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.

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:

• Declaration of Intent (DOI) submission window opens September 1, 2026 and DOI deadline is November 15, 2026.
• Private plan application must be submitted by Summer 2027.

Maryland Paid Family and Medical Leave (FAMLI) - Private Plan deadlines:

Employers that intend to offer a Maryland FAMLI - compliant private plan in 2027 and seek exemption from the State Plan must submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI) between September 1, 2026 and November 15, 2026 to the Maryland FAMLI Division.

The DOI submission window is expected to run from September 1, 2026 to November 15, 2026. Employers that submit an approved DOI will subsequently be required to complete and submit a private plan application, which the state has indicated will be available in the Summer of 2027 (specific application dates have not yet been announced on the Maryland FAMLI website).  https://paidleave.maryland.gov/employers/private-plans/

Employers that choose not to pursue a private plan, or who later decide to remain in the State Plan, do not need to submit a DOI and will participate in the State Plan without interruption.

Employers seeking to offer a fully insured Maryland FAMLI private plan that meets or exceeds State Plan requirements must submit an application for approval through the Maryland Department of Labor portal.

• Must complete the Declaration of Intent (DOI) by November 15, 2026
• Submit private plan application Summer 2027 (specific application dates have not yet been announced).

Employers with 50 or more employees localized in Maryland may apply for a self-insured private plan.

There is one exception: 

Employers with fewer than 50 employees may apply only if they already had a FAMLI-compliant leave program in place by July 31, 2026.

Employers with a self-insured plan may, but are not required to, withhold employee contributions, subject to applicable limits,

• Employers cannot withhold more than the employee contribution rate under the state plan.
• Employers must maintain FAMLI related funds in a separate escrow account used solely for FAMLI benefits.

Beginning January 1, 2027, contributions will begin at the state-set rate (initially 0.9% of wages; subject to adjustment).   All contributions collected in 2027 will be held in a segregated escrow account pending approval of the self-insured private plan. If the plan is approved, employee contributions collected in 2027 will be returned to employees, and employer contributions may be used to fund the self-insured reserve. If the plan is not approved, all escrowed contributions will be remitted to the State. Upon approval, the employer will administer the self-insured EPIP in full compliance with Maryland FAMLI requirements, including ongoing solvency, reporting, contribution handling, and benefit administration obligations.

Key Dates and Deadlines:

• September 1, 2026 – Declaration of Intent (DOI) submission opens.
• November 15, 2026 – Deadline to submit DOI to avoid remitting contributions to the State during the seeding period.
• January 1, 2027 – Contributions begin for State Plan.
• April 2027 – Quarterly wage reporting begins.
• Summer 2027 – Private Plan applications become available
• January 2028 – FAMLI benefits become payable to employees

If an employer submits a DOI and intends to apply for a private plan:

• Beginning January 2027, the employer must collect contributions but hold them in an escrow account rather than remit them to the State.
• If the self-insured plan is approved, the escrow funds may be transferred into a separate account dedicated solely to FAMLI benefits.
• If the application is denied, or the employer later chooses the State Plan, the employer must remit the escrowed contributions to the State.

Maryland has established an application fee for private plans:

• Self-insured private plan application fee is $1,000 annually.

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.

Employers will need to notify employees about paid family and medical leave at specific times throughout their employment:

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 becomes aware that an employee’s leave may qualify under PFML

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.

Beginning in April 2027, all covered Maryland employers will be required to electronically submit quarterly wage and hour reports to the Maryland Department of Labor's Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) Division. These reports must be submitted even if the employers participate in an approved private plan.

Quarterly contribution and reporting schedule:

• January 1 – March 31 wages → contributions due April 30
• April 1 – June 30 wages → contributions due July 31
• July 1 – September 30 wages → contributions due October 31
• October 1 – December 31 wages → contributions due January 31
• The first contribution payment, covering wages paid January 1 – March 31, 2027, will be due April 30, 2027.

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.

Employers who choose a private plan must stay in that plan for at least one year. After one year, employers may apply to transition to another private plan or to the State Plan. Employers 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: If employers leave their private plan to join the State Plan they should be aware of the following requirements:

Joining between January 1, 2028 and December 31, 2028: Employers whose DOI was accepted will owe contributions dating back to January 1, 2027, plus interest, and must begin collecting contributions going forward.

Joining between January 1, 2029 and December 31, 2029: Employers whose DOI was accepted will owe half of the contributions due since January 1, 2027, plus interest, and must begin collecting contributions going forward.

The timing of employers transition will determine the amount of back contributions owed.

When employers switch plans, employees can access benefits immediately—there is no waiting period, provided there is no gap in coverage. All approved plan changes take effect at the beginning of the next quarter, and there can be no gap in coverage.