What does Medicaid pay for transportation on Long Island?

What Medicaid transportation actually pays for

New York Medicaid pays the entire fare for the least costly appropriate mode of non-emergency medical transportation — you owe nothing out of pocket for a correctly booked ride. Across Long Island, Nassau and Suffolk County members are assigned a mode based on medical need: ambulatory riders get taxi or livery, riders who need mobility support get a wheelchair-accessible van, and those requiring more assistance get an ambulette. Medicaid does not pay for a higher mode than your documented need supports, which is why MAS reviews each request. The program covers round-trip travel, waiting time where applicable, and — in defined situations — an escort or attendant. What Medicaid will not pay for is a ride to a non-covered service or a trip you booked outside the MAS system. If you understand the way NEMT works under NY Medicaid, you'll avoid the most common billing surprise: a self-arranged ride that MAS never authorized. That's the difference between a fully covered trip and one you get stuck paying for privately.

Which appointments and services Medicaid covers

Medicaid transportation covers travel to any Medicaid-covered medical service — the appointment itself must be covered for the ride to be paid. On Long Island that includes recurring dialysis at centers like Fresenius Bay Shore, Fresenius Commack, or DaVita Smithtown; chemotherapy and radiation; physical therapy and rehab; wound care; mental and behavioral health visits; adult day programs; and hospital discharge from facilities such as Stony Brook University Hospital, Good Samaritan, or Huntington Hospital. Routine primary-care and specialist visits are covered too. What isn't covered: social outings, grocery runs, and non-medical errands — those fall under private senior errand transport. Members in managed long-term care plans may have transportation handled through their MLTC plan rather than fee-for-service MAS, so confirm which applies to you. When in doubt, ask MAS whether the destination service is Medicaid-covered before you book.

How to book and use the MAS system

To get Medicaid to pay, you must arrange the trip through Medical Answering Services (MAS) before you travel. Call MAS at 1-844-666-6270 at least 72 hours before a routine appointment and request DachiPlus by name so we're assigned as your Nassau or Suffolk provider. You can also request trips through the MAS medicaid transportation website login at medanswering.com, which lets you submit routine requests online and check trip status without waiting on hold. Have your CIN (Client Identification Number) ready — if you're not sure what that is, our CIN number guide explains it. The 72-hour rule applies to standard trips; urgent hospital discharges and same-day dialysis-slot changes have separate fast-track handling. For a full walkthrough, see our step-by-step booking guide or the MAS Medicaid guide. Once MAS approves and assigns DachiPlus, we handle the rest across Suffolk and Nassau County.

Does Medicaid reimburse mileage or family drivers?

Yes — in specific situations Medicaid reimburses mileage when a friend or relative drives you to a covered appointment, but it must be arranged through MAS first. This "personal vehicle" reimbursement is paid at a set per-mile rate to the registered driver, not to you as a rider, and the driver has to be enrolled with MAS in advance. It's a practical option for families in outlying Suffolk towns like Mastic, Coram, or Middle Island where a relative is already making the trip. Note this is different from riding along: if you want a spouse or adult child to accompany you in a DachiPlus vehicle, review our family ride-along rules, since escort approval depends on medical necessity. Public transit reimbursement (bus/train fare) is also available for members who can travel independently. When you call 1-844-666-6270, ask specifically about mileage reimbursement and personal-vehicle enrollment so the right paperwork is on file before your trip — otherwise the miles won't be paid.

What Medicaid does NOT pay for — and the alternatives

Medicaid does not pay for emergency ambulance as NEMT, non-medical errands, unauthorized self-booked rides, or rideshare-style apps marketed under names like "Zoom rideshare," "Zoom transportation," or "Zoom medical transportation." Those consumer services aren't part of the MAS network, so a trip booked through them won't be reimbursed. Medicaid also won't pay a higher mode than your documented need — you can't request an ambulette if a livery is appropriate. For rides Medicaid won't cover, Long Island families turn to private pay (credit/debit/HSA/FSA), Medicare Advantage transport benefits, long-term care insurance, or no-fault auto after a crash. To compare, read Medicaid vs. private pay and NEMT vs. rideshare/taxi. One note for job seekers who found this page searching "ambulette driver jobs near Huntington, NY" or EMT roles: DachiPlus operates NEMT and ambulette transport, not 911 EMT response — driver openings are posted on our contact page, and hiring, salary, and no-experience questions are handled there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicaid pay the whole cost of my ride?

For approved medical trips, New York Medicaid covers the full fare of the appropriate mode — there is no copay for the ride itself when it is arranged through MAS. You pay nothing out of pocket for a properly booked trip in Nassau or Suffolk County.

What kinds of appointments does Medicaid transportation cover?

Medicaid covers rides to Medicaid-covered medical services: dialysis, chemotherapy and radiation, physical therapy, hospital discharge, mental health visits, wound care, adult day programs, and routine doctor visits. The service you're traveling to must itself be Medicaid-covered.

Can I use the MAS Medicaid transportation website login to book?

Yes. Medicaid members can request trips through the MAS online portal (medanswering.com) or by phone at 1-844-666-6270. Book at least 72 hours ahead and request DachiPlus by name so we're assigned as your provider.

Does Medicaid pay mileage if a family member drives me?

In some cases MAS approves personal-vehicle mileage reimbursement for a friend or relative who drives you to a covered appointment. You must register the driver with MAS in advance; ask when you call 1-844-666-6270.

Is Medicaid transportation the same as an ambulance?

No. Medicaid separates emergency ambulance from non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). NEMT includes taxi/livery, wheelchair-accessible vans, and ambulette — not 911 ambulance service. DachiPlus provides NEMT, not emergency EMT response.