Uber is launching a new service this summer that will allow caregivers to use health insurance benefits to pay for rides to doctor's appointments or to pick up groceries and medications.
The service, called Uber Caregiver, will give caregivers the ability to arrange for rides and manage the delivery of over-the-counter medications and medical equipment, the ride-sharing company said in a news release.
A feature in the app will allow the caregiver, the driver and the rider to remain in communication and track the progress of the rides and purchases, NBC's "Today" reported.
The Uber program intends to cover customers 65 and older with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid recipients and people with eligible commercial insurance via their employer.
To set it up, the care recipient adds their health benefits card to their wallet in the Uber and Uber Eats apps and designate a caregiver who will receive an invitation.
At that point the caregiver can request rides for the recipient.
Lead engineer Jeremy Hintz and his team developed the program.Hintz told "Today" that it grew out of a conversation he had with his mother.
When his grandfather suffered a stroke and was unable to provide care for his wife with dementia, Hintz's mom became their primary caregiver.
"All this actually came out of a phone conversation I was having with my mom about the things she needed help with day-to-day," Hintz told "Today." "We have Uber and Uber Eats; why can't we tap into health care benefits, too?"
His mother and grandparents were among the first to test early versions of the Uber Caregiver service.