Ride-hailing platform Bolt has expanded its discounted health insurance programme in Nigeria to allow eligible driver-partners to extend healthcare coverage to members of their immediate families.
The initiative, introduced earlier this year in partnership with Bastion Health, is designed to give drivers and their families access to healthcare services through Bastion Health’s provider network at discounted rates.
The expansion comes at a time when rising healthcare expenses are placing increasing pressure on households, particularly those confronted with unexpected medical emergencies. For drivers whose earnings depend largely on the number of trips they complete each day, sudden medical bills can put additional strain on already stretched family finances.
Bolt said the programme forms part of its broader commitment to driver welfare, with its support initiatives extending beyond earnings and access to the ride-hailing platform.
Teddy Appa-Dankyi, senior general manager, Bolt West Africa, said the company’s responsibility to its driver-partners goes beyond providing opportunities to earn an income.
“Driver-partners are at the heart of everything we do, and supporting them means looking beyond the road. Many drivers are the primary providers for their families, so 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.
Appa-Dankyi noted that the cost of medical care could make it challenging for working families to cope when unexpected health needs arise.
“Healthcare costs can be difficult to manage, particularly when unexpected medical needs arise. By making discounted health insurance available to our driver-partners and their families, we're helping remove one of the barriers to accessing quality healthcare,” he said.
He added that the initiative was intended to provide drivers with greater financial and emotional reassurance while ensuring that their loved ones could also obtain medical care when necessary.
“It's about giving drivers greater peace of mind so they can focus on what they do best while knowing their loved ones also have access to care when they need it,” Appa-Dankyi said.
Under the programme, eligible driver-partners and their immediate family members can access a range of healthcare services through Bastion Health’s network of healthcare providers.
The family component is particularly significant for drivers who serve as principal or major providers for their households. By extending access beyond individual drivers, the programme is intended to reduce the potential impact of medical expenses on the wider family.
Bolt said the health insurance initiative is one component of its driver support programme, which seeks to address different aspects of the experience of drivers using its platform.
The company has positioned driver wellbeing as an important part of its relationship with driver-partners, recognising that financial opportunities alone may not address some of the challenges faced by those who depend on ride-hailing as a source of livelihood.
For eligible drivers interested in joining the health insurance scheme, Bolt said enrolment information is available through the Bolt Rewards section of the Driver app.
The expansion means participating driver-partners can seek coverage not only for themselves but also for members of their immediate families, potentially providing a wider safety net against unexpected healthcare costs.