Starting on Jan 1, 2021, if you’re an eligible driver in California with a qualifying healthcare plan and complete an average of at least 15 hours of engaged time per week throughout the calendar quarter, you will receive a stipend to help pay for healthcare.
You must be the primary policyholder in order for your healthcare plan to qualify. Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored plans do not qualify.
Who’s Eligible?
In order to quality, California drivers must:
- Be enrolled in a qualifying health plan; AND
- Drive an average of 15 hours of engaged time per week within each calendar quarter. A quarter is a period of three consecutive months (e.g., January, February, and March).
If you drive on the Roadie platform an average of:
- 15 to 24.9 hours of engaged time per week in a given calendar quarter, you’ll receive at least 50% of the average ACA contribution of the posted premium (as set by Covered California) as a Healthcare Stipend.*
- 25 or more hours of engaged time per week in a given calendar quarter, you’ll receive at least 100% of the average ACA contribution of the posted premium (as set by Covered California) as a Healthcare Stipend.*
Your healthcare stipend will be paid within 15 days of the end of every quarter. You’ll be able to track hours worked per quarter in your bi-weekly California Earnings Statement so you’ll always know where you stand.
Note: A quarter is a period of three months regarded as one-fourth of a year (e.g., January, February, and March).
Healthcare Stipend FAQs:
What is a qualifying health plan?
You can choose any qualifying healthcare plan that fits your needs. You can visit Covered California at www.coveredca.com to find health insurance available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
In order for it to be a “qualified plan,” you must be the primary policyholder for your plan. Please note that Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored healthcare plans do not qualify.
Roadie has partnered with Stride Health to make it easy to sign-up for a qualifying plan. Visit roadie.stridehealth.com for details about how to get started.
Please note, Roadie will require a driver to submit proof of current enrollment in a qualifying health plan prior to making any stipend payments.
How do I sign up for a qualifying health plan?
Roadie has partnered with Stride Health, to provide affordable access to health insurance and other benefits for drivers. To learn more and sign-up, visit roadie.stridehealth.com.
Does it matter when I sign up?
Each healthcare plan is different, but Stride Health’s current annual Open Enrollment Period in California runs from November 1 through January 31, 2021.
Additionally, some major life events -- like getting married, having a baby, or losing health coverage — make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health insurance outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.
When will I start receiving a Healthcare Stipend if I qualify?
Healthcare Stipends will be paid within 15 days of the end of the first quarter of 2021 and will appear on your California Earnings Statement.
Are Healthcare Stipends taxable?
The amount of any Healthcare Stipend paid to you is taxable income and will be reported by Roadie as taxable income on a Form 1099-NEC or other applicable forms as required by law.
We recommend using a free filing service like TurboTax to help you better understand the impact of stipends on your tax liability, or seek guidance from a qualified tax professional.
What do I need to do to prove my eligibility?
If you receive an email from Roadie requesting proof of eligibility, you can simply reply to that email and attach the requested documents. You can show proof of health insurance membership by submitting electronic copies or photos of valid, current health insurance identification cards, or Evidence of Coverage and Disclosure forms, which are typically included on the first page of your policy.
Remember, you should only provide this information to Roadie if we request it via email.
When will I receive the Healthcare Stipend?
Your healthcare stipend will be paid within 15 days of the end of every quarter. You’ll be able to track hours worked per quarter in your bi-weekly summary email so you’ll always know where you stand.
Note: A quarter is a period of three months regarded as one-fourth of a year (e.g., January, February, and March).
I’m enrolled in more than one healthcare plan. Can I receive a stipend for each plan?
No. Roadie will pay one Healthcare Stipend per eligible driver.
Does the Healthcare Stipend also apply to dependents or spouses?
The Healthcare Stipend is a direct payment made to the driver to assist the driver in paying for the cost of the driver’s qualifying healthcare plan of choice.
*This dollar amount will be published by Covered California in December of each year. Visit www.coveredca.com to learn more.
Learn about qualifying life events here.
If you need additional assistance, you can contact us via chat on the website.