Health Insurance for Truck Drivers

Trucking is a dangerous profession, and truckers deserve to be protected both on and off the road. With ten to eleven hours of driving a day, and up to 60 hours on the road each week, health issues can arise due to eye strain, sun exposure, and sleep deprivation. The physical strain from being on the road so much coupled with a high average age of truck drivers means that it’s difficult to find affordable health insurance for truck drivers. So how do you get health coverage for your needs as a trucker that will cover you on the road and at home?

Lower your premiums with Medshare for truck drivers

Medshare plans are a popular choice for younger truck drivers since policy premiums are calculated based on your age and income bracket, so your payment won’t change until you reach the next age bracket. Because of the way premiums are calculated, a typical health insurance payment could cost as little as half of what an ACA insurance payment would be.

There are an assortment of benefits to a Medshare insurance plan:

• Enrollment is open year-round, so you don’t need to wait for the open enrollment period.
• Medshare plans are government compliant; you won’t incur a tax penalty at the end of the year for using a Medshare plan.
• Medshare plans are PPO, not HMO. This means that you can see any doctor to receive care, not just the doctors in your network.

Affordable health insurance for truck drivers

There are a few ways to apply for health insurance as a truck driver.

• Apply for health insurance during the open enrollment period between November 1st and December 15th. Your coverage will start on January 1st of the following year.
• Apply for a short term medical plan.
• Apply for Medicaid or CHIP. Income restrictions apply.

In addition to your primary health coverage, it’s important to also consider supplemental coverage such as vision and dental insurance.

Health insurance for owner operator truck drivers

As an owner-operator, your health insurance needs are different than the needs of a company driver. Many providers attempt to make your premiums more affordable by bundling your health insurance with your trucking insurance. There are a few different coverages available to choose from as an owner-operator:

Catastrophic coverage - This type of plan only pays benefits during a catastrophic health event, such as a heart attack or stroke, and only hospital-related expenses are covered. If you need out of hospital care, such as a home nurse, physical therapy, or a private doctor, you will have to pay out of pocket.

Primary medical coverage - This is a more comprehensive insurance plan, and covers everything that catastrophic coverage does, with the added benefit of covering out of hospital care as needed.

If you are on lease, the company you drive for may provide health insurance benefits, but owner-operators more often than not will have to source and pay for their own individual or family health insurance plan.

Health insurance for truck drivers and their family

While you’re on the road, away from your family, you want to make sure your spouse and children have access to healthcare if they need it. If you’re unable to get health insurance through the company you drive for, you need to sign up for a family health insurance plan.

Policy premiums are typically separated by tiers, with lower tiers having a low monthly premium but high out of pocket costs, and higher tiers having a higher monthly premium with little to no out of pocket costs. It’s important to consider the current state of your family’s health before deciding which type of plan to apply for.

Health insurance for trucking companies

An important part of offering health insurance to your drivers is your ability as a company to purchase a group plan, keeping policy rates down and giving your truck drivers peace of mind. With an estimated 70% of truckers having major health issues due to a sedentary lifestyle, long hours, and poor diet, a good yet affordable group insurance plan is crucial to keep your truckers healthy so they can worry about their cargo and not their health.

Since the risk of a health crisis is spread among multiple people instead of just one driver, group plans are an affordable way to keep your truck drivers, dispatch, and warehouse workers covered. In order to purchase a group healthcare plan for your company, it’s usually required that at least 70% of your employees participate in obtaining coverage.