For Long Island seniors who no longer drive, getting to the doctor is one of the biggest barriers to staying healthy. The good news: several programs pay for those rides — and most seniors qualify for at least one. Here is every free transportation option available on Long Island, who qualifies, and how to access each.
- Medicaid (via MAS)
- $0
- Free rides for eligible members
- Medicare Advantage trips/yr
- 24–60
- When your plan includes the benefit
- Senior ride programs
- Town
- Listed by the Nassau and Suffolk Offices for the Aging
- Medical rides in Nassau and Suffolk
- DachiPlus
- Call (516) 754-7777 to start
Who provides free medical transportation for seniors in New York?
There are four main sources of free or covered senior medical transportation in Nassau and Suffolk County:
- New York Medicaid via MAS — full coverage at no cost for eligible members
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans — supplemental ride benefits included in many plans
- Town senior ride programs: run by the towns for residents 60 and older and listed by the Nassau and Suffolk County Offices for the Aging
- Long-term care insurance — often includes transportation as a covered benefit
Town programs book their own rides; DachiPlus can help with the other three paths, serving Nassau and Suffolk County Monday through Saturday, 6 AM to 8 PM.
How does free Medicaid transportation work for Long Island seniors?
New York Medicaid covers Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) at zero cost to the member. Every eligible senior simply needs an active Medicaid card and an appointment at a covered medical service — which includes virtually all doctor, specialist, dialysis, chemotherapy, therapy, and hospital appointments.
Booking goes through MAS (Medical Answering Services), the state-contracted broker that coordinates Medicaid rides across New York. The MAS number is 1-844-666-6270. Call at least 72 hours before the appointment. Have the senior's Medicaid CIN (Client Identification Number), appointment address, and any mobility needs ready. You can ask for DachiPlus by name; MAS first decides the right type of transportation for the trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type.
Seniors with recurring appointments, such as dialysis three times per week, weekly chemotherapy, or daily radiation, do not need to call before each individual trip. Ask the dialysis center or doctor's office to request a standing order through MAS and to list DachiPlus as the preferred transportation provider. Only the medical provider's office can enter a standing order, and it lasts up to six months, so ask the office to renew it before it ends.
Do Medicare Advantage plans cover free rides to the doctor?
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine non-emergency transportation. But most Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans now include a supplemental transportation benefit. Coverage varies by plan but typically provides 24 to 60 one-way trips per year to approved medical appointments.
The benefit is activated through the plan's transportation vendor — not by calling Medicare directly. DachiPlus is credentialed with multiple Medicare Advantage transportation vendors in Nassau and Suffolk County. When a senior calls us at (516) 754-7777 with their plan name and member ID, we verify the benefit and handle the billing.
Common Long Island Medicare Advantage plans that include transportation benefits include UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Humana, Wellcare, and Healthfirst. Check the Summary of Benefits in your plan documents, or call the member services number on the back of your card.
What transportation programs exist for Long Island seniors without Medicaid?
Seniors aged 60 and older who do not have Medicaid can often use a town program. The towns run these rides, not the counties: the Suffolk County Office for the Aging ((631) 853-8200) lists each town's senior transportation line, and the Nassau County Office for the Aging ((516) 227-8900) says it cannot provide county-wide transportation and points callers to NICE buses, Able-Ride and the towns. What the official pages show:
- Most Suffolk towns drive residents 60 and over who have no other way to travel to medical appointments, usually inside the town, on weekdays and with a few days' notice
- In Nassau, the Town of North Hempstead's Project Independence offers discounted taxi rides to medical appointments, and the Glen Cove Senior Center runs medical transportation with the City of Glen Cove
- Able-Ride in Nassau and SCAT in Suffolk serve riders whose disability keeps them off the regular bus
- NICE and Suffolk County Transit buses offer reduced fares to seniors with a senior ID
Seats are limited and most programs book days ahead. Our Long Island senior transportation directory lists every town and city program with who qualifies, how far ahead to book, the cost and the phone number. When a town program can't take the trip, private-pay transportation with DachiPlus is an option.
Can long-term care insurance pay for senior medical rides?
Many long-term care (LTC) insurance policies include transportation as a covered benefit, particularly for policyholders who already meet the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) eligibility threshold. Coverage is highly policy-specific — some pay for any medical transportation, others limit to transport related to home care services already in the plan. DachiPlus works with LTC insurance billing. Call us at (516) 754-7777 with your policy information and we will verify coverage before the first trip.
How do I get started booking free senior transportation on Long Island?
The fastest path depends on coverage:
- Medicaid senior: Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 at least 72 hours ahead and ask for DachiPlus by name. For recurring appointments, ask the doctor's office or treatment center to request a standing order through MAS.
- Medicare Advantage senior: Call DachiPlus at (516) 754-7777 with your plan name and member ID. We verify your benefit and book the ride.
- Neither Medicaid nor Medicare Advantage: Find your town's program in our senior transportation directory (or call the Nassau or Suffolk Office for the Aging), or book private pay with DachiPlus for door-through-door service.
- Long-term care insurance: Call DachiPlus with your LTC policy details and we handle pre-authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Long Island seniors get free rides to the doctor through Medicaid?
Yes. If a senior holds active New York Medicaid — including Medicaid Managed Care — their rides to covered medical appointments are fully paid by Medicaid. The trip is booked through MAS at 1-844-666-6270 at least 72 hours in advance. The patient pays nothing.
Does Medicare cover free transportation for seniors on Long Island?
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover routine non-emergency transportation. However, many Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans include a supplemental transportation benefit — typically 24 to 60 one-way trips per year. Call the number on the back of your Medicare Advantage card to check your specific plan.
How does a senior request DachiPlus specifically through MAS?
When the MAS representative asks which provider you prefer, say "I would like DachiPlus to be my transportation provider." MAS first decides the right type of transportation for the trip, then considers your choice of provider among the companies enrolled for that type. You can also call DachiPlus directly at (516) 754-7777 for help navigating the booking.
Are there free transportation programs for Long Island seniors who don't have Medicaid?
Often, yes, through a town program rather than the county. Most Suffolk towns drive residents 60 and over who have no other way to travel to medical appointments, and the Suffolk County Office for the Aging at (631) 853-8200 lists each town's number. In Nassau, the Office for the Aging at (516) 227-8900 says it cannot provide county-wide transportation; the Town of North Hempstead's Project Independence offers discounted taxi rides to medical appointments. Our Long Island senior transportation directory lists every town program with its rules and phone number.
Can a senior use DachiPlus for same-day rides if they don't have Medicaid?
Yes. Private-pay patients can book same-day trips with DachiPlus by calling (516) 754-7777. DachiPlus is available Monday through Saturday, 6 AM to 8 PM. Medicare Advantage transportation benefits typically require advance notice per the plan's vendor requirements.