Sidecar Health positions itself as a transparent, flexible alternative to traditional health insurance. Its core idea: put patients in control and publish fixed benefit amounts for medical services, procedures, and prescriptions. You pay the provider directly, then Sidecar pays you the pre-set amount for that service. If the provider charges more than Sidecar’s benefit, you pay the difference; if they charge less, you keep the savings.
This simplicity can work well for some people, but not everyone. Sidecar Health isn’t available in every state, doesn’t cover people with preexisting conditions, and excludes those 65+ (who generally qualify for Medicare). Below, we break down how it works, where it’s available, and who it’s best for.
At a Glance
Pros
- Discounts for self-paying medical services
- Enroll or cancel anytime (no open enrollment window)
- $0 deductibles available
- No networks: use virtually any healthcare provider
Cons
- Available in only 18 states
- No enrollment for people with preexisting conditions or those 65+
- No max out-of-pocket financial protection like many traditional plans
Our verdict: Sidecar Health can be a fit if you’re younger, generally healthy, and live in a state where it’s offered. If you visit doctors frequently, have ongoing conditions, or want strong protection against high out-of-pocket costs, traditional or ACA-compliant options may be more affordable or protective.
What Is Sidecar Health?
Sidecar Health Insurance Solutions, LLC. is a non-traditional insurer founded in 2018 by Patrick Quigley and Veronica Osetinsky to bring greater cost transparency to medical care. Sidecar says members can save up to 40% by paying providers directly, avoiding back-and-forth price negotiations common in traditional claims.
Launched in Texas in 2019, Sidecar has since expanded to offer plans in 18 states across the U.S.
How Does Sidecar Health Work?
Sidecar’s primary products are fixed indemnity plans. Instead of covering a percentage of your bill after a deductible, Sidecar publishes a fixed benefit per service. Example: if the plan pays $200 for an urgent care visit and the visit costs $300, you pay the $100 difference. If the visit costs $150, you keep the $50 difference.
Fixed Indemnity, Explained
A fixed indemnity plan pays a set dollar amount for a defined service regardless of the provider’s actual charge. You can sign up or cancel anytime (no open enrollment), which makes it flexible for changing life circumstances.
Provider Access
There are no networks. You can see any doctor. Sidecar publishes typical provider rates for many services so you can compare prices before choosing where to go.
What a Visit Looks Like
- Pay the provider directly at the time of service (any payment method). You’re initially charged 100% of the bill.
- Upload an itemized invoice through your member portal after the visit.
- Sidecar credits your benefit for that service. If the benefit is lower than the bill, you cover the difference. If it’s higher, you keep the remainder.
Example: If the benefit for a chiropractor visit is $75 and your visit costs $90, your out-of-pocket is $15. If the visit costs $65, your cost is fully covered and you keep $10.
Sidecar Health VISA Benefit Card
After enrollment, you receive a Sidecar Health VISA benefit card (optional to use). Link it to your bank account; it functions like a debit card for medical payments. Limits: up to $2,500 for medical procedures and $750 for pharmacy. Call Sidecar if a larger authorization is needed.
When using the card, Sidecar applies an estimated benefit immediately and makes a final adjustment after you upload your itemized invoice. If the final benefit is less than the bill, you owe the difference. If it’s more, you keep the difference.
Plans and Coverage
Access Plan (Main Product)
- Budget: up to $10,000 in annual benefits
- Standard: up to $25,000 per person per year
- Premium: up to $2,000,000 per person per year
- Plus: for covered services, benefits increase by 25% after Sidecar has paid $10,000 in a year.
All Access Plan levels offer $0 deductibles, prescription coverage, and preventive services. You can also build a custom plan with annual coverage from $5,000–$2,000,000 and deductibles from $0–$1,000.
Maternity coverage is available (additional cost) in 15 of 18 states; it’s not available in Arizona, Maryland, or Utah.
Where Is Sidecar Health Available?
Access Plans are offered in these 18 states:
- Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah
Eligibility notes: Not available to people with preexisting conditions or those 65+ (who generally qualify for Medicare). Coverage applies to medically necessary services; elective and cosmetic procedures are typically excluded and policy details can vary by state.
Common Exclusions
- Vision services and eye surgery
- Sterilization procedures (e.g., vasectomy, tubal ligation)
- Dental services
- Sexual reassignment surgery
- Fertility treatments
ACA and Employer Options
Sidecar also offers an ACA plan for Ohio residents that includes ACA-required features like:
- No total policy maximums
- 100% preventive care coverage
- Preexisting condition coverage
- Maternity and prescription coverage
Employer plans are available for companies that want to provide employee coverage.
Quoting and Enrollment
- Enter your ZIP code on the Sidecar Health website to get a quote.
- Provide basic details (name, email, age, gender).
- Answer questions about health history and conditions (e.g., cancer, AIDS, diabetes, lupus, muscular dystrophy).
- View monthly prices for Budget, Standard, and Premium—and customize coverage if you wish.
Note: If Sidecar isn’t offered in your state, you may be prompted to leave your name and email for future availability updates.
How to Maximize Savings with Sidecar
- Ask for the cash price from your provider before the visit—self-pay often receives a meaningful discount.
- Use the member portal to see Sidecar’s benefit for a service before you go, so you can compare providers and avoid surprises.
- Understand that pricing can vary with health status and usage. For example, smoking or frequent mental health visits may increase premiums. A healthy Florida member might pay about $225/month for Standard, but smoking could raise it to around $345, and frequent mental health visits could push it to roughly $519 (illustrative figures).
FAQs
Where is Sidecar Health available?
Access Plans are available in 18 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
Who underwrites Sidecar’s Access Plans?
- United States Fire Insurance Company: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas.
- Sirius America Insurance Company: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Utah.
How long do I have to upload an itemized receipt?
You have 30 days after using the Sidecar Health VISA benefit card to upload an itemized receipt including: patient name; provider name and NPI; date of service; amount charged per service; CPT codes; reason for services; and for prescriptions, drug name/form/strength/dosage or NDC.
Bottom Line
Sidecar Health aims to remove surprises by publishing benefit amounts and encouraging direct-pay discounts. It can be a practical, short-term, or flexible solution for healthy individuals, including the self-employed, who don’t qualify for subsidies and prefer simple, transparent pricing without networks or deductibles.
However, it’s not for everyone: availability is limited to 18 states, preexisting conditions are excluded, and there’s no traditional max out-of-pocket cap. If predictable costs and broad protections are priorities—or you’re 65+ or managing ongoing conditions—an ACA-compliant or traditional plan may be a better fit.