How to Get Free Transportation to Dialysis on Long Island

Who Qualifies for Free Dialysis Rides in Nassau and Suffolk

Free dialysis transportation on Long Island is a Medicaid benefit for members who have no safe way to get to treatment on their own. Because kidney failure means three sessions a week, most of the year, NY Medicaid treats dialysis as a clear medical need and covers the ride at no cost to eligible members. Eligibility usually hinges on active Medicaid, a treatment at a covered center, and confirmation that you don't have a reliable driver. Income tests such as the federal poverty level already determine whether you qualify for Medicaid itself — once you're enrolled, the transportation benefit rides along with it. If you're unsure whether you're covered, our guide on who qualifies for Medicaid transportation walks through the details, and Medicaid transportation eligibility in NY covers the fine print. Patients across every Suffolk hamlet — from Bay Shore to Coram — and every Nassau village qualify under the same statewide rules. Learn more about coverage on our Medicaid coverage page, and see how the program works locally through our dialysis patient services.

How to Book Free Dialysis Transport Through MAS

The way to unlock free dialysis rides is to call MAS (Medical Answering Services), New York's Medicaid transportation manager for Long Island. The NYS Medicaid transportation phone number for our region is 1-844-666-6270. Call it, verify your eligibility, and ask for DachiPlus by name. New York's Medicaid Transportation Policy Manual has MAS assign trips "based first upon the medically appropriate mode of transportation, then by enrollee's choice among participating transportation vendors," so your request is considered once the right type of vehicle is set. New York asks for at least 72 hours' notice, but dialysis is the easiest case: your dialysis center can request a standing order through MAS that covers your recurring sessions for up to six months, so you don't re-book before each ride. Have your Medicaid CIN, the dialysis center's address, and your appointment date and time ready. Our step-by-step guide to booking Medicaid transportation in NY and the detailed MAS Medicaid guide make the call quick. To understand the mechanics behind the benefit, read how our Medicaid process works. Whether you dialyze at Fresenius Bay Shore, DaVita Smithtown, or Fresenius Coram, the booking steps are identical: MAS assigns the trip, and when it assigns the trip to us, DachiPlus handles the driving throughout Nassau and Suffolk.

Wheelchair and Ambulette Dialysis Rides — Still Free

If you use a wheelchair, Medicaid still covers your dialysis transportation at no cost when the mode is medically justified. Dialysis leaves many patients weak or unsteady afterward, so a plain sedan isn't always safe — you may need wheelchair transportation on Long Island with transfer-to-seat help or a fully secured chair. DachiPlus provides both, and arranges ambulette-level rides through licensed WAV partners when required. This is different from calling private wheelchair taxis, which aren't billed to Medicaid; our NEMT vs. ambulette comparison and ambulette service page explain the distinction. The right level of service is documented on your MAS order, so post-treatment fatigue is handled from the moment you leave the chair to the moment you're home in Brentwood, Central Islip, or Huntington Station. Families often ask about the difference between a van and an ambulance — our wheelchair van explained resource clears that up. The goal is the same for every mobility level: a safe, no-cost ride that gets Nassau and Suffolk dialysis patients to every session on time.

Low-Cost Dialysis Rides If You Don't Have Medicaid

If you aren't on Medicaid, you still have several low-cost or covered paths to dialysis transportation across Long Island. Many Medicare Advantage coverage plans include a set number of routine medical rides each year — check your plan's supplemental benefits, and see our overview of Medicare Advantage transportation benefits. If your kidney care is tied to an auto accident, no-fault auto coverage may pay for transport; if it's connected to long-term care, review long-term care insurance coverage. Veterans should check VA Community Care benefits. When none of those apply, private pay is straightforward — DachiPlus accepts credit and debit cards, and our wheelchair transport cost guide and money-saving tips help you plan. Whatever the payer, our dedicated dialysis transportation service keeps residents of Bohemia, Deer Park, and Lake Ronkonkoma on their treatment schedule without missing a session.

One fund almost nobody mentions: the American Kidney Fund's Safety Net Grant helps dialysis and transplant patients pay for health costs insurance doesn't cover, and transportation to treatment is an eligible expense. Ask your dialysis center's social worker to help you apply; grants are modest but renew annually and can offset a season of ride costs.

Standing Orders for Your Long Island Dialysis Center

The smartest move for recurring treatment is a standing order, so your rides three times a week are arranged without a call before each one. Under New York's standing order policy, only your medical provider's office can enter a standing order: ask your dialysis center or doctor's office to request one through MAS, and ask them to list DachiPlus as your preferred transportation provider. MAS does not accept standing orders from members, family members, or transportation companies. A standing order lasts up to six months and does not renew on its own, so ask the center to renew it before it ends. When the center enters it, make sure it has your exact location, whether it's DaVita Selden, Fresenius Commack, Fresenius Lindenhurst, or another site, plus your shift time and any mobility needs. DachiPlus serves the full Suffolk County service area and Nassau County service area, running Monday through Saturday from 6 AM to 8 PM to match early and mid-day dialysis shifts. Our broader non-emergency medical transportation covers follow-ups, labs, and specialist visits too, and the local Long Island dialysis transportation resource answers scheduling questions. If your schedule ever changes, say a shift change from a Bay Shore center to one in Babylon, ask the dialysis center to update the standing order through MAS so your rides stay accurate. DachiPlus cannot book, change, or pause your Medicaid trips; MAS and your medical provider handle those.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is dialysis transportation really free with Medicaid in New York?

For eligible Medicaid members in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, there is no out-of-pocket cost for dialysis rides. New York Medicaid covers non-emergency medical transportation to and from a covered treatment when you book through MAS (Medical Answering Services), and you can ask for DachiPlus by name when you book.

How far ahead do I have to book a free dialysis ride?

New York's Medicaid transportation program generally asks for at least 72 hours' notice. Because dialysis follows a fixed weekly schedule, ask your dialysis center to request a standing order through MAS so you don't have to call before every session. Only your medical provider's office can enter a standing order, and it lasts up to six months.

What is the NYS Medicaid transportation phone number?

For Long Island, call MAS (Medical Answering Services) at 1-844-666-6270 to arrange Medicaid dialysis transportation, and ask for DachiPlus by name. For a standing order, ask your dialysis center to list DachiPlus as your preferred transportation provider when they enter it.

Can I get free dialysis rides if I use a wheelchair?

Yes. Medicaid covers wheelchair-accessible dialysis transport when medically justified. DachiPlus offers transfer-to-seat service and secures wheelchairs in the vehicle, and can arrange ambulette-level rides through licensed WAV partners.

What if I don't have Medicaid — can dialysis rides still be low-cost?

If you have Medicare Advantage, long-term care insurance, or no-fault auto coverage, dialysis transport may be included or reimbursable. Private-pay rides are also available. Call (516) 754-7777 to review your options.

Sources

• NY State Dept. of Health — Medicaid for Members
• Medical Answering Services (MAS) — NY Medicaid Transportation Manager
• Medicaid.gov — Medicaid Benefits Benefit
• NYS DOH Medicaid Transportation Standing Order Policy and Procedure, effective October 1, 2020 (published by MAS)
• eMedNY: NYS Medicaid Transportation Policy Manual, section 2.3 Prior Authorization, effective August 25, 2023