Maryland Paid Family and
Medical Leave (MD PFML)
Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave (MD PFML) is a mandated paid leave program that offers job protection and wage replacement benefits if an employee is unable to work due to injury or illness, including pregnancy and childbirth. Employees may be eligible for PFL to care for a seriously ill family member, to bond with a new child, and to address a family member’s military duty.
Employers can participate in the state-run program (Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance (MD FAMLI), or they can self-insure or fully insure a private plan.
MetLife intends to provide fully insured coverage for Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave that helps support an employer’s private plan. MetLife also intends to provide administrative services related to an employer's self-insured private plan. MetLife’s insurance offering and administration of an employer’s private plan will comply with the regulatory requirements of the Maryland 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 MD PFML benefits if they have at least one employee working in Maryland.
All employees who work in Maryland or whose work is localized in Maryland are eligible for benefits if they have worked in Maryland for 680 hours in the past 12 months and have a qualifying leave reason.
Freelance, independent workers, contractors, and anyone that works outside of the usual course of business who is free from control and direction may opt-in to the state-run program.
Eligible employees can receive job protection and wage replacement benefits for certain reasons.
An employee can have more than one benefit each year up to 12 weeks total. An additional 12 weeks may be available for child bonding.
Medical Leave can be taken for up to 12 weeks to:
- address a personal serious health condition or injury including pregnancy
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
MD PFML can be taken intermittently (in 4-hour increments), or on a continuous leave or reduced leave basis, depending on the leave reason.
The maximum PFML employee contribution will be 0.45% of an employee’s wages up to the Social Security taxable maximum.
Private plan insurance premiums may differ, however, state covered payroll caps apply. Employee maximum 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 insured private plans. Employers may also choose to fund the benefit on behalf of their employees.
For self-insured private plans, employers are allowed to collect payroll contributions up to the state’s maximums and use the funds to pay benefits. Service fees paid to support the operating costs for state approved self-insured plans are the employer’s responsibility.
Please visit the state program’s website for the latest state rates and additional state plan information.
The benefit amount an employee May be able to receive will depend on the employee’s average weekly pay compared to the average weekly pay for everyone in Maryland. Detail on calculating benefit payment will be made available closer to the start of the program.
Here’s how it works:
An employee can receive 90% wage replacement on the first 65% of the state’s average weekly wage, plus 50% of the wages above 65% of the state’s average weekly wage, up to the maximum benefit. In 2025, an employee could receive a maximum weekly benefit of $1,000.
Key Dates
- Payroll deductions begin
Applying for a MetLife Supported Private Plan
MetLife’s customers are responsible for obtaining and maintaining approval of their MD 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 intends to provide fully insured coverage for Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave that helps support an employer's private plan. MetLife also intends to provide administrative services related to an employer's self-insured private plan. MetLife's insurance offering and administration of an employer's private plan will comply with the regulatory requirements of the Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave law.
To obtain a quote from MetLife, you or your broker must create a census of your eligible Maryland 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, the Maryland FAMLI Division will allow insurance carriers to provide a Declaration of Intent, for a limited time, for purposes of applying for a private plan. Once the state approves MetLife’s MD PFML policy, we will issue policies instead of a Declaration of Intent.
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 MD PFML plan to submit to the state for approval.
State filing and registering FEIN(s)/BIN(s)/UBI(s) with the state.
Employers are responsible for registering with the state for each of their FEINs, when the portal becomes available.
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.
Employers who register will automatically be enrolled in the state plan administered by the MD FAMLI Division, unless you apply for a private plan.
A private plan must have at least the same rights, protections, and benefits provided to employees under the state plan.
Additional details pending state guidance.
Details pending state guidance.
Details pending state guidance.
You must work with your own employment counsel to define your self-insured plan.
Please refer to the state’s website for more information on self-insured private plan applications including surety, bond, and other requirements.
Employers applying for a private plan approval will be required to pay an application fee for each FEIN when they submit their application. The application fee for a private plan is expected to range from $100-$1,000 depending on the employer’s size. The application fee for a self-insured plan is expected to be $1,000.
Once you receive approval, please send your MetLife representative a copy of your state approved plan.
Details pending state guidance.
Ongoing Employer Responsibilities
Employers are responsible for notifying all eligible employees of the benefits available to them.
Details pending state guidance.
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.
Details pending state guidance.
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.
Details pending state guidance.
MetLife will reach out to employers to verify and or provide missing information and documentation, as needed.
Details pending state guidance.
Premium Payment
Details pending state guidance.
Taking a Leave
Coordination of Benefits
Employees may qualify for more than one benefit based on the leave reason.
MD PFML and FMLA can be taken at the same time and should be taken at the same time when applicable.
Employees cannot be required to use PTO, paid sick leave, or paid vacation, but leave can be required to run concurrently with employer-provided leave policy due to parental care, family care, or military leave or under a disability policy.
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.
FAQs
- the spouse or domestic partner
- a child (including biological, adopted, foster, or stepchild)
- a parent (including biological, adopted, foster, or stepparent) including the employee’s spouse
- a grandparent (including biological, adopted, foster, or step-grandparent)
- a grandchild (including biological, adopted, foster, or step-grandchild)
- a sibling (including biological, adopted, foster, or step-sibling)
- a person for whom the employee, or the employee’s spouse, has court appointed decision making authority over (financial and/or personal)
- an individual who acted as a parent or stood in loco parentis to the employee or the employee’s spouse when the employee or the employee’s spouse was a minor. (For example, the employee’s step-parent from when the employee was a minor even if they are no longer married to the employee’s birth parent)
- a child for whom the employee has court appointed decision making authority over (financial and/or personal) and/ or who lives with the employee; and a child the employee has assumed the obligations of a parent for without formal adoption proceedings
As of October 27, 2025