No. Eligible University of Arizona employees do not have to pay a membership fee to receive subsidized backup care. However, program participants may be responsible for paying the nonsubsidized hourly rate in some circumstances. Refer to the Program Guidelines above for details.

Yes. Registration in the program is a two-step process: university registration and vendor registration.

Bright Horizons takes several business days to process eligibility. Please allow this time before trying to create your account. If you need care before you can register with Bright Horizons, please call them at 1-877-BH-CARES (242-2737). They will expedite your request so that you can schedule care. 

Yes. In the case of two eligible parents – a pair of employees, a pair of students, or an employee-student pair – each may register for the service using their NetID and password.

Dependent Care and Tax Liability Issues - Employees

The Internal Revenue Service has determined that employees may allocate up to $5,000 per year in a dependent care assistance account established by their employer. This $5,000 allocation includes the combined monies applied to the following UA-sponsored pre-tax programs:

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)* for dependent (child and/or adult/older adult) care only (excludes medical expenses)
• UA Childcare Choice Employee Reimbursement Program for Qualified Childcare Expenses
• Employee Sick and Back-Up Childcare (includes the entire value of the program -employee and employer costs)

*You may designate an amount of pre-tax salary to be placed in a dependent care-related and/or medical expenses-related FSA. These tax-free dollars may then be used to reimburse you for qualified out-of-pocket medical care and/or dependent care (child and/or adult/older adult) expenses. You reduce your taxable income, as no Social Security, federal, or state income taxes are taken from the designated dollars, and this amount is excluded from your taxable income.

Please note that dependent care expenditures that exceed the $5,000 limit may be subject to income tax. The annual FSA figures (total costs) will appear on your Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement. This information is not intended to serve as tax advice. Please consult your professional tax advisor to identify the full tax implications of program use and to determine the optimal use of dependent care offerings. For information about the status of your FSA or qualified deductions, contact ASI at http://www.asiflex.com or at (800) 659-3035.

Dependent Care and Tax Liability Issues - Students

Childcare can be a major expense for many students. Please contact a professional tax advisor to determine if you are eligible for a tax credit. Additionally, subsidized monies applied toward childcare can be considered “scholarship” income and may be subject to taxation. This information is not intended to serve as tax advice. Please consult your professional tax advisor to identify the full tax implications of program use and to determine the optimal use of dependent care offerings.

If you are a University employee eligible for full benefits and enrolled in an ADOA medical plan, you’re good to go! This includes postdoctoral research associates who are fully funded by grants.

University of Arizona retirees may also get a free flu shot at one of the clinics organized by Life & Work Connections.

Graduate students who purchase Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona insurance through the University can receive a free shot at a clinic organized by Life & Work Connections. Please let the on-site nurse know that you need to fill out a different form, and have your medical insurance card ready.

Undergraduate and graduate students who are listed as dependents on a parent’s medical insurance may also use the employee clinics – if the parent is a University of Arizona employee. You’ll need your parent’s alternate employee ID number and a copy of your insurance card.

If you are a student at the University of Arizona, but you are not a graduate student with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona insurance, nor a student listed as an employee's dependent, you can receive a flu shot from Campus Health Services. Please check their website for availability and costs.

Dependents covered by your medical insurance, including spouses and children age 4 and older, are eligible for free flu vaccinations at campus and ADOA clinics.

Your dependent will need their own appointment and Flu Shot Consent Form. They should use your alternate employee ID number on the form, and they should use their own information to fill out the rest of the form. They’ll also need to have their health insurance card on hand.

Absolutely! Ask the nurse at the flu shot clinic for a signed form that proves you received your immunization.

If you forget to ask for proof when you receive your shot, please contact Healthwaves at healthwaves@healthwaves.com or 480-968-1886.

If you’re having difficulty breathing, or if you have a cough, a sore throat, or a runny nose, or a fever above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, please stay home!

Call Healthwaves at 480-968-1886 to cancel your appointment, and re-register for an open slot on another day.

University of Arizona employees should not request flu vaccinations from Campus Health Services, which prioritizes student immunizations.

If you are unable to make it to any of the campus employee clinics, please check for a convenient ADOA or Healthwaves date and location, visit your primary care physician, or explore the options at your local pharmacy.