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The Final Rules have been published by the Maine Department of Labor regarding the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML). Review this email and reach out to your dedicated Clark Insurance / Marsh McLennan Agency point of contact for any questions on how these updates may impact your health plans or business practices.
Here is a link to our latest compliance update: "Maine Issues Final rules for Paid Family and Medical Leave.pdf," which outlines the recent regulations regarding the Paid Family and Medical Leave program in Maine.
As we prepare to assist employers in quoting private plans for the Maine PFML, here are key dates and the quoting steps for private plans:
Key Dates:
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January 1, 2025: Employers are required to start withholding employee contributions.
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April 1, 2025: Employers can start submitting private plan waiver applications to the Maine Department of Labor for approval.
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April 30, 2025: First reports and quarterly premium payment due for state plan.
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May 1, 2026: ME PFML benefits begin.
Premium Responsibility:
2025 Premium fee is up to 1% of payroll
- 0.5% paid by the employee
- 0.5% paid by the employer (if they have 15 or more employees)
Potential Advantages of Private Plan:
- Worth consideration for employers with 15+ employees.
- Private plan premium rate could be less than state rate.
- The employer can stop paying into the state’s pre-funding period retroactive to the first of the quarter in which the private plan waiver was approved.
- Claim integration with short term and long term disability.
- ME PFML can be integrated with third party leave management and tracking services.
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Important note: Most carriers will not write a standalone private ME PMFL policy. Carriers are requiring an additional line of coverage such as life and/or disability insurance.
Steps for Employers to Quote Private Plans with Clark/MMA:
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Review the final rules summary: Familiarize yourself with the final rules and requirements for private plans.
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Contact Clark/MMA: Reach out to us to express your interest in quoting a private plan for Maine PFML.
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Send Clark/MMA a Census: Provide us with a census of all Maine employees(full-time and part-time), including the following demographics:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Gender
- Annual Salary
- Work Location
- Job Title
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Discuss Coverage Options: Engage in a discussion with our team to explore coverage options and any specific needs your organization may have such as leave management services.
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Receive Tailored Quotes: We will analyze the provided information and develop customized quotes for your private plan.
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Submit Applications: Once a plan is selected, we will help guide you through the process of submitting the necessary waiver applications to the Maine Department of Labor.
Please take the time to review the linked document and prepare for upcoming discussions. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out.
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