The best health insurance options for rideshare drivers in 2026.
Uber and Lyft both classify their drivers as independent contractors, not employees. This means no employer-sponsored health insurance, no employer premium contributions, and the full responsibility for finding and paying for health coverage falls on you. This has been true since both platforms launched and has been upheld by courts and regulators in most states.
Both Uber and Lyft have periodically offered drivers access to discounted health plans through third-party platforms like Stride Health. These programs let you browse marketplace plans through Stride’s interface, which includes subsidy calculation. What these programs don’t provide is any employer contribution to your premium — you still pay the full premium yourself. The main benefit is a guided enrollment experience. You can do the same thing for free at healthcare.gov or through a licensed broker.
Your ACA subsidy is based on net self-employment income after business deductions. For rideshare drivers, the mileage deduction is by far the largest. In 2024, the standard mileage rate is 67 cents per mile. A driver who puts 30,000 miles per year on their vehicle for rideshare (both with passengers and while waiting/driving to pickups) can deduct $20,100 in mileage alone. If gross rideshare income is $45,000, net income after mileage might be closer to $24,900 — potentially qualifying for Medicaid in an expansion state or significant marketplace subsidies.
Many rideshare drivers have gross income that looks higher than their actual taxable income after deductions. This can work in your favor for marketplace subsidies (lower net income = higher subsidy) but also requires careful record-keeping. Track all mileage with a mileage tracking app (Everlance, MileIQ, or the apps built into the Uber and Lyft driver apps) to support your deduction at tax time and for income estimation when enrolling.
Find affordable health insurance as a rideshare driver.
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