Where are you right now? · Step 6 of 9
Evaluation & tests
“The ride is the hard part.”
What tests come with a kidney transplant evaluation?
Tests include blood tests and checks of your heart and other organs, to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery.1 You will also have tests of your mental and emotional health.1
Testing and evaluation may take several visits over weeks to months.1 If your tests show you can have a transplant, the center adds you to the waiting list. Waits can range from a few months to years.1
What happens at a kidney transplant evaluation?
At Westchester, the evaluation may include blood tests, other tests, and a review of your mental health and support.2
Ask for a list of tests and who will book each one.
Who will I meet during a kidney transplant evaluation?
Your transplant team includes doctors, a transplant coordinator (a nurse), a social worker, a pharmacist and a dietitian.1
Ask who your main contact will be. Write down how to reach that person.
How long does a kidney transplant evaluation take?
The evaluation may take several visits over weeks to months, according to NIH.1
Ask the team for a plan with dates. Check what is still left to do.
How do I get to kidney transplant evaluation visits if I don't drive?
In New York, contact MAS, New York Medicaid's ride service, to check your ride benefit and set up trips.3
In New Jersey, Modivcare arranges non-emergency medical rides for NJ FamilyCare clients.4
Connecticut offers medical rides to people in HUSKY A, C, D and CoveredCT who have no way to get to visits.5
Medicare covers ambulance travel when using another vehicle could put your health at risk and other coverage rules are met.6
Before a visit across state lines, ask your ride service and health plan to confirm the trip in writing.
What if I'm told I can't be referred or listed for a kidney transplant yet?
Ask the center why it did not accept you and what you can do next.7
Ask for the reason in writing. Ask if a new test, more support or another center could be a next step.
Questions to bring to your team
- Which tests are still needed?
- Who will help book my rides?
- Who can help with costs?
- When should I check back?
Sources
- NIH / NIDDK. Kidney Transplant. Get tested at a transplant center. Get on the waiting list. Who is on my transplant team? Transplant evaluation. Checked October 31, 2026.
- WMCHealth. Kidney Transplant. The Evaluation Process: What to Expect. Checked October 30, 2026.
- New York State Department of Health. Enrollee Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Question 4: How do I get started? Checked October 30, 2026.
- New Jersey Department of Human Services. Transportation. Transportation. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Connecticut Department of Social Services. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation-Eligibility. Eligibility. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. Ambulance services. Ambulance services. Checked October 30, 2026.
- SRTR. Getting Listed. What happens if a center finishes the evaluation and does not accept me onto the waiting list? Checked October 30, 2026.
- New York State Office for the Aging. Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Programs. Overview. Checked October 30, 2026.
- New Jersey Division of Aging Services. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). SHIP Information Center. Checked October 30, 2026.
- Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services. CHOICES. How CHOICES can help. Checked October 30, 2026.
Page facts
Written by the TransplantCheck team.
Facts checked against official sources between October 30 and October 31, 2026.
Changes
- November 2, 2026: first version, with answers from The kidney care journey and Referral and evaluation.