Sesame Announces New Partnership With Sittercity

The partnership will bring affordable, quality healthcare to thousands of child care providers.

If you’ve ever cared for a child, then you’ve likely sacrificed sleep, skipped meals, or put your own healthcare needs on the back burner - which can lead to high stress, burnout and other negative physical and mental health consequences. And if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of child care providers without access to employer benefits like health coverage, those consequences can be financially detrimental as well.

The U.S. gig economy - to which many caregivers belong - comprises a massive part of the US economy. Projections estimate that roughly 50% of the U.S. workforce will be independent contractors by 2030 - and yet, contractors often struggle to access health coverage. In fact, just 4 in 10 gig economy workers report having access to employer-based health coverage (compared to 82 percent of full-time employees). Without this coverage, gig workers are subjected to high out-of-pocket costs, which can lead to delayed - or skipped - medical care. That’s a problem.

As the shift towards an "on-demand" workforce persists, coupled with soaring healthcare expenses, there is a growing disparity between earned income and the sky-rocketing cost of deductibles. Without thorough reform, the gig economy will continue to contribute to the burgeoning number of Americans who are struggling to access medical care.

Sesame is a radically simple (and radically effective) solution to this concern: a direct-pay healthcare marketplace where Americans have access to high-quality, discounted clinical healthcare - at zero cost to their employer. In fact, purchasing care on Sesame can be cost-effective even for those with employer coverage - the average price of a virtual primary care appointment on Sesame in 2022 was just $37.

The latest to embrace this solution is Sittercity, a leader in providing in-home child care services, which today joined Costco, Marsh McClennan, and others in recognizing Sesame’s ability to provide top-notch, affordable health care to their constituents.

We’ve addressed some FAQs about the partnership below.

What does the partnership mean to in-home caregivers?

Disruptors in their respective industries, the Sittercity and Sesame partnership lets in-home child care providers access outpatient medical care for themselves at about half the price of what is typical, regardless of the caregiver’s insurance status.

Sittercity child care providers and their families will receive up to 20% off Sesame's already low prices on high-quality same-day care, medications and more. Caregivers can access their Sesame health care benefits through the Sittercity app and/or website.

How is Sesame’s care so affordable for Sittercity caregivers?

Sesame has built a unique healthcare marketplace, connecting thousands of outpatient healthcare providers covering all 50 United States directly with American consumers seeking high-quality, convenient medical care at half the price of what is typical.

By bringing marketplace dynamics to consumer healthcare for the first time, Sesame has created an environment where providers actually compete to serve patients, regardless of the patient’s insurance status. The resulting competition lowers the price of care, drives complete price transparency, provides ready access to health providers (the vast majority of appointments on Sesame take place within two hours), and ensures a high-quality consumer experience with top-rated providers.

The Sesame marketplace is comprised of primary care doctors and nurse practitioners, providers serving more than 45 health specialties, labs and imaging centers, and is inclusive of both virtual and in-person care. Sesame providers also speak more than 40 different languages.

“Child care providers are among the most undersupported workers in our economy, despite providing vital learning and care that allows families, businesses and communities to thrive,” said Zenobia Moochhala, Chief Executive Officer at Sittercity. “At Sittercity, we consistently work to change that reality by offering tailored tools and resources that help sitters and nannies get ahead in their careers and everyday lives. We are thrilled to partner with Sesame in creating a streamlined, cost-effective avenue to quality healthcare for all caregivers on our platform.”