How Medicaid Redetermination Impacts Gig Economy Workers

Now that the pandemic-era rules requiring continuous Medicaid coverage are ending, as many as 15 million Americans are at risk of losing access to health care coverage as states begin eligibility redeterminations. 

Gig economy workers are no exception. Stride conducted a recent internal survey among 17,755 participants and found that over a quarter of app-based gig workers get health insurance through Medicaid. 

Redetermined gig workers are responsible for finding and enrolling in a new health insurance plan. And while many qualify for government tax credits through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health exchange, perceived affordability bias may keep them from re-enrolling. Among non-benefited worker populations, we found in a previous survey that nearly half (45 percent) of insured gig workers reported paying $0 in premiums in 2022, but more than half (58 percent) of uninsured gig workers said affordability is the reason they decided not to get coverage.

This misperception around insurance affordability could leave gig workers vulnerable to low-cost, aggressively marketed short-term health plans, many of which don’t provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. We break down short-term health insurance plans in more detail here.

As a certified ACA enrollment partner that’s helped more than 3 million gig workers and self-employed Americans access coverage, we want to ensure that redetermined workers get covered — and stay covered — even after states complete the purge of their Medicaid rolls.

If you need help finding and enrolling in new coverage contact our experts for one-on-one guidance in English or Spanish at 415-915-2156, support@stridehealth.com, or via chat.