Backup Care & Caregiving Supports

Backup care that’s subsidized based on your salary

Your cost for backup care is based on your salary, according to the tiers below. Bright Horizons handles all payments to providers and charges your copay to your chosen payment method.

You must have a credit card on file to utilize Backup Care. Once care is booked, your copay amount will be placed as a hold on your credit card. You will not be charged until care has been provided. 

Enhanced family supports

Family care, academic support, and household help is available with your Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports, including free memberships to caregiver marketplaces and preferred enrollment and tuition discounts. For example:

• Sitters, pet care, and housekeepers through your free Sittercity membership ($150 value)
• Expert local help for nanny placement and vetted sitters (50% off registration fee)
• Discounted tutoring through Sylvan Learning, Varsity Tutors, and Revolution Prep
• Adult/companion care support through Years Ahead

Taxability

Backup care for children may only be used for your dependents that you are able to claim when filing taxes. You are allowed to exclude from income up to $7,500 of employer-provided dependent care assistance in any taxable year, in combination of child care voucher, dependent care flexible spending account, and backup care earned benefit. These child care dollars are considered employer-provided dependent care assistance and are reported in Box 10 on your W-2. The maximum amount that may be excluded from income is $7,500 total. Refer to IRS Publication 503, IRS Form 2441, and IRS Form 2441 Instructions for guidance pertaining to child and dependent care expenses. If you exceed $7,500 in any calendar year, the excess funds are reported as taxable income, and will be included in Box 1 on your W-2.

Backup care for adults is taxable. The earned benefit of your adult backup care is reported as taxable income, based on the fair market value of the service, on your W-2 each year. Those who do not receive a W-2 from JHU will receive a summary of earned benefit in an email from Benefits and Worklife each year.

Request care 24/7/365 for same-day needs or up to 90 days in advance

Online: Visit clients.brighthorizons.com/JH. Select “Back-Up Care” in the “Benefit summary” box and click “Request care” to access the back-up care site and make a care reservation.

Mobile App: Download the mobile app by searching “Back-Up Care” in the App Store or Google play to reserve care on the go.

If you are fully registered and have used care once before, use your personalized username and password to access your account via the mobile app and make a care reservation.

If you are accessing back-up care for the first time, enter your employer credentials:

• Employer Username: JH
• Employer Password: Benefits4You

By Phone: Call 877-BH-CARES (242-2737) to speak with a care consultant 24/7/365.

These benefits can help you better manage your many work, family, and personal responsibilities. Offerings include discounts on select child care, tutoring, adult care, summer camp, new parent, and STEM learning. Services include:

• Free premium access to Sittercity, a fantastic solution for finding babysitters, pet care providers, and housekeepers
• Local, personalized placement service that will help you find a full-time or on-call nanny
• Special privileges for full-time child care, such as preferred enrollment and waived registration fees at Bright Horizons centers
• Exclusive adult caregiving resources
• Tutoring, STEM programs, summer camps, and small-group classes for school-age children
• Parental leave, caregiving, medical, and developmental resources for expecting and new parents

How to access:

• Log into clients.brighthorizons.com/JH
• Click My Benefits
• Click Access More from the drop-down
• Click All Benefits from the pop-up
• Scroll down to Parental Leave Toolkit, Sittercity, or Marketplace Partners
• Select desired program to learn more or use it

What is backup care?

Bright Horizons backup care can be used anytime you need to be at work, but your family member needs assistance, support, or care. Use backup care when your regular care is unavailable, so you can still work or study. Hopkins provides partial payment of backup care for up to 10 days per calendar year.

Use backup child care when:

• Your child’s school or child center is closed, either unexpectedly (e.g., snow day) or planned (e.g., school holiday).
• You have a change in your work schedule and need in-home child care for evening and weekend hours.
• You are in between child care arrangements.
• Your regular caregiver is unavailable.
• Your child is mildly ill and cannot attend their regular school or child care center.

Use backup adult care when:

• Your parent’s or grandparent’s regular in-home care provider is unavailable.
• Your parents live with your sibling, and your sibling has a temporary conflict and is unable to care for them.
• Your in-law(s) are in the hospital and you would like someone to be with them for support.
• Your spouse, domestic partner, or other adult family member is recovering from an injury or surgery and needs assistance.
• You are recuperating from an injury or surgery and need assistance for yourself.

Can I use backup care if I’m working from home?

Yes, if you are working from home, you can use backup care.

How are caregivers vetted?

Bright Horizons connects you with top-quality caregivers and centers available through no other providers. Safety protocols are set through guidance from the CDC, state, and local authorities. The rigorous caregiver screening parameters are as follows:

In-Home Caregivers

1. Social Security Number trace for all aliases and addresses
2. Federal and state or county criminal record checks
3. National criminal record database check
4. OFAC check
5. National (DOJ) Sex Offender Registries

Partner Center Staff 

1. State-mandated criminal record checks
2. Reference checks
3. Confirmation of identity, addresses, and prior employment
4. Employment eligibility verification
5. All centers must be licensed and in full compliance with regulations

Bright Horizons Center Staff 

In addition to the requirements for Partner Center Staff:

1. Social Security Number trace for all aliases and addresses
2. Federal and state or county criminal record checks
3. National criminal record database check
4. OFAC check
5. Sex Offender Registries

Is care available outside of the Baltimore area?

Yes, Bright Horizons’ network of in-home and in-center providers spans the entire U.S.A.

What if I am on a leave of absence?

If your employment status becomes inactive or you go on a leave of absence at any time, you may not use any Bright Horizons benefits. You must currently be full-time and benefits-eligible to use these benefits.

• My Bright Horizons
• Backup Care Reservations Guide
• Family Benefits Overview
• Resource for Supervisors