Maryland Paid Family and
Medical Leave (MD PFML)

MetLife’s customers are responsible for ensuring they obtain and maintain approval of their MD PFML commercial plan, private plan, voluntary plan, and/or equivalent plan with each appropriate agency and in accordance with applicable law, rules, regulations, and guidance. Employers should consult with their attorney about the requirements for obtaining and maintaining such approval.

Employers are responsible for registering with the Maryland PFML program through the state’s designated portal for each applicable Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), once registration process becomes available. Following registration, employers may be able to authorize third-party administrators (TPAs), to access the account as permitted by the state. Employers remain responsible for compliance with all applicable state filing, reporting, and registration requirements.

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. Register with Maryland Familyand Medical Leave Insurance | Maryland FAMLI

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 a private plan. Each private plan must be submitted to the Maryland Department of Labor for review and approval on a per-FEIN basis. Employers will participate in the State Plan unless an approved private plan is in place.

Private plans must provide benefits, rights, and job protections that are at least equivalent to those offered under the State Plan.

Key deadlines to apply for a private plan:

• September 1, 2026: DOI submission window opens.
• November 15, 2026: DOI submission deadline.
• Summer 2027: Private plan applications become available.
• October 1, 2027: Private plan application deadline.

Private plan applications must be approved in the quarter prior to the quarter that the benefits go into effect. If an employer submits a private plan application less than 30 days prior to the end of a quarter, and the application is approved, the private plan will be effective on the first day of the following quarter.

Employers who intend to apply for a private plan in 2027 and wish to be exempt from contributions during the seeding period must submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) between September 1-November 15, 2026. Private plan applications will be due October 1, 2027.

Only Authorized Officers can submit a DOI for an employer. If you are the Authorized Officer for more than one employer, you need to submit a separate Declaration of Intent (DOI) for each EIN.

Steps for completing a DOI

1: Register with FAMLI

• Initial registration must be completed by an Authorized Officer

2: Download and complete Proof of Private Plan Consultation

• A licensed insurance agent or other representative of an insurance company in Maryland must complete and sign the form.

3: Upload the completed Proof of Private Plan Consultation

• Once an Authorized Officer registers, they can upload the Proof of Private Plan Consultation and attest to their understanding of their obligations through their FAMLI account and submit their DOI
• FAMLI won’t accept forms that are unreadable, incomplete, or not signed.

4: Receive DOI decision

• A submission confirmation email will be sent to the Authorized Officer’s email address.

FAMLI will notify the Authorized Officer of the outcome of the DOI submission within 15 business days.

Once your DOI is accepted, you’ll collect contributions starting in January 2027 but won’t remit them to the State. Instead, you must hold all contributions in an escrow account. You can collect contributions from your employees or self-fund the escrow account. (Note: There is a statutory exception to this requirement for certain governmental employers.)

Important: Private plans can charge employers more than the State Plan rate. However, you cannot withhold more from your employees than they would pay under the State Plan.

Employers who submit a DOI must apply for a private plan by October 1, 2027. If an employer does not apply for a private plan, they may face penalties and fees.

How the money in your escrow account is used depends on your final plan status.

• If your application is denied or you choose the State Plan: You must remit the escrowed contributions to the State.
• If you’re approved for a commercial private plan: You must return any employee contributions to your employees.
• If you’re approved for a self-insured private plan: You can use the escrowed contributions to fund a separate account used solely for FAMLI benefits.

You must work with your own employment counsel to define your self-insured plan.

Includes detailed requirements:

• Employers with 50 or more Maryland-localized employees may apply.
• Employers with fewer than 50 employees may qualify if they had a FAMLI-compliant program in place by July 31, 2026.

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.

Private Plan application window opens in the Summer of 2027 and must be submitted by October 1, 2027.

You are required to notify employees about paid family and medical leave at specific times throughout their employment.

All employers must provide notice:

• Starting July 2027 (six months before benefits become available).
• When an employee is hired.
• Once per year (annual notice).
• When an employee requests leave using terms such as “paid family and medical leave,” “parental leave,” or “family leave,” or otherwise indicates they want to take FAMLI leave.
• When the employer knows the employee is taking leave for a qualifying reason.

Employers who collect employee contributions will also need to provide notice:

• One pay period before payroll deductions begins.

Beginning January 1, 2027, employers must ensure the required contributions are collected, either through payroll withholding or employer payment on behalf of employees. This requirement applies regardless of employer size - all employees working in Maryland contribute.

The Maryland Department of Labor sets the rate for the State Plan.

The State Plan contribution rate is 0.9% divided 50/50 between employee and employer. Employers may not withhold more than 0.45% of an employee’s wages, and,

This limit applies regardless of the cost structure of the private plan. Current rate will apply to wages paid from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027.

You will be able to withhold up to 50% of the contribution rate from employees’ paychecks. The contribution rate is the same for both exempt (salaried) and non-exempt (hourly) employees.

Small employers: (those with fewer than 15 total employees, counting both Maryland and out-of-state employees) are only responsible for remitting 50% of the contribution rate and may withhold that amount from employee pay.

Paying the full contribution: Employers can choose to pay the full contribution amount on behalf of their employees, but there may be tax implications. Employers should consult with a tax professional before making this decision.

Neither employer nor employee owes contributions during periods when no wages are paid (e.g., unpaid leave or workers’ compensation)

Please review the Contributions and Benefit Payments page on this site for details.

All employers must electronically submit Quarterly Wage and Hour Reports (QWHRs) to the FAMLI Division. Employers who participate in a private plan must also meet this requirement.

FAMLI uses the information provided in these reports as the basis for determining employee eligibility and benefit amounts based on the number of hours they work.

Reporting periods and due dates

QWHRs are due by the end of the month following the most recent calendar quarter.

• Q1 (Jan 1 - March 31) due date: April 30
• Q2 (April 1 - June 30) due date: July 31
• Q3 (July 1 - September 30) due date: October 31
• Q4 (October 1 - December 31) due date: January 31

Your contribution payment and QWHR are due on the same day

Contributions must be paid on or before the quarterly due date to avoid penalties and interest. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, payment will be considered timely if received on the next business day.

Maryland PFML Quarterly Wage and Hours Report Guidelines

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.

Maryland FAMLI does not require annual renewal of private plans. However, any material change—including benefit, carrier, or structural updates—must be submitted to the state for reapproval, and the plan must continuously meet or exceed State Plan benefits.

Employers must remain in their selected plan for a minimum of 12 months. This applies to transitions between the State Plan and private plans, and private plans cannot be materially modified during the first year of approval.

Private plans require initial state approval and ongoing compliance with equivalency, reporting, and notice requirements.

An annual application fee applies to private plans, with additional guidance expected.

Once registered, employers remain compliant by maintaining required payroll deductions, quarterly contributions, and all program obligations.

Under a Maryland FAMLI private plan, the plan administrator - either the insurance carrier (fully insured plan) or the employer (self-insured plan) - is responsible for processing and paying employee claims. Responsibilities include accepting and reviewing applications, collecting required documentation, determining eligibility, calculating and issuing benefits equivalent to the State Plan, providing claim notices and updates, meeting all statutory timelines, maintaining records, and ensuring job and health-benefit protections.

Self-insured employers must also demonstrate financial solvency and directly administer and pay claims. All private plans must meet or exceed the claims processing standards and protections required under Maryland's FAMLI regulations.

If you choose a private plan, you are expected to stay in that plan for at least one year. After one year, you can apply to switch to a different private plan or join the State Plan. You can also leave the State Plan and join a private plan, as long as the change does not result in a lapse in coverage.

Note: There are specific provisions for employers who submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) and so were exempt from contributions from January 1, 2027-December 31, 2027.

The following rules apply to employers whose (1) DOIs are accepted, (2) private plan applications are approved, and (3) private plans are terminated (either involuntarily or voluntarily) any time during calendar years 2028 or 2029.

• If you leave your private plan to join the State Plan between January 1, 2028, and December 31, 2028: you will owe contributions dating back to January 1, 2027, plus interest, and must begin remitting quarterly contributions going forward. In other words, you will owe contributions that you would have paid to FAMLI for the period of January 1, 2027, to the day your private plan was approved. There may be additional financial penalties.
• If you leave your private plan to join the State Plan between January 1, 2029, and December 31, 2029: you will owe half of the contributions due since January 1, 2027, plus interest, and must begin collecting contributions going forward. In other words, you will owe half of the contributions that would have been paid to FAMLI for the period of January 1, 2027, to the day your private plan was approved. There may be additional financial penalties.

Employers with a private plan are expected to remain in that plan for at least a year. After a year, the employer may apply to change private plans or join the State Plan. After review by the Department, approved changes will take effect at the beginning of the next quarter.