The free benefits you get as a New York rideshare driver
TLC drivers qualify for a range of health benefits and training, which you can get completely free. Here are some of the benefits available, and how to get hold of them.
Did you know that all eligible drivers of NY black car services, including Uber and Lyft, can sign up for free to get a package of valuable health and wellness benefits?
TLC drivers can access these benefits thanks to the Black Car Fund and the Independent Drivers Guild union.
Benefits include virtual doctor appointments, dental cover, eye exams and lots more. These are available for free, which is helpful at a time of high gas prices and rising costs.
Here are the benefits you get after you sign up for free:
| Virtual doctor visits | 24-hour access to free medical advice by phone, app or webcam for lots of different health problems, including Covid symptoms |
| Dental insurance | Emergency dental care and regular check-ups, including annual exams, x-rays and cleaning |
| Vision cover | Routine yearly eye exams and eyewear |
| Urgent care discounts | Discounts on urgent care services in NYC locations |
| Scans discounts | Access to providers offering savings between 20% and 80% on certain health scans |
| Prescription discounts | Save on prescription medicine at thousands of pharmacies |
| IDG mental health and wellness program | Free access to confidential counseling to help reduce stress, build healthy relationships and overcome life’s challenges |
| Defensive Driving Classes | Get paid $300 to complete the Defensive Driving Class |
You can also get other benefits through the Independent Drivers Guild. These include flu shots, accident support and low-cost legal assistance with police tickets.
If your family qualifies for free or low-cost health insurance, the Independent Drivers Guild can also help with a free screening that could get your family covered for less.
Can I get these benefits?
You can sign up to receive these benefits if you’re a TLC driver and have worked for an average of at least 10 hours a week over the last three months.
How is it free?
The cost of the benefits is not paid for by drivers – it’s your hard work that makes the benefits possible. Riders pay a bit extra on each trip, which goes into The Black Car Fund. This means drivers can get:
- Support if you’re injured on the job
- Free access to the benefits above
- Driving and health classes
The money riders pay is called a ‘passenger surcharge.’ This might show on your paycheck as a deduction, but don’t worry, it doesn’t come out of your pay. It’s paid for by riders as part of the cost of their trip.
How do I sign up?
To sign up for the first time, fill in this online form. You’ll need to give your first and last name, email address, phone number, date of birth, gender, address and your TLC license number.
You can also check the box in your driver app.
Who’s behind the scheme?
The Black Car Fund
The Black Car Fund is a non-profit company set up by New York State to provide workers’ compensation insurance to drivers of NY black car services, including rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft.
It also provides safety and health programs for drivers, which are paid for by riders.
The Independent Drivers Guild
This is the drivers’ union. It works on behalf of the driver community to improve working conditions and fight for a fair industry. The union has teamed up with the Black Car Fund to bring these benefits to drivers.
If you’d like to find out more info in Spanish, French or Chinese, visit ny.driversbenefits.org or call 1-833-814-8590.
At INSHUR we want to help drivers, whether that’s letting you know about benefits or through our quick and easy TLC insurance. To find out how we can help you, visit INSHUR.
Sources:
https://ny.driversbenefits.org/
Related articles:
