NEMT Insurance in Georgia

Grandbay Financial Services places non-emergency medical transportation insurance for Georgia businesses from its Atlanta office at 1372 Peachtree St. NE. This page covers Georgia's Medicaid broker program, Verida credentialing requirements, the vehicle classification rules under O.C.G.A. 40-1-100, and the coverage structure Georgia NEMT operators need to maintain their provider status.

What Georgia requires

Georgia's Medicaid non-emergency transportation program is administered by the Department of Community Health as a capitated regional broker program with five regions: North, Atlanta, Central, East, and Southwest. According to the DCH NEMT page, brokers recruit and contract providers, verify members, assign trips, and pay providers directly.

Starting April 1, 2026, Verida (formerly Southeastrans) is the broker for all five regions, per the DCH NEMT program page. Modivcare no longer serves the Central, East, and Southwest regions, and providers in those regions must contact Verida. Providers should confirm their current broker assignment before renewing or binding coverage.

Verida's credentialing process, as published on its interested-providers page, begins with a Request for Qualifications that includes a driver list and vehicle list. Verida first determines whether a need exists in the region before advancing the application. The document step requires current criminal background checks for all drivers, current drug screens for all owners and drivers, verification of liability insurance coverage, and confirmation of an A- or better rated insurance carrier. Verida does not publish dollar limits and directs providers to its regional Provider Relations Manager for insurance requirements.

After the document review, Verida conducts a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection. Driver training is required before provider orientation and covers First Aid, CPR, Defensive Driving, Passenger Sensitivity and Customer Service, Spill Kit, Proper Lifting Techniques, Wheelchair Securement, and Driver Orientation, per Verida's provider page.

The DCH NEMT page also requires that attendants complete first aid training, a passenger assistance orientation program, and a safety and sensitivity program.

On vehicle classification, O.C.G.A. 40-1-100(12)(B)(vii) excludes from the definition of motor carrier vehicles "capable of transporting not more than ten persons for hire when such vehicles are used exclusively to transport persons who are elderly, disabled, en route to receive medical care or prescription medication." Georgia law therefore sets no elevated liability minimum for a typical NEMT van beyond the personal auto minimums. Vehicles that carry more than ten persons or are used for other for-hire trips fall under the limousine carrier rules: for 12 or fewer passengers, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury with a $100,000 per person maximum and $50,000 property damage; over 12 passengers, $500,000 per accident, per the Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division FAQ.

Workers compensation is mandatory for an employer that regularly has three or more employees in Georgia under O.C.G.A. 34-9-2. Part-time workers count if regular, and corporate officers and LLC members count toward the three even if up to five of them waive coverage on Form WC-10, per the State Board of Workers' Compensation FAQs.

Coverage a Georgia NEMT program needs

A complete Georgia NEMT insurance program typically includes the following lines. Coverage depends on the policy wording and endorsements, and the specific limits required by your Verida provider agreement must be confirmed with your regional Provider Relations Manager, as Verida does not publish them.

• Commercial auto liability. The foundation of any NEMT program. Georgia is an at-fault state, so injured passengers must pursue claims through the at-fault party's liability coverage rather than through mandatory personal injury protection. Adequate limits are essential. Whether a for-hire passenger endorsement is required depends on the policy wording and endorsements.
• Physical damage. Covers the vehicle against collision, theft, and other perils. For wheelchair-accessible vehicles and modified transport vans, agreed value coverage is typically preferable to actual cash value, because these vehicles depreciate differently and may be difficult to replace at ACV after a total loss.
• General liability. Covers premises and operations exposures outside the vehicle, such as injuries at a dispatch office. General liability policies typically exclude auto, including loading and unloading, so wheelchair securement injuries during boarding are generally addressed through commercial auto, not GL.
• Workers compensation. Required for any Georgia employer with three or more regular employees under O.C.G.A. 34-9-2. Part-time workers count if regular. Verida's credentialing process requires verification of insurance coverage, and workers compensation is a standard component of a compliant program.
• Umbrella or excess liability. Provides limits above the primary commercial auto and GL policies. The appropriate umbrella limit depends on fleet size, the Verida provider agreement, and the operator's risk tolerance.

Because Georgia is an at-fault state, as the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance describes, there is no mandatory no-fault personal injury protection. Personal auto minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. NEMT operators typically carry limits well above these minimums given the nature of the passenger population and the requirements of their provider agreements.

What underwriters ask Georgia NEMT operators

Underwriters evaluating a Georgia NEMT submission focus on the following areas, drawn from the Verida credentialing requirements and DCH program rules:

• Driver background checks and drug screens. Verida requires current criminal background checks for all drivers and current drug screens for all owners and drivers. Underwriters ask whether these checks are on file, how frequently they are renewed, and whether any drivers have disqualifying records.
• Driver training records. Verida requires training in First Aid, CPR, Defensive Driving, Passenger Sensitivity, Wheelchair Securement, and other topics before provider orientation. Underwriters ask for evidence that all active drivers have completed required training and that records are maintained.
• Vehicle inspection records. Verida conducts a comprehensive vehicle safety inspection as part of credentialing. Underwriters ask whether vehicles are inspected on a regular schedule and whether any deficiencies have been corrected.
• Carrier rating confirmation. Verida requires confirmation of an A- or better rated insurance carrier. Carriers that are non-admitted or rated below A- may not satisfy this requirement, and providers should confirm carrier eligibility with their regional Provider Relations Manager.
• Verida provider agreement status. Underwriters ask whether the operator is currently credentialed with Verida, whether there have been any compliance actions or contract issues, and whether the operator has transitioned from Modivcare in the affected regions.
• Workers compensation compliance. Underwriters confirm that workers compensation coverage is in place for all regular employees and that the payroll basis is accurate, given the three-employee threshold under O.C.G.A. 34-9-2.

Georgia laws that shape claims and costs

O.C.G.A. 40-1-100(12)(B)(vii) excludes from the motor carrier definition vehicles capable of transporting not more than ten persons for hire when used exclusively to transport persons who are elderly, disabled, or en route to receive medical care. This means Georgia sets no elevated liability minimum for a typical NEMT van. Operators who expand beyond this exclusive use, or whose vehicles seat more than ten, move into the limousine carrier rules with higher required limits.

O.C.G.A. 40-5-39 governs the For-Hire endorsement program administered by the Department of Driver Services. Taxi, limousine, and ride share drivers must obtain this endorsement, which requires a fingerprint check and a $15 fee. Whether this requirement reaches drivers of vehicles exempt under O.C.G.A. 40-1-100(12)(B)(vii) is not settled, and providers should confirm with DDS before operating.

O.C.G.A. 34-9-2 makes workers compensation mandatory for any employer that regularly has three or more employees in Georgia. Part-time workers count if regular. Corporate officers and LLC members count toward the three even if up to five of them waive coverage on Form WC-10, per the State Board of Workers' Compensation FAQs.

Georgia's at-fault auto system, as described by the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance, means there is no mandatory personal injury protection. Injured passengers must pursue claims through the at-fault party's liability coverage. Personal auto minimums are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. NEMT operators face tort exposure on every trip, which is why adequate liability limits and an umbrella are standard components of a Georgia NEMT program.

Requirements at a glance

What changed in 2024 to 2026

• Verida replaces Modivcare in three regions (April 1, 2026). Starting April 1, 2026, Verida (formerly Southeastrans) became the broker for all five DCH regions, per the DCH NEMT program page. Modivcare no longer serves the Central, East, and Southwest regions. Providers in those regions who had active agreements with Modivcare must contact Verida and complete Verida's credentialing process to continue receiving trip assignments.
• Verida rebranding from Southeastrans. Verida was previously known as Southeastrans. Providers who credentialed under the Southeastrans name should confirm their status under the Verida brand and verify that their insurance documentation meets Verida's current requirements, including the A- or better carrier confirmation.
• Five-region broker structure remains in place. The DCH capitated regional broker model with five regions (North, Atlanta, Central, East, Southwest) has not changed. The broker transition affects who administers each region, not the regional structure itself.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Georgia DCH Non-Emergency Medical Transportation program page
• Georgia DCH NEMT broker transition page (Verida / Modivcare)
• Verida: Interested Providers credentialing page
• O.C.G.A. 40-1-100: Definitions (motor carrier exclusion for NEMT vehicles)
• Georgia Motor Carrier Compliance Division: For-Hire Transportation Service FAQ
• Georgia DDS: For-Hire Endorsement Program
• Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation: Insurance FAQs
• Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance: Auto Insurance