Plan ahead so you’re ready when it matters most. Registering now ensures a faster, smoother experience when you need care. You can reserve care for the same day or schedule up to 60 days in advance. You will need your 9-digit Brown ID number.
Register or Reserve via bright horizons
Register by Phone: Call 1-877-BH-CARES (1-877-242-2737)
Benefit-eligible employees can access these services starting on their first day of employment, with coverage continuing through their last active day.
If a care reservation cannot be fulfilled, Bright Horizons will activate Out-of-Network Care, allowing you to secure your own back-up provider and receive reimbursement for eligible expenses.
| Service | Allowance | Your Cost (Copay) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Care | 15 days per calendar year | |
| New Parent Transition | +15 additional days for newborns or newly adopted children (within the first 12 months) | |
| Center-Based Care | $15/child (or $25/family) per day | |
| In-Home Care | $4/hour per caregiver (each caregiver can support up to three participants at a time) |
To comply with current IRS regulations, Brown University may be required to withhold and report taxes on certain subsidized dependent care benefits.
If the total value of your back-up care subsidies in a calendar year, combined with any contributions to your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, exceeds the IRS tax-free limit of $7,500, the amount above this threshold will be treated as imputed (taxable) income.
Please Note: The fair market value of care may vary.
This information is provided for your general review only. Brown cannot provide personal tax advice. Please consult a tax professional for guidance on your individual tax situation.
Eligible employees may exchange one back-up care day for up to four hours of virtual tutoring. This benefit is available for dependents ages 5-18.
Experienced tutors can support students in reading, math and more than 300 additional subjects. Copays will apply.
Through Bright Horizons Additional Family Supports, the tutoring now includes trusted providers such as Revolution Prep, Varsity Tutors and Marco Polo Learning.
Log in to explore Academic & Virtual Learning Support and access premium tutoring and test preparation services.
Sittercity offers a comprehensive database of local babysitters, nannies and housekeepers. Caregiver profiles include helpful badges indicating key credentials such as background checks, CPR certification and First Aid training.
The Sittercity membership fee is waived for Brown faculty and staff. Users are responsible for the cost of any caregiver they choose to hire.
The back-up care benefit helped my sister and me work and care for our mother the way we needed while she was in the final stages of dementia. Needing one of us at the hospital 24/7 to advocate for her, we were able to secure overnight care through this benefit which allowed one of us the ability to work the next day. Back-up care allowed us to juggle both our work responsibilities, our need to be with her while in the hospital and during her last days in hospice. Thank you, back-up care!
While traveling, I was able to use back-up care to work in one room and have my son in the next room with a caregiver. I could go back and forth between the rooms to nurse. That is the ultimate in accommodating a mother's needs.