Frequently Asked Questions

  • Nurture Benefits is an established and approved state based Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) health benefit plan provided by two or more employers that are not under common control. This MEWA has been established in partnership with the Small Business Association of Michigan but is governed by a board of Michigan child care providers. Nurture Benefits has worked to put together a comprehensive marketplace inclusive of medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and 401K pilot benefit offering for eligible child care providers.

  • The $4.4 million investment is funded through a three-year, $33 million federal early childhood grant awarded by the US Department of Health and Human Services to MiLEAP, the state agency overseeing early education initiatives, in 2024.

  • Nurture Benefits will be offering Blue Cross Blue Shield/Blue Care Network health, dental and vision coverage, through three plan options; base, medium, and a richer plan benefit. Employers and their employees may be eligible for subsidy support based on enrollment criteria. Opportunities for employer contributions will also be made available.

    Life and disability benefits will be made available to eligible employers/employees through OneAmerica. A Pooled Employer Retirement Plan is also available through Transamerica. Child care providers will be able to receive better rates and fees for 401(k) plans because they will be grouped together as one large employer.

  • Nurture Benefits will be hosting educational open enrollment webinars to answer questions and help with overall benefit education. All eligible child care providers will be invited to attend. Register by visiting NurtureBenefits.com.

    Nurture Benefits will have staff that specialize in employee benefits to help you and your employees navigate the enrollment process, answer benefit questions and overall service support. You will have support through online services, phone services and a customer service portal.

    Child care providers will be walked through the below process to help them make the best choices for their business and their employees.

  • All licensed or license-exempt child care providers in Michigan working 30 or more hours per week will be eligible for the program. Child care employees will be able to enroll in the program starting this fall, with benefits available in January 2026. Newly hired employees will be eligible after 60 days of employment.

  • No, the Nurture Benefits program is not affiliated in any way with SBAM membership.

  • Nurture Benefits is a MEWA established in partnership with the State of Michigan's MiLEAP Department. Small Business Insurance Services, a division of SBAM, has been hired to be the plan administrator. The program's focus is providing employee benefits at the most affordable price point and getting benefits in the hands of as many child care providers as possible. Since this program is a MEWA and a pooled plan, agent commission was not built into the premium model to meet the objectives of the program, and agents are not eligible to sell this program.