Backup Childcare, Legal Plans and Other Perks Hiding in Your Benefits

Every fall, your employer sends a benefits guide. Most of us skim the medical plans and close the tab, never reaching the pages about backup childcare, legal help or wellness money.

Here's the fast answer: many employers offer benefits they don't advertise. The ones most worth asking about are backup child and elder care, a group legal plan, a Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA), an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), accident and hospital indemnity insurance, and paid volunteer days. Search your benefits portal or ask HR a pointed question about each one.

To find out where these perks hide, we sat down with Cassi Benavides, founder of Nest & Navigate, where she gives new families white-glove, one-on-one guidance as their personal benefits advisor. Cassi has spent 13 years in HR and benefits management, and even she found out about one of her family's best perks, backup daycare, from her husband's coworker. When their son's daycare closed for Thanksgiving week, it covered the gap. You can watch the full conversation on YouTube.

"There's all these little things that if you don't know what to look for, you're not gonna be able to take advantage of it."

Your 30-second cheat sheet: perks to ask HR about

Care help

• Backup care: emergency child, elder and sometimes pet care.
• An EAP: free counseling, financial help and care referrals.

Money and protection

• An LSA: employer money for wellness, like gym memberships.
• Accident insurance: cash for injuries, often with a wellness payout.
• Hospital indemnity: cash when you're admitted.

Legal and time off

• A group legal plan: wills, trusts and estate planning.
• Volunteer days: paid time to volunteer, depending on your employer.

TL;DR: Ask HR about each of these by name, because most companies don't advertise them.

What is backup care?

Backup care covers the gaps when your usual care falls through, like school holidays, snow days or an unavailable sitter. You request care through a phone line, website or app, and your employer may give you a set number of days a year or a low copay. Some programs also cover adult and elder relatives, and Cassi's family used their plan's backup pet care for dog sitting.

TL;DR: Backup care steps in when daycare closes or a sitter cancels, and some plans cover elder care too.

What does a group legal plan cover?

A group legal plan gives you access to a network of attorneys for a monthly premium through payroll. With MetLife's plan, for example, covered matters like wills and estate planning come with no copays or deductibles when you use a network attorney.

Cassi calls it by far the cheapest way to get a full will, trust or estate plan. Her hack: enroll for a year, update your documents, then cancel until you need another update. If you have young kids, this is how to set up a trust so you don't have to name a minor as your life insurance beneficiary.

TL;DR: A legal plan is often the cheapest route to a will or trust, and you can enroll just for the year you need it.

Do you have a Lifestyle Spending Account?

LSAs are employer-funded accounts for wellness and lifestyle, and Cassi says they're getting more popular. Your employer sets the rules, but they often cover things like gym memberships and mental or physical wellness.

"Absolutely check if your company has an LSA and use every single dime if they do."

Our LSA guide explains how they work. Upload your plan documents to Caeli and it shows the employer-specific perks you have, from gym reimbursements to wellness stipends.

TL;DR: If your employer offers an LSA, find out what it covers and spend all of it.

Is your EAP more than counseling?

Usually, yes. An Employee Assistance Program is typically free and confidential, and beyond short-term counseling, many offer financial planning, legal help and care referrals. Cassi says almost every company has one, often bundled with basic life insurance. Read our guide to using your EAP as a new parent.

TL;DR: Your EAP likely covers money, legal and care questions, not just therapy.

Are accident and hospital indemnity plans worth it?

They can be at the right life stage.

• Accident insurance pays cash for injuries like sprains and broken arms. Cassi recommends it when your kids play sports, and she says many plans add a wellness payment of about $50 to $100 for an annual checkup.
• Hospital indemnity pays cash directly to you when you're admitted, including for childbirth in many plans. Cassi's plan paid her $1,500 for a two-night stay, more than her premiums.

Both can have waiting periods, so enroll before you expect to use them.

TL;DR: Accident coverage suits active families and hospital indemnity suits a planned birth, if you enroll early.

What about volunteer days?

Some employers give paid time off for volunteering. Cassi points out that parents can use a volunteer day to chaperone a school field trip. Whether it's paid depends on your company's policy, so ask.

TL;DR: Volunteer days can double as time for your kids' school events, depending on your employer.

Caeli Pro-Tip: Have an LSA and an HSA? Caeli combines programs when one wallet is low, so a purchase can draw on more than one benefit. Upload your plan documents and Caeli shows the employer-specific perks you have, then flags what's eligible as you shop. Install Caeli and find the benefits nobody told you about.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out what benefits my employer offers?

Search your benefits portal, read your plan documents and ask HR a specific question, like "What benefits do you offer for backup care or legal help?"

What is backup child care, and is it free?

It's employer-provided care for when your usual arrangement falls through. Employers may cover a set number of days or charge a low copay.

Can backup care cover an aging parent in 2027?

Some programs include adult and elder care, at your home or theirs. Check your employer's program.

Is a group legal plan worth it for a will or trust?

For many families, yes. Covered matters with a network attorney often have no copays or deductibles.

What can I spend my LSA on?

Your employer decides, but LSAs often cover gym memberships and wellness. Check your plan's list.

Does hospital indemnity insurance cover childbirth?

Many plans do, but some have a waiting period for childbirth stays, so enroll before you're pregnant.

The bottom line

The best benefit is the one you actually use, and you can't use what you don't know about. Spend ten minutes asking HR about each perk on this list. For the full picture by life stage, read our guide to choosing a health plan for your life stage, or book a free consultation with Cassi.

This article is for education only and isn't tax, legal or financial advice. Plan rules vary by employer and state.