New York State Medicaid pays for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) for eligible members at no cost to the patient. If you have a Medicaid card, your ride to the doctor is covered — but there are specific eligibility rules, booking requirements, and trip types that matter. Here is everything you need to know to access your benefit in Nassau or Suffolk County. Ready to book? DachiPlus provides Medicaid transportation across Nassau and Suffolk — request us by name through MAS.
- Cost to eligible members
- $0
- A mandatory Medicaid benefit
- Call MAS to book
- 1-844-666-6270
- The state transportation broker
- Book ahead
- 72 hrs
- 3 business days before your trip
- Request by name
- DachiPlus
- Serving all of Nassau & Suffolk
Who qualifies for free Medicaid transportation in New York?
Eligibility for Medicaid NEMT in New York requires all three of the following to be true at the time of the trip:
- Active New York State Medicaid membership. This includes straight Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care plans (like Healthfirst, Fidelis, or MetroPlus), HARP (Health and Recovery Plan), and most dual-eligible plans (both Medicaid and Medicare). Check your Medicaid card — if it is active and issued in New York, you likely qualify.
- The destination is a Medicaid-covered medical service. Most medical appointments qualify: primary care, specialists, dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, physical therapy, mental health, substance use, lab work, hospital discharge, and more. The trip must be to receive a service Medicaid covers — not purely social.
- No other free transportation is available. If a family member can provide the ride at no cost, public transit is reasonably accessible, or the facility provides its own transport, Medicaid may not cover NEMT. In practice, most Long Island members qualify because Long Island public transit is extremely limited outside major corridors.
You do not need to prove additional income hardship beyond Medicaid eligibility itself. The Medicaid card is your authorization.
What is MAS and how do I use it to book a free ride?
MAS — Medical Answering Services — is the New York State-contracted broker that manages all Medicaid NEMT bookings across the state, including all of Long Island. MAS does not own vehicles or employ drivers. It is the scheduling and eligibility verification layer between Medicaid members and credentialed providers like DachiPlus.
To book a Medicaid ride through MAS:
- Confirm your medical appointment first. MAS will not book a speculative trip.
- Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 — at least 72 hours (three business days) before the appointment.
- Have ready: your Medicaid CIN number, appointment date, time, and exact address, and your pickup address.
- Tell MAS your mobility needs: ambulatory, walker, cane, wheelchair.
- Request DachiPlus by name as your provider for Long Island trips.
- Write down your confirmation number.
MAS also has an online portal at medanswering.com if you prefer not to call. Call hours are Monday–Friday, 7 AM–6 PM, with a weekend urgent line available.
What is a CIN number and where do I find it?
Your CIN (Client Identification Number) is the unique 8-character code on your Medicaid card — typically formatted as two letters, five numbers, and one letter (e.g., "AA12345B"). MAS requires it to verify eligibility before confirming any trip. Keep your Medicaid card accessible when calling.
If you have lost your card or do not know your CIN, call the New York State Medicaid helpline at 1-800-541-2831 or visit your local Department of Social Services office in Nassau or Suffolk County. See our complete CIN guide for more detail.
What medical appointments does Medicaid transportation cover?
New York Medicaid covers transportation to virtually all medically necessary services. The covered list includes:
- Primary care, internal medicine, and geriatrics
- All specialist appointments (cardiology, oncology, neurology, orthopedics, etc.)
- Dialysis — typically set up under a recurring standing order
- Chemotherapy, radiation, and infusion therapy
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- Mental health and psychiatric appointments
- Substance use treatment, including methadone clinics
- Diagnostic imaging: MRI, CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound
- Lab work and bloodwork
- Wound care and post-surgical follow-up
- Dental care that is covered under the Medicaid plan
- Hospital discharge transportation back home or to a skilled nursing facility
Medicaid does not cover transportation to the pharmacy (unless the pharmacy visit itself is the only option), grocery shopping, or social visits unrelated to medical care.
How do standing orders work for recurring Medicaid trips?
If you attend recurring appointments — dialysis three times per week, weekly chemotherapy, daily radiation — you do not need to call MAS before every trip. A standing order is a request for prescheduled Medicaid transportation to recurring appointments at the same location, usually on the same days and at the same times each week.
If you go to dialysis, chemotherapy, or therapy at the same place on the same days each week, ask your dialysis center or doctor's office to request a standing order through MAS. Under the state's Standing Order Policy (effective October 1, 2020), only your medical provider's office can enter a standing order. MAS does not accept standing orders from members, family members, or transportation companies. When your provider's office enters the standing order, ask them to list DachiPlus as your preferred transportation provider. A standing order lasts up to six months and does not renew on its own, so ask your provider's office to renew it before it ends. Once it is active and the trips are assigned to DachiPlus, we pick you up on the scheduled days without a call before each trip.
How do I request DachiPlus specifically for my Medicaid trips?
When you call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 to book a ride, you can ask for DachiPlus by name. New York's Medicaid Transportation Policy Manual (section 2.3, effective August 25, 2023) tells MAS to assign approvable trips "based first upon the medically appropriate mode of transportation, then by enrollee's choice among participating transportation vendors, and finally, at the discretion of the transportation broker." In plain terms, MAS first decides the right type of transportation for your trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type. On the call, have your Medicaid ID number and your appointment date, time, and address ready, and say: "I would like DachiPlus to be my transportation provider."
DachiPlus is a New York Medicaid-enrolled provider serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The state Department of Health's enrollee FAQ notes that a Preferred Provider sometimes covers a certain region, so there may be times when your choice is limited. If you would like DachiPlus to drive your future trips, call MAS and tell them you prefer DachiPlus. If you have a standing order, also ask your provider's office to update your preferred transportation provider. DachiPlus cannot book, change, or pause your Medicaid trips. MAS and your medical provider handle those. If you want help understanding the MAS process, call DachiPlus directly at (516) 754-7777 and we can walk you through it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for free Medicaid transportation in New York?
Any active New York Medicaid member — including Medicaid Managed Care, HARP, and some dual-eligible plans — who is traveling to a Medicaid-covered medical service and has no other free transportation option. You do not need to prove additional financial hardship beyond Medicaid eligibility itself.
What is a CIN number and why do I need it to book a Medicaid ride?
A CIN (Client Identification Number) is the unique 8-character alphanumeric code on your Medicaid card. MAS uses it to verify your eligibility before booking a trip. It looks like "AA12345B." Have it ready when you call MAS at 1-844-666-6270.
How do I request DachiPlus as my Medicaid transportation provider?
When you call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 to book a ride, you can ask for DachiPlus by name. Have your Medicaid ID number and your appointment date, time, and address ready, and say: "I would like DachiPlus to be my transportation provider." MAS first decides the right type of transportation for your trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type, so your request is considered rather than automatic.
Does Medicaid cover the return trip home after a medical appointment?
Yes. Standard Medicaid NEMT booking includes both the trip to the appointment and the return trip home. Inform MAS at booking time whether you need a same-day return or a return at a specific time. For wait times that are unpredictable (e.g., infusion therapy), DachiPlus can wait on-site.
What if I need a ride the same day — can Medicaid cover it?
MAS standard bookings require 72 hours advance notice. Same-day urgent trips can be approved when a physician documents medical necessity. Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 and explain the urgent situation. If MAS cannot accommodate same-day, DachiPlus offers private-pay same-day rides at (516) 754-7777.
What types of medical appointments does Medicaid transportation cover?
Medicaid covers transportation to nearly all medically necessary services: doctor and specialist appointments, dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation, physical and occupational therapy, mental health visits, substance use treatment, lab work, diagnostic imaging, wound care, infusion therapy, dental (when covered under Medicaid), and hospital discharges. Purely social trips are not covered.