All about the Massachusetts Stipend Program for Uber and Lyft Drivers

Frequently Asked Questions

To sign up for the Massachusetts Driver Portable Health Fund, sign up at https://mahealthfund.stridehealth.com/savings/stipend/getstarted. 

Program FAQs

What is the Health Stipend?

• It is a set amount of money eligible Uber and Lyft drivers will receive in Massachusetts to pay for qualifying health insurance.

How do I qualify for the stipend?

• You must be an active driver for Uber and/or Lyft in Massachusetts.
• You need to average at least 15 "Engaged Hours" per month during a 3-month qualification period. Engaged Hours are the time from accepting a trip until dropping off the rider, including driving to the pickup. Hours worked for both Uber and Lyft are combined.
• You must enroll in a qualifying health plan.

What is a Qualifying Health Plan?

• A plan on which you are the primary subscriber.
• A plan that is neither affiliated with Medicare or Medicaid (e.g., MassHealth), nor an employer sponsored plan.

Learn more about qualifying health plans.

How much is the stipend?

• The stipend amount is based on the average cost of the lowest-cost Bronze tier plans available on the Massachusetts Health Connector for that period.
• The amount depends on your average pooled Engaged Hours during the qualification period:
  • Partial Stipend (50%) $537 quarterly: Average 15 to 24.99 hours per week
  • Full Stipend (100%) $1,074 quarterly: Average 25 or more hours per week.

When are the Qualification Periods?

• Qualification is checked over 3-month periods. The 2025 qualification periods are
  • April - June
  • July - September
  • October - December

When will I get paid?

• Users who successfully complete the health insurance verification process by the deadline will be paid about 15 days after the eligibility period ends. In 2025, scheduled payment dates are:
  • August 15, 2025.
  • October 15, 2025

Health Insurance Verification Process

How do I claim my stipend if I qualify?

• After each qualification period ends, if you're eligible, Stride will notify you the month following the qualification period, e.g., July 1-31 for the April-June qualification period.
• You'll need to create an account or log in to Stride and confirm you have health insurance or intend to buy health insurance.

 What is health plan verification?

• Stride is required to confirm you are enrolled in a qualifying health plan. This verification needs to happen when you first receive the stipend and then once per calendar year.

How does verification work?

• When you claim your stipend, you'll choose one of two options:
  • "I have insurance": You already have a qualifying health plan. Stride will attempt to automatically verify your enrollment using information like your name, date of birth, and your subscriber/member ID.
  • "I will buy insurance": You commit to purchasing a qualifying health plan soon. You will receive the stipend for that quarter, but you must provide proof of enrollment by August 31, 2025.
• If automatic verification isn't possible, you'll need to upload a picture of your insurance card (front and back) for manual review. Manual review will take about 2 business days.

What information might I need for verification?

• Your insurance carrier name (e.g., Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Tufts Health Plan Direct).
• Your subscriber ID number from your insurance card.
• Your legal name and date of birth.
• If manual upload is needed, clear pictures of the front and back of your insurance card or other accepted insurance documents. Learn more about manual upload.

What happens if I choose "I will buy insurance"?

• You are making a commitment to enroll in a qualifying health plan.
• You will receive the stipend for the current quarter.
• You have until August 31, 2025 to purchase the plan AND provide proof of enrollment to Stride.

What happens if I do not provide proof of enrollment to Stride by August 31, 2025?

• Your account will be restricted and future stipends will be withheld or reduced until proof is provided and the prior stipend is accounted for.
• You cannot use this Statement of Intent option again until proof is submitted.

How often do I need to verify my plan?

• Verification is required when you first successfully claim a stipend and then once per calendar year afterwards.
• You should keep your health insurance plan active throughout the year.

*Stride Savings LLC is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC. The Stride Mastercard Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank pursuant to a license from Mastercard, Inc. and may be used anywhere Mastercard cards are accepted.