The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program helps fund the cost of health insurance for individuals working in child care programs that have made a commitment to supporting the education and compensation of their staff.

To find out how to apply for a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program scholarship, contact:

Child Care Services Association
P.O. Box 901
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514
[P] 919.967.3272
[F] 919.967.2945
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FAQ:

• Which child care centers can participate in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program?
• Can a family child care provider participate?
• What are the responsibilities of a participating child care program?
• What are the responsibilities of an individual recipient?
• What have participants said about the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program?

	Which child care centers can participate in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program?
	Any child care program that has staff members participating in the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Associate, Bachelor, Birth-Kindergarten License or Model/Mentor Teacher Scholarship Programs is eligible to participate. A center must have one, two, or three staff on scholarship, depending on the number of children enrolled at the center, in order to participate in the Health Insurance Program. Any child care program that has all teaching and administrative staff with two and/or four year degrees in child development or early childhood education is eligible, without having to support staff on T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project scholarships. Each child care center can determine who is eligible to receive health insurance benefits. However, even though a center decides when and which individuals are eligible to participate, their insurance carrier will also have requirements about participation. Child care centers choose their own health insurance carrier.

	Can a family child care provider participate?
	Any licensed family child care provider who has a T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarship to work on her/his two or four year degree in child development or early childhood education may participate. A licensed family child care provider who already has a two or four year degree in these fields may already be eligible. Family child care providers choose their own health insurance carrier.

	What are the responsibilities of a participating child care program?
	A child care program must apply to Child Care Services Association to participate. The child care program is required to provide information such as details about wages, benefits, and turnover rate. A center must also agree to cover at least one-third of the cost of an individual health insurance plan for each eligible employee.

	What are the responsibilities of an individual recipient?
	Child care personnel at participating sites are required to provide information about their health insurance coverage if they're not covered by the employing center's health care plan. Individuals with dependent children are also asked to verify whether or not their children have health insurance. Those whose children do not have health insurance are asked to apply for Health Choice. Individual teachers and directors who receive insurance may also be required to pay one-third of the cost of their individual monthly insurance fee.

	What have participants said about the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program?
	"Our center was losing five year plus employees to companies paying 25 cents more on the hour and offering a benefits package. I felt like I was fighting a losing battle. I am so appreciative to Governor Hunt and T.E.A.C.H. for the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Health Insurance Program, and to anyone else involved with our insurance package for helping us keep our current staff with the worthy wages and benefits they so deserve. Helping the staff to stay with our center benefits the children's lives that we touch each day. God bless you!" Center Owner/Director Stanly County.