-licensed NEMT service, a qualifying TNC arrangement, or a service crossing into BLS/ALS. |
| County / local | Commercial-auto and liability limits, certificate holder, additional-insured language, cancellation notice, vehicle permits and continuing proof of coverage. | The current packet for the exact county and service category. |
| Medicaid plan / vendor / broker | Coverage limits, policy forms, endorsements, approved carriers, credentialing documents and ongoing monitoring. | The current provider agreement and onboarding checklist for the specific plan/vendor relationship. |
| Facility / private contract | Contractual limits, additional insured status, waiver or indemnity terms, evidence deadlines and incident reporting. | The signed facility/customer contract and insurer approval of required wording. |
| Vehicle / service level | Premium and coverage based on ambulatory, wheelchair or stretcher service, passenger capacity, equipment, ownership/lease, radius, drivers and use. | A written quote that accurately describes each vehicle and all paid transportation activity. |
What Florida Statute 316.87 does—and does not—say
Florida Statute 316.87 recognizes county-licensed or county-permitted NEMT providers and separately addresses qualifying TNC relationships involving Medicaid plans or transportation brokers. It does not publish one commercial insurance limit for every Florida NEMT operator.
A TNC has its own definition and insurance framework under Florida Statute 627.748. Do not assume a conventional NEMT company or broker arrangement is automatically a TNC. Section 316.87 also does not exempt BLS or ALS transportation from the licensing boundary in Florida Statute 401.25.
County examples: specific limits, specific jurisdictions
The following examples are intentionally labeled by county. They demonstrate variation; they are not statewide requirements.
Broward County NEMTS
- Current source
- 2026 NEMTS license packet, revised July 28, 2026.
- Commercial auto
- $500,000 per occurrence, combined bodily injury and property damage, for each transporting vehicle including owned, hired and non-owned vehicles.
- Certificate terms
- The packet requires Broward County as certificate holder and additional insured, plus 30-day cancellation notice and a renewal certificate 30 days before expiration.
Orange County Paratransit (Non-Emergency)
- Current source
- Official county application instructions linked below.
- Liability limits
- $1,000,000 commercial general liability and $1,000,000 automobile combined single limit.
- Workers’ compensation item
- The instructions list proof of workers’ compensation and $100,000 employer’s liability or a State of Florida exemption.
Palm Beach County’s official Vehicle for Hire page states that licensed companies must meet minimum insurance and safety standards, but this page does not publish a current Palm Beach limit. Verify the current limit, form and endorsements directly with Palm Beach County Consumer Affairs.
For other counties—and for city pickup authority where relevant—use the county requirements research page and request the current application packet before asking an agent to finalize a quote.
Broker, plan and facility requirements are contractual
Medicaid plan/vendor credentialing and facility agreements can add requirements above or different from the local filing. The controlling evidence is the current written provider or facility agreement, not an old broker list or an online “typical requirement.”
- Ask which limits apply to auto, general liability, professional liability or workers’ compensation.
- Confirm whether hired/non-owned auto coverage is required.
- Confirm certificate holder and additional-insured wording.
- Ask whether umbrella or excess coverage is accepted or required.
- Check policy expiration monitoring and notice deadlines.
- Have the insurer review indemnity and waiver language before signing.
No vendor acceptance, trip volume or reimbursement result is implied by meeting an insurance checklist. See Florida NEMT brokers and vendor networks for the separate network-access pathway.
How to request an NEMT insurance quote
Identify every authority
Provide the current county/city forms and identify whether a Medicaid plan/vendor or facility contract will apply.
Describe the service accurately
State ambulatory, wheelchair, stretcher or other service; passenger capacity; equipment; territory; hours; expected miles; and whether attendants are used.
List vehicles and drivers
Use VIN-specific vehicles and real driver histories. Ask whether a proposed vehicle must be inspected or modified before coverage is final.
Match the certificate wording
Do not rely on the declarations page alone when an authority or contract requires a specific certificate holder, additional insured or cancellation notice.
Recheck before signing or buying
Verify that the bound policy—not merely the preliminary quote—covers the stated operation and satisfies every applicable layer.
Official sources used
- Florida Statute 316.87 — NEMT services
- Florida Statute 627.748 — Transportation network companies
- Florida Statute 401.25 — BLS/ALS licensure boundary
- Broward County 2026 NEMTS license packet
- Orange County Paratransit (Non-Emergency) instructions
- Palm Beach County Vehicle for Hire
This page is educational information, not legal, insurance, tax, financial or regulatory advice. Coverage and requirements change and depend on the facts, policy language and contracts. Confirm them with the responsible authority, licensed insurance professional and contracting party before committing capital.
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