When plans change, we’re there for you.
Life doesn't always go according to plan, especially when it comes to childcare or adult care. Sudden changes can leave families stressed and scrambling.
Let Wellthy step in to help!
Whether it's an unexpected daycare closure, a sick babysitter, or a planned caregiver vacation, Wellthy has you covered. We help with both urgent needs and long-term planning for your children and adult loved ones.
When care plans change—and they will—Wellthy ensures your family is supported.
Think of Wellthy Backup Care as your All-Star Phillies pinch hitter—a reliable go-to for City of Philadelphia employees and their families when unexpected care needs pop up.
A community of care providers right there in your community
Caring for loved ones is among the most important and meaningful things we do—and you should feel a sense of trust, ease, and connection to those who help your family’s care journey.
Convenient care, community connected
At Wellthy, we leverage an expansive and localized Care Network to give you flexible and community-centric options for backup care. We go beyond big-box centers that might be miles away or inconvenient for you to reach.
Vetted and verified
We turn to providers in your neighborhood or wherever is convenient to you, who make up the fabric of care in your community supporting local families. And every provider is vetted and verified by our world-class team of care experts.
Diverse options so you decide what’s best for your family
Wellthy’s Care Network has thousands of providers, giving families like yours as many options as possible when it comes to backup care. We’ll use our Care Network to help you build out a care circle that can include:
In-center care
Safe and vetted childcare centers for your kiddos
Community-based programs
Trusted programs right in your own neighborhood to help care for children or adults in your family
In-home providers
Professional caregivers, babysitters, nannies or more who can come to your home to provide care
Personal network
Prefer to use your own network of families, friends, or neighbors that you trust? You can!
Get started with Wellthy today
It’s easy and quick to get started with Wellthy—whether you need immediate support, or whether you want to get ahead of future care needs.
Activate your account
Sign up for Wellthy with your City of Philadelphia email address.
Tell us about your care needs and build your Care Circle
Through some short and simple prompts, tell us about your care situation and the needs of your family. Here’s where you can start to build out your own Care Circle, too, if you’re planning ahead or want to note any preferred providers or family and friends you want to turn to for backup care support.
Request care
Submit your care request and either a Wellthy Care Team member will get to work finding the most flexible and appropriate options for you and your family, or if you’re leveraging the contacts in your personal Care Circle your request will be sent directly to them.
Everything you need to know about Wellthy’s Backup Care program
Take a look at the program details below, which will walk you through all the basics and logistics of how Wellthy works
This benefit is available to employees classified as exempt and non-represented.
Employees represented by the union, temps, vendors, and contractors are not eligible at this time.
If you are caring for an eligible dependent or an adult loved one, you can use backup care. The City of Philadelphia defines an eligible dependent as:
- Biological birth child through age 25
- Biological birth child of a life partner through age 25
- Adopted child through age 25
- Stepchild through age 25
- Legal court ordered child through age 25
- Noncustodial child for whom the CAP has received a Qualified Medical Child Support Order
- Disabled child over age 26 - as certified by the medical Insurance Administrator
You are required to provide specific documentation to validate the relationship of an eligible dependent in order to secure Backup Care. For eligible dependents, birth certificates, adoption records, or any legal documentation that verifies you are the legal guardian are accepted.
Up to 8 backup days per employee, per calendar year. Any unused backup care days cannot be rolled over to the following year.
The City of Philadelphia subsidizes the cost of backup days up to a certain amount depending on the type of provider
With advance notice, Wellthy can book and pay providers directly. However, if you pay the provider directly, you can request a reimbursement, and submit appropriate evidence to receive reimbursement.
Yes! Backup Care Specialists are here to help you find and secure care when you need care. They can also proactively help you build a list of potential options for when the time comes — this is called building your Backup Care Circle.
Backup care helps you cover unexpected gaps in your regular care, allowing you to come to work without needing to use your sick leave or vacation time. Wellthy provides various flexible options for Backup Care so that you can choose the option that makes the most sense for your family.
Wellthy’s Care Network of backup care options are vetted providers that go through a rigorous screening process.
- In-Center Care: Verification of state and federal licensing, online reviews across multiple platforms and direct contact with centers
- Community-Based Programs: Online review assessment, licensing verification where applicable, and direct contact with programs.
- In-Home Providers: Review of past experience and comprehensive background checks — criminal, sex offender, SSN trace, global watchlist.
If employees use a caregiver or center from their personal network, they are fully responsible for all vetting and verifying.
*Please note that Wellthy does not directly employ or oversee any provider in the Care Network or within an individual’s personal network. Wellthy does not take responsibility for the final selection, whether they are sourced by Wellthy, the family, or through other means.
The City of Philadelphia subsidized the cost of a backup care day:
- up to $225 per day for any providers in Wellthy’s Care Network
- $125 for your personal network
You are responsible for any costs that go beyond the subsidized amount.
Each day of backup care will incur a $15 copay, which you can pay via credit card, debit card, paycard, or dependent care FSA card.
Our digital platform is available 24 hours, 7 days/week
For Backup Care requests, Backup Care Specialists are available Monday-Friday from 5am-11pm ET and Saturday & Sunday from 5pm-11pm ET
For technical support, our Member Support team is available Monday-Friday 8am-10pm ET via phone (877) 588 3917 or via email (support@wellthy.com)
Got additional questions? We’ve got some answers! Click here to view a more comprehensive program overview for Wellthy’s Backup Care support for the City of Philadelphia, and view an FAQs doc that dives deeper into further details.
Real families with real care needs, sharing their stories
See how families have used Wellthy to find support for the loved ones in their life—turning stressful care situations into care-free moments.
Personalized and flexible backup care.
When care plans change, Wellthy is there for you and your family. Get started today.
