Beyond earnings, Bolt urges drivers to consider its health insurance as reward

Ride-hailing company Bolt is urging drivers to look beyond earnings and onboard themselves onto its health insurance scheme as part of their reward. The company disclosed this in a statement seen by Technext.

The company noted that a driver’s duty is not just to complete trips, but also to provide for families that depend on them, including meeting their healthcare needs. But with the rising cost of healthcare in Nigeria, a single medical emergency can place significant financial strain on a household, making access to affordable health insurance increasingly important.

Read also: Lagos drivers protest Uber, Bolt and inDrive’s refusal to implement mandatory health insurance

While conversations around supporting drivers often focus on earnings, there is also a need to focus on affordable healthcare that not only protects drivers but also provides peace of mind for the families who rely on them. It is, therefore, urging eligible drivers to take advantage of its discounted health insurance plans for themselves and their families to help reduce the financial burden that unexpected medical expenses can create.

Senior General Manager for Bolt West Africa, Teddy Appa-Dankyi, said supporting drivers should go beyond helping them earn an income and also focus on improving their well-being.

“Their wellbeing has a direct impact on the people who depend on them. We believe health insurance shouldn’t be viewed as an optional benefit, it is an important part of helping drivers build more secure and resilient lives,” he said.

He added that as Nigeria’s cost of living continues to rise, access to affordable healthcare has become increasingly important for working families.

Where does Bolt’s health insurance plan fit into NHIA’s directive?

In March 2026, Bolt partnered with Bastion Health to introduce discounted health insurance plans for its driver-partners across Nigeria. Through the collaboration, drivers will be able to access discounted health plans under a pooled programme, with the flexibility to choose coverage for themselves as well as their dependents.

Essentially, the system is banking on drivers to pool in enough funds in discounted fees to work. Bolt is yet to disclose if adoption is enough to make it worthwhile.

Another point to consider is whether the scheme aligns with a May 2026 directive from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) mandating that e-hailing companies and logistics operators provide health insurance for their drivers and delivery personnel.

One key question to be answered is whether a system that depends on drivers to pool in enough funds to make it work qualifies as providing mandatory health insurance. Another important question is whether an organisation which requires personnel to pay part of the premium can be said to have truly provided the insurance benefit for them.