Twelve Insurance Policies Certified for PFML Private Plan Substitutions

February 20, 2025

For Immediate Release: February 20, 2025

Twelve Insurance Policies Certified for PFML Private Plan Substitutions

AUGUSTA - The Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program announced the certification of 12 PFML-approved insurance policies that can be used by employers in applying for fully insured-private plan substitutions.

Under the PFML law - https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/statutes/26/title26sec850-H.html , an employer may apply to obtain a substitution that demonstrates a paid family and medical leave insurance policy offers the rights, protections and benefits that are substantially equivalent to those provided to employees under the law. The Maine Department of Labor (DOL) adopted minimum criteria through the rulemaking process to determine plans that are substantially equivalent to the PFML law.

With the assistance of the Maine Bureau of Insurance (BOI), a checklist was developed to review insurance policies filed by insurance carriers to determine they have met the requirements established in the Maine Insurance Code to offer the insurance policy to the market. The BOI then forwarded approved insurance policies to the PFML program for review to determine whether and certify the policy as satisfying the requirements, and offers rights, protections and benefits for substantial equivalency established in the PFML law. A guide detailing the fully-insured private plan substitution process can be found here - https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/employerresources/ErGuideFullyInsured.pdf .

"We are excited to hit another major milestone for the program by certifying these policies for employers to have a choice of a plan that works best for them" said PFML Director Luke Monahan.

"The Bureau appreciates the opportunity to work with DOL to provide Maine employers with these private plan options," said Superintendent of Insurance Bob Carey. "From the time DOL adopted the final rules, staff at the Bureau worked in close coordination with DOL staff and insurance carriers to make sure these private plans meet the requirements of the PFML law and the insurance code."

An employer may also meet the requirements in law through a self-insured plan, which is provided directly by an employer, rather than through an insurance carrier. A self-insured plan will be reviewed by the PFML program to certify it offers rights, protections, and benefits that are substantially equivalent to those provided by the State plan. A guide outlining the self-insurance application process can be found here - https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/docs/2025/employerresources/ErGuideSelfinsuredPlan.pdf .

The list of approved and certified insurance policies can be found under the Department's webpage on paid family and medical leave - https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/ under the employer resources tab. The list will be regularly updated as additional policies are reviewed and received approval by the Bureau of Insurance and certification by the Department of Labor.

Employers may apply to obtain a substitution beginning April 1, 2025 through the Maine Paid Leave Portal.

Follow PFML on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/mainepaidleave/