NEW YORK - July 26, 2004 - Nannies are one of New York's most responsible and hardest working groups, yet their status as independent workers makes it nearly impossible for them to afford health insurance coverage on the open market. That's about to change. Working Today, the nonprofit advocacy group focused on the independent workforce, announced that it is expanding the eligibility pool for its affordable HMO health insurance to include nannies and other domestic childcare workers.

In recent years, Working Today's Freelancers Union has emerged as a key conduit and group-rate sponsor of affordable health, life and disability insurance for several thousand New York City-based freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers and contingent employees. Through Freelancers Union, qualifying NYC freelancers can get HMO health coverage from a leading private provider for about $280 per month, compared with the open-market HMO average premium of $521 per month.

Now, qualified child caregivers will have the ability to secure this same health insurance coverage through Freelancers Union, whether they pay for it themselves, or their employer-sponsors wish to fund it for them. Applicants must have worked at least twenty hours per week as a non-institutional child care provider (other than for a child to whom the applicant is related) for the prior eight weeks, or earned in this capacity at least $10,000 in the prior six-months.

Sara Horowitz, Executive Director of Working Today said: "Every day, tens of thousands of New York families entrust their children to nannies who are conscientious caregivers. Yet these same workers have few options for their own healthcare. Nannies, along with New York's one million other independent workers, have simply fallen through the cracks of the health insurance system. We're happy that Working Today is going to be able to deliver affordable health insurance to this oft overlooked group. We'd like to encourage their employer-sponsors to help set a new standard in the industry and offer to fully fund this vital coverage."

Added Ms. Horowitz: "Every time Working Today expands its eligibility pool, it means we move one step closer to our goal of creating a new delivery system of portable benefits for New York's burgeoning independent labor pool. Our hope is that this approach will serve as a national model, and an important first step for reforming a broken health insurance system."

Working Today will be supporting their announcement of this newly eligible category with a targeted marketing campaign. Radio ads, focused print buys in NYC local parenting press and some alternative direct marketing in target neighborhood playgrounds, cafes, and community bulletin boards will be aimed at parents and child caregivers. In addition, an incentive program is planned for child caregivers and parents who become involved with the Working Today nanny campaign. The program will include a range of incentives from baby supplies discounts to training courses.