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Nebraska asks for the insurance evidence with the licence application — for every licence type. All five child care licences (Family Home I and II, Center, School-Age-Only Center, Preschool) require evidence of adequate liability insurance — or proof of funds sufficient to pay claims for the self-insured — as part of the DHHS application. And workers’ comp attaches at the first employee in the regular trade.
One policy, priced for a Nebraska daycare
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What Nebraska Actually Requires
| Coverage | Nebraska requirement |
|---|---|
| Liability insurance | Required for all five licence types — evidence of adequate coverage (or self-insurance funds) submitted with the application (NE DHHS, 391 NAC) |
| Minimum amount | The rules require “adequate” coverage rather than a stated dollar floor — DHHS reviews the evidence |
| Workers’ compensation | Required at 1+ employees in the regular trade — part-timers and minors count |
“Adequate” Is Reviewed, Not Assumed
Nebraska’s formulation puts the judgment with the licensing agency: the application includes your insurance evidence, and DHHS decides whether it’s adequate for the operation you’re proposing. That structure quietly scales the requirement — a 12-child family home and a 100-child center both must show coverage, but what passes review differs. The self-insurance alternative (sufficient funds to pay liability claims) exists on paper and describes almost no small operator.
The employment side runs on Nebraska’s regular-trade rule: for a daycare, child care is the regular trade, so every teacher and aide is inside the workers’-comp duty from the first shift, whatever their hours.
The Coverages Every Daycare Carries Regardless
- General liability with abuse & molestation coverage. The playground injury and the allegation are different claims; a daycare policy without A&M cover is missing the exposure the business is actually judged on.
- Commercial auto if you transport children — a personal policy excludes business use.
- Workers’ compensation once you employ staff (required in Nebraska from the first employee in the regular trade).
- Property and contents for the build-out, equipment and food stock.
Parents ask if you’re insured. So do licensors.
A certificate of insurance answers both in one page. Quotes are free and don’t require a phone call.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is liability insurance required for a Nebraska daycare?
Yes — all five Nebraska child care licence types require evidence of adequate liability insurance (or, for the self-insured, sufficient funds to pay claims) as part of the DHHS licence application. The rules require ‘adequate’ coverage rather than naming a dollar minimum.
When does a Nebraska daycare need workers’ comp?
From the first employee in the regular trade or business — part-time workers and minors count, per the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court. Owners themselves are excluded unless they elect coverage.
Comparing states? See daycare insurance requirements in every state, or the full guide to starting a daycare in Nebraska.
Sources
| Source | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| NE DHHS — child care licence application | Insurance evidence required across licence types |
| Nebraska WCC — employer FAQ | The 1+ regular-trade WC rule |
