Odds are yes! Stride is for anyone who handles insurance and taxes without the support of an employer. If you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, gig worker, independent contractor, or something in between, Stride provides you with the services and resources you need to make the most of your independence.

Every year from November 1 to January 15, there’s a period called Open Enrollment. This is the one time of year when you can enroll in health insurance or change your current coverage. If you don’t enroll during this time, then you won’t be able to get coverage until the next Open Enrollment Period unless you experience a special life event, like getting married, having a baby, or starting a new job.

And you don’t want to go uninsured for a whole year. While paying for a service that you hope to never use may seem like a waste, health insurance comes in handy even if you aren’t sick or injured. Most plans give you access to no-cost preventative care like vaccines, disease screenings, and contraception. And in the event that you do need care, having coverage protects your health and your wealth by lowering the cost of your medical bills so you can get the treatment you need. 

Though insurance may seem expensive, that’s not always the case. You might qualify for savings through tax credits that lower the cost of coverage based on factors like your age, income, and where you live. We’ll automatically find those tax credits for you so you can shop your most affordable options.

Stride is an official partner of HealthCare.gov. That means we offer all of the same plans at the same prices as HealthCare.gov and your state’s marketplace, as well as a choice selection of private plans. But here’s the big difference: Unlike those government websites, we don’t leave you to navigate finding insurance alone.  

We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your health and finances before, during, and after you enroll. We take your needs into account to provide personalized coverage recommendations so you can feel confident that you’re choosing the right plan. And with unbiased, one-on-one advisors on standby, you’ll always have support when you need it (and no pesky phone calls when you don’t).

Call (866) 360-1114 or fill out a support form to get one-on-one support for your questions about insurance, taxes, or anything in between. We won’t pester you with sales calls or sell your information to someone who will.