# Wheelchair-accessible taxi and handicap transportation on Long Island > Need a wheelchair-accessible taxi or handicap transportation on Long Island? Here's how accessible medical transport works, what it costs, and how to book across Nassau & Suffolk. Source: https://dachiplus.com/resources/wheelchair-accessible-taxi-long-island/ Updated July 2026 A wheelchair-accessible taxi lets you ride without leaving your wheelchair, using a ramp or lift and floor securements. On Long Island, DachiPlus provides wheelchair-accessible transportation across Nassau and Suffolk County for medical trips, with trained drivers who help door-through-door. Call [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777) to book, or use Medicaid through MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270). "Wheelchair taxi," "handicap cab," and "wheelchair-accessible transportation" all describe the same need: a vehicle you can enter and ride in while seated in your wheelchair. Here is how it works on Long Island and how to book one. ## Wheelchair-accessible transportation at a glance ## What is a wheelchair-accessible taxi? A wheelchair-accessible taxi is a vehicle fitted with a ramp or hydraulic lift and floor anchors so a passenger can board and travel without transferring out of their wheelchair. A standard sedan or a regular rideshare cannot do this safely. Manual and most power wheelchairs are secured with four-point tie-downs, and the passenger wears a lap and shoulder belt for the ride. ## Wheelchair taxi vs. non-emergency medical transportation People search for a "wheelchair taxi" or "handicap cab," but for a medical trip what you usually want is [non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT)](https://dachiplus.com/services/non-emergency-medical-transportation/). The vehicle is similar, but NEMT adds what a taxi does not: - **Trained drivers** who help you from your door to the vehicle and into the medical office, not just curb-to-curb. - **Insurance billing.** A wheelchair taxi is out of pocket. NEMT can be covered by Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, no-fault auto, and workers' compensation. - **Reliability standards.** Medical rides are scheduled and accountable, which matters for dialysis and treatment you cannot miss. If your trip is purely personal (not medical), a private-pay wheelchair-accessible ride still works. If it is medical, NEMT is almost always the better and cheaper route. ## How much does a wheelchair-accessible ride cost on Long Island? If you have Medicaid and the trip is to a covered medical service, the ride is **free** when booked through MAS. Medicare Advantage plans often include a set number of trips per year. Without coverage, wheelchair-accessible transportation is private pay, priced by distance and trip type. For an exact quote across Nassau or Suffolk County, call DachiPlus at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777). See our [wheelchair transport cost guide](https://dachiplus.com/resources/how-much-does-a-wheelchair-transport-cost/) for the full breakdown. ## Ramp or lift, and why it changes what you can book Accessible vehicles load in one of two ways, and the difference is not cosmetic. A ramp is a fold-out or in-floor slope the chair is pushed up, usually into a lowered-floor minivan; it is quick, quiet and works well for manual chairs and lighter power chairs. A lift is a powered platform that raises the chair into a high-roof van, and it is what heavier power chairs and scooters generally need. Lifts have a rated capacity covering chair and occupant together, so the combined weight is a real constraint rather than a formality — a heavy power chair plus rider can approach the limit of a platform that would carry a manual chair and rider without difficulty. Chair dimensions matter for the same reason. Width decides whether the chair clears the door aperture, and height matters more than people expect in a lowered-floor van, particularly for riders in a tilt-in-space or high-backed chair. None of this is a problem when dispatch knows in advance; all of it becomes one when a vehicle arrives that physically cannot take the chair. Say the chair type — manual, power, scooter — and mention if it is unusually large or heavy when you book. ## The step nobody plans for: getting out of the building An accessible vehicle solves the vehicle. It does not solve the front steps. This is the most common reason an otherwise correct booking fails on the day, and it is worth checking before you book rather than discovering it with a driver waiting outside. If the pickup address has steps with no ramp, a narrow interior hallway, or a lift that is out of service in an apartment building, the chair may not be able to reach the kerb at all. Drivers assist with boarding and securement — that is the difference between this and an ordinary taxi — but they are not permitted to carry a rider or a chair down a flight of stairs, which is unsafe for everyone involved. Where a building genuinely cannot be exited in the chair, the usual answer is a transfer-to-seat arrangement with assistance to the vehicle, or a different exit. Either way, flag it at booking so the right vehicle and the right amount of time are allocated. ## How do I book wheelchair-accessible transportation? **Medicaid members:** call MAS at [1-844-666-6270](tel:+18446666270) at least 72 hours ahead, state that you need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, and request DachiPlus by name. Our [MAS guide](https://dachiplus.com/resources/mas-medicaid-guide/) walks through every step. **Private pay, Medicare Advantage, or insurance:** call DachiPlus directly at [(516) 754-7777](tel:+15167547777). Tell us your wheelchair type (manual, power, or scooter) so we send the right vehicle. Same-day wheelchair rides are available for private pay when we have a vehicle open. ## Wheelchair-accessible transportation: FAQ ## How do I find non-emergency medical transportation near me on Long Island? If you are in Nassau County or Suffolk County, DachiPlus provides non-emergency medical transportation services throughout Long Island. For Medicaid-covered medical transportation, call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 and request DachiPlus by name. For private pay or insurance-based medical transportation near you, call (516) 754-7777 directly. We serve all towns across both counties, Monday through Saturday, 6 AM–8 PM. ## How much does private-pay medical transportation cost on Long Island? Private-pay rates depend on trip type, distance, and vehicle. Ambulatory trips within Suffolk or Nassau typically start around $50–$75. Wheelchair-accessible trips start around $90–$120. Long-distance trips are quoted by route. Wait time and return trips may carry additional charges. Call (516) 754-7777 for an exact quote. ## Can I book a private-pay ride for today? Yes, when vehicles are available. Same-day private booking depends on driver availability and pickup location. Call (516) 754-7777 to check; we confirm or decline same-day requests within the call. ## What kinds of wheelchairs can you accommodate? We transport patients who use standard manual wheelchairs and can transfer to a vehicle seat — the wheelchair is folded and stored in the trunk. Patients who use power wheelchairs or cannot transfer out of their wheelchair should call us; we can help coordinate through Medicaid ambulette services or a licensed wheelchair-accessible van provider. ## What areas does DachiPlus serve? DachiPlus serves all of Suffolk County and Nassau County on Long Island. We also provide long-distance medical transportation from Long Island to specialty facilities throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. ## 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 ## Are There Wheelchair Taxi Apps? Long Island Options ## How to Get a Wheelchair Taxi in NYC ## How to Get a Wheelchair-Accessible Ride on LI ## What Is a Mobility Taxi? Freeport Wheelchair Guide