# How to book Medicaid transportation in New York

> Step-by-step guide to booking free Medicaid medical transportation in New York. Phone numbers, what to say to MAS, and how to request DachiPlus.

Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/how-to-book-medicaid-transportation-ny/

Updated May 2026

Booking a Medicaid medical ride in New York runs through MAS (Medical Answering Services). The process is the same statewide. Here's the step-by-step.

To book a free Medicaid ride in New York, call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours before your appointment. Have your Medicaid CIN, appointment date and time, medical provider address, and any mobility needs ready. When asked which provider, request **DachiPlus**.

## Booking a free Medicaid ride — the 6 steps

- **Confirm your Medicaid eligibility** — You must be an active New York Medicaid member traveling to a Medicaid-covered medical service.
- **Have your information ready** — Medicaid CIN, appointment date and time, the provider’s name and address, and any mobility needs (walker, wheelchair, oxygen).
- **Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270** — Book at least 72 hours (3 business days) before your appointment. Same-day requests are usually denied unless urgent.
- **Request DachiPlus by name** — Say “Please assign my trip to DachiPlus.” You have the right to request a specific provider.
- **Write down your confirmation number** — You’ll need it if you have to change or cancel the trip.
- **Be ready at pickup** — Be ready ahead of the scheduled time; the driver provides door-through-door assistance.

## Step 1 — Confirm your Medicaid eligibility

You need to be an active New York Medicaid member. If you have Medicaid Managed Care (Healthfirst, MetroPlus, Fidelis, etc.) or HARP, the same MAS process applies.

## Step 2 — Have your information ready

- Medicaid CIN (client identification number, on your Medicaid card)
- Date of birth
- Exact appointment date and time
- Medical provider's name and full address
- Your pickup address
- Any mobility needs (wheelchair, oxygen, etc.)

## Step 3 — Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270

Call at least 72 hours (3 business days) before your appointment. Same-day requests are usually denied unless it's urgent.

## Step 4 — Request DachiPlus by name

When MAS asks which provider you'd like, say: "DachiPlus, please." You have a legal right to request a specific provider, and if we have availability for your time and trip type, MAS will assign the trip to us.

## Step 5 — Write down your confirmation number

You'll need it if you have to change or cancel the trip.

## Step 6 — Be ready at pickup

DachiPlus arrives at the scheduled time. The driver helps you board, drives you door-through-door to your appointment, and coordinates the return pickup. You pay nothing.

## 72 hours means three *business* days

This trips people up more often than any other part of the process, because the two are not the same span of time. Three business days excludes weekends and public holidays, so a call placed on Friday afternoon does not satisfy the rule for a Monday or Tuesday appointment — the clock effectively restarts on Monday morning. If your appointment falls early in the week, book the week before rather than counting back seventy-two hours on a calendar.

The same arithmetic applies around holidays, when a single closed day can push a request outside the window that looked comfortable when you made it. Booking earlier than the minimum costs nothing and is the simplest way to avoid the problem entirely; there is no penalty for arranging a trip well in advance, and it materially improves the chance of getting the provider you asked for.

## The return trip is a separate leg — decide how to handle it

A round trip is two authorised legs, not one, and the return is where most bad experiences begin. You generally have two options, and which you choose should depend on how predictable the appointment is. A **scheduled return** fixes a pickup time, which suits a dialysis session or an appointment of known length. A **will-call return** means you telephone when you are actually finished, which suits anything open-ended — a specialist running late, imaging that leads to more imaging, an infusion that takes longer than planned. Appointments on a large campus such as [Stony Brook University Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/stony-brook-university-hospital/) or [North Shore University Hospital](https://dachiplus.com/facilities/north-shore-university-hospital/) in Manhasset are particularly worth booking will-call, since getting from a clinic back to the correct pickup entrance can itself take fifteen minutes.

The mistake is booking a scheduled return for an unpredictable appointment. If you are still in the waiting room when the vehicle arrives, the driver cannot hold indefinitely, and you are left arranging a fresh trip from the clinic. Will-call is usually the safer default outside recurring treatment, with the trade-off that you wait for a vehicle to be dispatched rather than having one already on its way. Ask which you have been given before you hang up — assuming one and receiving the other is a common and entirely avoidable surprise.

## If the vehicle does not arrive

Call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) with your confirmation number rather than only calling the provider. MAS holds the authorisation and can see what was assigned, reassign the trip, or record the failure — and that record is what matters if it happens again. Note the time you called and what you were told; our guide to [problems with Medicaid transport](https://dachiplus.com/resources/what-if-i-have-issues-with-medicaid-transport/) explains how to build a paper trail that carries weight.

Cancelling deserves the same care as booking. If your appointment moves, cancel the ride rather than simply not travelling — repeated no-shows are recorded against the member, and they can affect how readily future requests are approved. A cancellation takes a minute; the consequence of skipping it lasts longer.

## Related questions

## How do I book Medicaid medical transportation in Suffolk or Nassau County?

In New York, Medicaid transportation is coordinated through Medical Answering Services (MAS) at 1-844-666-6270. You call MAS at least 72 hours before your appointment, provide your Medicaid ID, appointment information, and any mobility needs, and request that DachiPlus be assigned as your provider. MAS will confirm the trip and notify us to dispatch a vehicle.

## What is MAS (Medical Answering Services)?

Medical Answering Services, commonly called MAS, is the broker that manages Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation across most of New York State, including Long Island. MAS verifies your Medicaid eligibility, confirms your appointment, and assigns a transportation provider. You can request a specific provider, like DachiPlus, when you call.

## How far in advance do I need to schedule a Medicaid ride in New York?

New York State requires Medicaid transportation requests be made at least three business days (72 hours) before your appointment. Urgent or same-day medical needs may qualify for expedited scheduling — call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 to confirm.

## How much does Medicaid medical transportation cost?

Medicaid medical transportation is free to eligible Medicaid members. There is no copay, fare, or out-of-pocket cost for trips approved through MAS. The provider bills Medicaid directly.

## Can I request a specific NEMT provider through MAS?

Yes. When you call MAS, you can request a specific provider by name. Ask the MAS representative to assign your trip to DachiPlus. If we have availability for your appointment window and your trip type, MAS will assign the trip to us.

## Can a family member ride with me on Medicaid transportation?

Yes. Medicaid generally allows one approved escort to ride at no additional cost, particularly for minors, passengers with cognitive impairment, or anyone requiring assistance during the trip. Mention any companion when booking with MAS.

## Sources

- [Medical Answering Services (MAS) — NY Medicaid transportation broker](https://www.medanswering.com/)
- [NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid for Members](https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/members/)

## Related resources

## Medicaid 72-Hour Rule: How Far Ahead to Book Rides in New York

## Free Transportation for Medicaid Patients in New York — Who Qualifies

## How to Find a Medicaid Transportation Provider in New York

## Medicaid Transportation Eligibility in New York