Colorado Paid Family and
Medical Leave (CO PFML)
Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave (CO PFML) offers wage replacement benefits if an employee is sick or hurt and cannot work. PFML applies to family-related matters, such as bonding with a new child or caring for a family member with a serious health condition and can also be used to address a family member’s military duty, or for safety concerns.
Employers can participate in the state-run program (Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance), or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan.
MetLife can provide fully insured coverage for Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave that helps support an employer’s private plan. MetLife can also provide administrative services related to an employer’s self-insured private plan. MetLife’s insurance offering and administration of an employer’s private plan complies with the regulatory requirements of the Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave law.
Benefit Overview
Mandated Coverage & Employee Eligibility
HintLeave Reason, Duration, Job Protection
HintCost of Coverage and Contributions
HintBenefit Payments
HintEmployers are required to offer CO PFML if they have 1 employee or more employees working in the state and if they paid wages to an employee of $1,500 or more in the last year. Employers can offer CO PFML either through the state-run program, or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan.
All employees working for a covered employer are eligible for CO PFML benefits if they have earned at least $2,500 working in Colorado before benefits start. The $2,500 can come from one or more jobs.
Eligible employees can receive part of their pay if they need to take time off for certain reasons. CO PFML provides job protected leave once an employee works for an employer for at least 180 days.*
An employee can have more than one benefit each year, but no more than 12 weeks in a 12-month period, and up to an extra 4 weeks for complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Medical Leave can be taken for up to 12 weeks to:
- address a personal serious health condition or injury (extra 4 weeks for qualifying pregnancy or childbirth complications)
Family Leave can be taken for up to 12 weeks to:
- bond with a new child
- care for a family member with a serious health condition
- assist while loved ones are on overseas military deployment
Safe Leave can be taken to:
- to address safety concerns, such as domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault
Leave can be taken all at once or intermittently for an hour at a time, or even less if an employer allows.
* If an employee works for an employment agency, time spent waiting for a work assignment will not count towards the 180 days.
Beginning January 1, 2025, the maximum employee contribution is $792.45, or 0.45% of the Federal Social Security Wage Cap ($176,100).
Private plan premiums may differ, however, employee max contributions for a private plan cannot be more than what they would pay for the state-run program. Employers fund the balance of the premium for private plans. Employers may also choose to fund the benefit on behalf of their employees.
Please visit the state program’s website for the latest state rates and additional state plan information.
The benefit amount an employee can receive depends on how much money they make weekly compared to others in Colorado.
Beginning July 1, 2025, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,381.45, or 90% of what most people in Colorado make in a week.
An employee’s benefit payment is equal to the portion of their average weekly wage that is equal to or less than 50% of the state average weekly wage multiplied by 90%, plus, the portion of their average weekly wage that is more than 50% of the state average weekly wage multiplied by 50%.
Starting July 1, 2025, the State Average Weekly Wage is $1,534.94.
Key Dates
- Maximum weekly benefit is effective
Applying for a MetLife Supported Private Plan
MetLife’s customers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining approval of their PFML private plan, voluntary plan, and/or equivalent plan with each appropriate agency and in accordance with applicable law, rules, regulations, and guidance. You should consult with your attorney about the requirements for obtaining and maintaining such approval.
MetLife can provide fully insured coverage for Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave that helps support an employer's private plan. MetLife can also provide administrative services related to an employer's self-insured private plan. MetLife's insurance offering and administration of an employer's private plan complies with the regulatory requirements of the Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave law.
To obtain a quote from MetLife, you or your broker must create a census of your eligible Colorado workforce and send it to MetLife. This census template was developed for your convenience.
Based on the information that is provided to MetLife in your census you will be issued a quote.
If fully insured, MetLife will issue a state approved CO PFML policy.
If self-insured, MetLife will issue an Administrative Services Agreement (ASA) and employers will need to work with their own employment counsel to define their CO PFML plan to submit to the state for approval. Employers must use the self-insurance private plan template on the state’s private plan page.
Employers are responsible for registering with the state. Employers must register via MyFAMLI+ Employer for each entity. Each entity has its own FEIN and is considered a different employer with separate rights and obligations.
Not applicable
Employers are responsible for applying for their private plan. Private plans require an application with and approval by the state for each FEIN, or entity.
Application for a private plan must be submitted 60 days before the requested effective date. For example, you should apply by October 31 for a January 1 effective date, or November 31 for a February 1 effective date.
To apply for a fully insured CO PFML plan you will need:
- The policy documentation provided by MetLife
- A copy of the Employee Notification with an effective date no earlier than 60 calendar days from the date the private plan application is submitted
The state will notify the applicant in writing of any issues that must be addressed for the private plan application to be approved.
You must work with your own employment counsel to define your self-insured plan. You will also need a Surety Bond, and the following information:
- Surety bond number
- Surety bond issuer
- Surety bond issue date
- Surety bond amount – with payroll documentation supporting premium calculation
The state will notify the applicant in writing of any issues that must be addressed for the private plan application to be approved.
Employers applying for a private plan approval will be required to pay a non-refundable $500 administration fee for each FEIN when they submit their application.
Within 30 days of submission, you will receive notice from the state of approval or denial. Please send your MetLife representative a copy of your state approved plan.
After approval of a private plan, employers must notify employees of the decision to use a private plan at least 30 days before the effective date of the approved private plan.
Employers must provide written notice electronically, in person, or via mail, and post a copy of the notice in a please easily seen by Colorado workers.
Any future effective date.
Ongoing Employer Responsibilities
There are 2 employee notification requirements for Colorado PFML. After approval of a private plan, employers must notify employees of the decision to use a private plan at least 30 days before the effective date of the approved private plan. Employers must provide written notice electronically, in person, or via mail, and post a copy of the notice in a place easily seen by Colorado workers.
Employers are also required to notify employees of their CO PFML benefits. A CO PFML notice must be placed in a prominent location in the workplace in the language in which you normally communicate with your employees. You must also inform employees in writing when they are newly hired or transferring to working in Colorado, as well as within five days after becoming aware that an employee is experiencing an event that triggers eligibility or requesting leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. Employers can use the employee notice made available by the state. For a MetLife version of the employee notice please contact your MetLife representative.
When MetLife policies renew, and when state and or federal changes impact contribution rates, employers may need to consider how it impacts employee contributions, if applicable. MetLife policy renewal and state and or federal changes may not happen at the same time. If an employer collects contributions from employees, employers must adjust payroll deductions accordingly. Please review the "What's New" page on this site for details.
For fully insured plans, MetLife must submit quarterly summaries to the state.
For self-insured plans, employers are responsible for submitting the quarterly summaries to the state.
The summaries include the previous calendar quarters and must be submitted for the first 3 years. These summaries should be submitted by the last day of the month immediately following the end of the calendar quarter.
- Q1: March 30
- Q2: June 30
- Q3: September 30
After the first 3 years, reporting is due to the state on an annual basis.
Your MetLife policy will automatically renew on its anniversary date and any changes to premium or benefits will be communicated in advance. Private plan renewal with the state may be different than MetLife's renewal date.
If we need to make significant updates to your fully insured policy, we will refile it with the state. Once approved, we will issue updated policy documents to you for your records.
Annually, you will need to log on to My FAMLI+ website, and for each FEIN, submit an attestation, pay an annual maintenance fee, and confirm that the contact information is correct. Failure to submit this may result in the state’s withdrawal of the private plan approval. Additional information can be found on the state’s website here.
Private plan approval with the state is valid for 8 years after approval. Employers will need to reapply to the state to continue receiving an exemption. Renewal information will be provided by the state closer to 2031, when the first round of renewals will be processed.
If you have a self-insured CO PFML state approved plan, you may want to review the plan with your legal counsel to ensure it is compliant with the current laws and regulations. CO PFML self-insured plan applications will need to have an updated surety bond.
You must notify the state via email of any material changes to your approved private plan at least sixty (60) days before the change takes effect. If you change from one approved private plan carrier to another approved private plan carrier, you must notify the state via email of the change at least thirty-five (35) days before the change takes effect.
The notification must include:
- A detailed explanation of all material changes; and
- A statement describing how the material change(s) don’t reduce benefits nor impose new requirements on covered employees.
For complete details on requirements when making a material change, please visit the state’s site.
MetLife will reach out to employers to verify and or provide missing information and documentation, as needed.
Taking a Leave
Filing for Benefits with MetLife
HintSupporting Claim Documentation
HintCoordination of Benefits
HintStep 1: An employee should notify their employer of the need for a leave as soon as possible.
Step 2: An employee should file a claim up to 30 days in advance of the leave. If the leave is unforeseeable, claims may be submitted up to 30 days after the leave has begun.
Step 3: MetLife will attempt to gather any additional necessary information from the employee, once a complete claim is properly filed, a decision will be made within 14 days or the first day of leave, whichever is later.
Step 4: The employee will receive their first benefit payment within two weeks of claim approval.
Step 5: If an employee’s claim is denied, an employee may appeal the claim first with MetLife and if denied again the employee may submit an appeal to the state.
Employees must provide specific documents for each claim. It is important to submit paperwork to the doctor as soon as possible. It might take the doctor’s office two weeks or more to complete the paperwork. In some cases, a statement confirming the relationship between the employee and the family member may also be requested.
For an employee's own serious health condition (when an employee is sick or hurt and cannot work for an extended period):
- Certification of a Serious Health Condition form filled out by an employee and their healthcare provider, or
- A doctor’s note or Attending Physician Statement (APS) that includes the same information as the Certification of Serious Health Condition form and/or any other reasonable information or documentation necessary to adjudicate the claim.
For child bonding for a newborn:
- A copy of the child’s birth certificate, or
- A statement from the child’s healthcare provider stating child’s date of birth, or
- A statement from the mother’s healthcare provider stating child’s date of birth
For child bonding for adoption or foster care placement:
- A copy of adoption papers or court documents finalizing the adoption, that includes child's date of birth and adoption date, or
- Documentation from the child’s healthcare provider, or
- Foster/adoption agency paperwork containing adoption or placement
- If an employee is not the parent named in the court documents (in loco parentis), the employee may also be asked to provide proof verifying your relationship to the in loco parentis named in the court documentation. This could be a marriage certificate, civil union papers, or something showing the employee is in a domestic partnership.
For leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, including medical events related to pregnancy or childbirth:
- Certification of a Serious Health Condition form filled out by you and your family member’s healthcare provider, or
- A doctor’s note or APS that includes the same information as the Certification of Serious Health Condition form
For qualifying military exigency needs, you will need to verify your family member’s service:
- Your covered family member’s active-duty orders, or
- Letter from the military unit documenting impending call or order to covered duty, or
- Documentation of military leave signed by the approval authority for the military member’s rest and recuperation
- If leave is requested to meet with a third party, such as a school official, counselor, or attorney, you must provide documentation of the meeting that includes:
- The name, address, and contact information of the individual or entity with whom you are meeting
- A description of the meeting
Employees may be eligible for more than one leave.
Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (PFML) and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits can and should be used at the same time, when applicable. An employer may require an employee to use PML benefits and short-term or long-term disability benefits at the same time. An employer cannot make an employee use up other types of leave, like vacation days, before taking CO PFML. It’s up to an employee to decide if they want to use other leaves, such as vacation time, in conjunction with CO PFML. Total compensation may not be more than 100% of an employee's regular pay.
MetLife’s claims team will reach out to the employer to coordinate dates of the company leave that directly overlap with the state leave.
MetLife representatives can help review employer paid benefits that may overlap with the state leave. They can help document overlaps and preferred contact and action when the overlap happens.
Note: There may be additional leaves that MetLife does not administer. Employers may be responsible for providing additional leaves for their employees. Employers should consult their own employment attorneys.
Need more information?
FAQs
An adopted or foster child, a person for whom the employee stood in place of a parent when the person was a minor, a grandparent, grandchild, or sibling (whether a biological, foster, adoptive, or step relationship) of the employee or their spouse or domestic partner, a stepchild or legal ward, a person the employee is legally married to under the laws of any state, a parent (whether a biological, foster, adoptive, or step relationship) or legal guardian of the employee or their spouse or domestic partner, a child of a domestic partner, a person who stood in place of a parent when the employee or their spouse or domestic partner was a minor, the employee’s domestic partner, a child for whom you stand in place of a parent. any other individual with whom the employee has a significant personal bond that is or is similar to a family relationship, regardless of biological or legal relationship.
As of August 15, 2025