Getting around Clark County
Reduced fares, door-to-door service, and the qualification most riders never hear about.
Having Medicare qualifies you, whatever your age
C-TRAN's Honored Citizen category covers riders who are 65 or older, riders who have Medicare, riders with a qualifying disability, and riders who meet the low-income criteria.
You do not have to be 65 if you have Medicare. People who went onto Medicare through disability routinely pay full fare for years without knowing.
How to get the reduced fare
You apply to C-TRAN for an Honored Citizen card. Take proof of whatever qualifies you — your Medicare card, for instance. It is not automatic, and a driver cannot grant it at the door.
Fares change, so we do not print them here. C-TRAN publishes the current amounts.
C-TRAN Honored Citizen Fares
Riders in Clark County who are 65 or older, have Medicare, have a qualifying disability, or meet the low-income criteria.
What it can help with
- Reduced fares on local and regional C-TRAN service
- A route to C-VAN paratransit for people whose disability prevents them using regular buses
- Having Medicare qualifies you regardless of age. People under 65 on Medicare routinely do not realise this.
- C-VAN paratransit has its own eligibility process. Qualifying for reduced fares does not automatically qualify you for C-VAN.
Official source: C-TRAN · Last reviewed 2026-09-08
C-VAN, if the bus does not work for you
C-VAN is paratransit — door-to-door service for people whose disability prevents them using regular buses.
It has its own eligibility process, including an assessment. Qualifying for a reduced fare does not qualify you for C-VAN, and anybody who tells you it does is guessing with your week.
Start that process before you need it. It takes time, and the moment you actually need door-to-door service is not the moment to begin an application.
Getting to medical appointments
If you have Apple Health, non-emergency medical transportation may be available for covered appointments. That runs through the Medicaid side rather than through C-TRAN, and it is worth asking about by name because it does not come up on its own.
Everything else
Volunteer driver programmes, shopping shuttles and community transport exist in Clark County, but they start and stop and change hands. The two below know what is actually running this month, which a web page cannot.
Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington
Older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers in Clark, Cowlitz, Klickitat, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.
What it can help with
- Caregiver support
- Dementia resources
- In-home assistance
- Long-term care information
- Aging and disability services
- American Senior Choices is not affiliated with this agency.
- Clark County office: 201 NE 73rd St, Vancouver, WA 98665.
Official source: Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Washington 211
Anyone who is not sure which program they need.
What it can help with
- Referrals for food, housing, utilities, health care, elder care, transportation and more
Official source: Washington 211 · Last reviewed 2026-08-30
Questions people actually ask
I'm under 65 but I have Medicare. Do I qualify?
Yes. Having Medicare qualifies you for C-TRAN's Honored Citizen fares regardless of your age. People who went onto Medicare through disability routinely do not know this and pay full fare for years.
What is C-VAN?
Paratransit — door-to-door service for people whose disability prevents them using regular buses. It has its own eligibility process, including an assessment. Qualifying for a reduced fare does not automatically qualify you for C-VAN, and nobody should tell you otherwise. Start the process with C-TRAN before you need it, because it takes time.
How do I get the reduced fare?
You apply to C-TRAN and get an Honored Citizen card. Take proof of what qualifies you — your Medicare card, for instance. It is not automatic and the driver cannot grant it at the door.
Can I get to medical appointments if the bus doesn't work for me?
Possibly. If you have Apple Health, non-emergency medical transportation may be available for covered appointments — that is separate from C-TRAN and runs through the Medicaid side. Ask about it by name.
What if I just need help getting to the shops?
Call Washington 211 or the Area Agency on Aging. Volunteer driver programs, shopping shuttles and community transport come and go, and they know what is running right now in a way a web page cannot.
Official sources
Related
Getting to your doctor matters for coverage too
If travel is a constraint, which doctors and hospitals a plan covers — and how far they are — becomes a bigger question than the premium. Tim can review the plans he represents with that in mind.
Talk With Tim About Medicare: (360) 472-4261This line is recorded, as Medicare requires for plan conversations.
Last reviewed September 2026. American Senior Choices is not affiliated with C-TRAN and does not determine eligibility for reduced fares or paratransit. Fares, routes and eligibility rules can change.
Disclaimer: American Senior Choices is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 5 organizations which offer 33 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.