Meet Wellthy Backup Care
Personalized, fill-in care for every loved one — so your team can stay present through life’s curveballs. Flexible, customizable, and cost effective for any workforce.
The most modern and customizable backup care solution
Backup care for kids, special needs adults, elders, and pets - anyone your employees care for
Deeply customizable program design options
Support for global workforces
Onsite and nearsite care capabilities for in-person workforces or seasonal moments
Integrated payments and reimbursements
Transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing model
More cost effective than legacy solutions
Connect with our team
Simple, streamlined employee experience
With Wellthy Backup Care, employees can access care through any of our convenient booking pathways, ahead of time or at the very last minute.
Full service
Employees simply share a few details about their care needs, and a Wellthy Backup Care specialist will take care of everything on their behalf, including finding, vetting, and booking providers.
Self-serve
Employees can search the Wellthy network and filter for the perfect provider, explore provider details, read reviews, book care, and add their favorites to their Backup Care Circle - a shortlist of preferred options for the future. Wellthy is also the only Backup Care provider to offer a conversational AI interface, allowing employees to find amazing providers who match their needs with just a simple chat.
Personal network - reimagined
Sometimes the perfect provider is the one you already know: A next door neighbor, a cousin, or a home daycare just down the street. With Wellthy Backup Care, employees can lean on these trusted connections and get reimbursed for the costs of care - while employers can rest easy knowing that Wellthy enforces strict guardrails and reviews every care event to prevent misuse.
Care options from coast to coast and around the globe
Powered by the industry’s most diverse and scalable care network - with options
to match even the most unique needs. With Wellthy Backup Care, families have
real choice when it comes to care, and that makes all the difference.
Babysitters and nannies
In-home aides
Daycare centers
Community centers
Home daycares
Early learning centers
Summer programs
Fun activities
Faith-based centers
Tutoring and academic support
Senior day programs
Dog sitters and walkers
Wellthy’s network has developed over 10 years, and we are continually evaluating and adding new local options
for families to choose from. We focus on the locations where our members actually live and work—not
just big city hubs—to ensure that we can surface options even in tiny towns, suburbs, and rural areas.
Getting ahead of emergencies and inspiring new behaviors
Getting ahead of care emergencies starts with a bit of thoughtful preparation. At Wellthy, we’ve seen how planning ahead can ease the pressure when care needs shift unexpectedly. With Wellthy Backup Care, families can build a Backup Care Circle of trusted, go-to providers—so when something changes, they’re not starting from scratch, but turning to options they already know and feel good about.
Families can also plan ahead by booking care in advance for known moments like school closures, work travel, or busy work periods so support is already in place when they need it.
Families can also plan ahead by booking care in advance for known moments like school closures, work travel, or busy work periods so support is already in place when they need it.
A foundational commitment to trust and safety
As parents, caregivers, and pet owners ourselves, the Wellthy team understands the emotional stakes involved in care - and the importance of trust. That understanding has shaped our approach to backup care from the program’s inception. Here’s how we build trust and safety into every step of the process:
Comprehensive background screenings
Ongoing recertification and licensing checks
Specialized expertise verification
Collection of family feedback after every care event
Zero tolerance policy for providers who don’t meet our standards of excellence
Case Study
Wellthy Backup Care in action:
Wellthy partnered with a large public employer to launch a flexible, high-impact Backup Care program
for over 30,000 employees. The program was customized to meet the employer’s policy needs
while delivering meaningful support to working families across departments and job types.
Program customizations included:
Dependent verification requirement
Employee copy and fixed employer payment amount per care day
Personal Network usage
limits
Results over 12 months:
Since launch, the program has been a resounding success, with thousands of Backup Care requests fulfilled and excellent employee feedback. We’ve seen Backup Care surge during holidays and school closures like Spring Break, allowing working parents who are critical to company operations to show up to work and be present.
We’ve also seen families appreciating the wide range of care options available to them through Wellthy, including activities and nontraditional options. Two of the most popular options have been an outdoor nature discovery center and a kids’ art camp.
We’ve also seen families appreciating the wide range of care options available to them through Wellthy, including activities and nontraditional options. Two of the most popular options have been an outdoor nature discovery center and a kids’ art camp.
92%
members have returned to use Backup Care again
91
employee NPS
81%
care days used for children
58%
members created a Care Circle for advance planning
This is so helpful. My daycare closes a lot, oftentimes outside of the school district schedule. Having support with paying a sitter is one less issue for me to worry about.
-N, Wellthy member
Get the guide: Building your ideal backup care program
Whether you’re looking into backup care solutions for the first time, or considering a switch from another provider, this guide is a great starting point.
Learn how other leading employers have customized their Wellthy Backup Care programs
Explore available configuration options
Start envisioning a backup care program that meets your unique needs and budget
Patch: Onsite and near-site childcare for in-person workforces
If you’re navigating return-to-office or if your team never left, Patch is a gamechanger. Patch brings reliable, employer-dedicated backup care directly to the workplace. Designed to meet the realities of in-person work, a Patch Site offers guaranteed access to childcare — day, night, overnight, or on weekends. Employees can view real-time availability and instantly book care when they need it, allowing them to show up for work even when care plans fall through or schedules shift.
Patch is a perfect complement to a Backup Care program, or as a standalone solution.
Patch is a perfect complement to a Backup Care program, or as a standalone solution.
Why families and employers love Wellthy Backup Care
For employers:
Higher employee satisfaction
Better care fulfillment
Customizable program design
Top-notch employer experience
Lower costs and more transparency
The alignment of the mission and the goals of both of our organizations made Wellthy such an easy decision. I wish all of our benefits were this easy.
-Brian Kehan, Director of Benefits & Well-being, Merck & Co., Inc.
For families:
More care options and the largest variety of provider types
Multiple ways to book and engage (full service, self-service)
All-in-one, easy to use platform
Support for even the most complex situations (last minute care, special needs)
This is the best benefit I have ever received. I take care of a disabled sister and have a German Sheppard. When I travel this takes the financial stress of paying for backup care when I am gone for work. Best thing ever!!!!
-Georgia, Wellthy member