Daycare and childcare insurance
Childcare is one of the few businesses where the customers can't describe what happened. That's why the insurance is built differently: the liability has to cover the care itself, not just the premises; abuse and molestation coverage has to be added deliberately; and every carrier will ask about your OCFS license, ratios and background checks before quoting.
A licensed daycare or family childcare program needs general liability with professional liability for the care itself, abuse and molestation coverage (excluded from standard policies and expected by parents and licensors), accident medical coverage for children, workers' compensation, and property coverage. New York's Office of Children and Family Services licenses programs and sets ratios and training rules that carriers underwrite to.
The childcare package
- General and professional liability, written for childcare: injuries, allegations of negligent supervision, and the care itself.
- Abuse and molestation, with its own limits and the risk-management conditions that come with it.
- Accident medical for children in your care.
- Property: furniture, equipment, playground, food, and business income.
- Workers' compensation and DBL/PFL: lifting injuries and illness are routine in childcare.
- Auto for transport, cyber for enrollment records, and EPLI once staff numbers grow.
What carriers underwrite
| Factor | What they want to see |
|---|---|
| OCFS license or registration | Type, capacity, age groups, inspection history |
| Staff screening | Background checks, references, the Statewide Central Register clearance |
| Supervision practices | Ratios, two-adult rule, open-door bathrooms, cameras |
| Premises | Playground surfacing, fencing, water hazards, pool |
| Programs | Infants, swimming, field trips, transport, overnight care: each rated |
Same structure, different details
Nursery schools and preschools, after-school programs, summer camps and weekend language schools all use the same package with adjustments for age group, hours and activities. Nonprofit programs add directors and officers coverage. I insure several and can quote any of them.
What I need to quote
- License type, capacity and age groups.
- Staff count, payroll and screening practices.
- Premises details and any vehicles.
- Any prior incidents, claims or OCFS findings.
- Child care regulations and licensing (NY Office of Children and Family Services)
- 18 NYCRR §418-1.2 — day care center license application and renewal (certificate of general liability insurance)
- 18 NYCRR §417.2 — family day care registration (no liability insurance document required)
- Liability insurance information for child care programs (NY OCFS)
- Homeowners insurance: basic coverage and adding coverage, day care (NY DFS) — one or two children for a mutual exchange of services covered; paid care is a business enterprise needing additional coverage; some insurers cover up to six children for a per-child premium; read October 16, 2026
Common questions
Short answers to what people ask before they call.
Still have a question? Call (518) 902-8822 or book a call.
What insurance does OCFS require for a daycare in New York?
For a licensed day care center, general liability: the OCFS regulations require a certificate of general liability insurance with the license application, a copy of the policy on file after licensure, and the certificate again at every renewal (18 NYCRR 418-1.2 and 418-1.15). Family and group family day care regulations don't list liability insurance as a licensing document, only workers' compensation compliance, but county subsidy contracts, landlords and franchisors usually require it and every parent will ask. In practice every licensed program carries it.
What is abuse and molestation coverage, and why is it separate?
Standard general liability excludes or is silent on claims of physical or sexual abuse by staff. Abuse and molestation coverage responds to those claims, including the defense, on a per-claim and aggregate limit. Carriers require background checks, a two-adult rule, open-door policies and training before they'll offer it. It is the coverage parents and licensors most want to see.
I run a family daycare in my home. Is my homeowners policy enough?
No, not once you're paid. The Department of Financial Services explains that a homeowners policy's liability coverage ordinarily applies only when you watch one or two children in an exchange of services with no money changing hands; if you're paid for child care, you're running a business and must buy additional coverage. DFS adds that some insurers will cover up to six children on the homeowners policy for a separate premium per child. A registered family daycare or licensed group family daycare needs more than that: a family daycare liability policy, and you should still tell your homeowners carrier about the program.
Do I need coverage for transporting children?
If you drive children in a vehicle, yes: commercial auto for a program-owned van, or hired and non-owned auto if staff use personal cars. Vans carrying children are rated carefully and require seat belts, car seats and driver checks that carriers verify.
What does accident medical coverage do?
It pays a child's medical expenses for an injury at the program regardless of fault, up to a limit, which often resolves an incident without a liability claim. Inexpensive and worth having.
Get a quote for your business
Tell me what you do, where, and roughly what payroll looks like. Quotes come from the private carriers I represent, usually within days.
Where I work
I'm based in Clifton Park and work in person across six counties, the four on the map plus Warren and Washington, or by phone.
Close to the Clifton Park office: Clifton Knolls, Country Knolls, Rexford, Vischer Ferry, Jonesville, Groom's Corners and Halfmoon across Route 9 — I'll come to you at home.
Auto, home and business insurance by town
Medicare has its own county and town pages.