Washington State Expands Health Benefits to Licensed Family Child Care Providers

The State of Washington has introduced a health care and dental benefits program for Licensed Family Home Child Care Providers as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 925. This program targets providers who care for children funded by specific subsidy programs like Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), Seasonal Child Care (SCC), or Child Welfare and receive payments through the Social Service Payment System (SSPS).

Eligibility criteria for enrollment include being a licensed family home child care provider in Washington, providing care to at least one child funded by the stated subsidy programs, and having no other health insurance coverage. Providers must submit a completed enrollment form, maintain their Social Service Payment System (SSPS) invoices by the 15th of each month, and provide a valid social security number (SSN) or individual tax identification number (ITIN).

The health care benefits cover only the licensed family child care provider and exclude spouses, dependents, and program employees. The monthly premium of $30 is automatically deducted from the provider's SSPS monthly payments. Coverage options vary by zip code as negotiated through SEIU 925 and the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).

To maintain coverage, providers must continue submitting their SSPS claims punctually, as late claims may risk termination of health benefits. The program provides multi-language support and resources for enrollment, benefit summaries, and subsidy assistance aimed at facilitating compliance and access.

This program represents a targeted effort to support a subset of child care providers in Washington by integrating access to health benefits within existing state subsidy frameworks and labor agreements. It reflects coordinated policy measures involving labor unions, state agencies, and provider compliance requirements, important for professionals monitoring labor and insurance intersections in public health program administration.