Unlock the profit potential by helping your clients privatize paid leave programs in a growing number of states.
Since New York first enacted Paid Family Leave in 2017, many additional states and the District of Columbia joined New York and California with leave options for new or adopting parents, spouses of deployed military personnel, and those caring for relatives with an illness or injury.
What Is The Difference Between PFML and Short-term Disability Coverage?
Many states also added medical leave to their mandatory benefits. In most cases, states bundle the benefits together as Paid Family and Medical Leave. New York and New Jersey have separate programs to cover employees who are out-of-work due to injuries or illnesses incurred off-the-job. These disability programs fill a similar role as paid medical leave, but they are not the same.
Benefits for NYS DBL and NJ TDB can last up to 26 weeks, compared to a cumulative 12 weeks for PFML. The State of New York is currently working to pass legislation that will increase the DBL benefit to align with PFL in NY.
The DBL Center Is Here To Help
Brokers familiar with TDB and DBL programs may find themselves exploring a strange new world with PFML programs cropping up across the U.S. It’s important to understand these required employee benefits, as they offer tremendous opportunities to expand your book-of-business across multiple regions.
The DBL Center is here to act as your white-glove, white-label resource to help you respond to requests for proposals (RFPs), secure accurate quotes from multiple carriers, and deliver the information to your prospective clients in an easy-to-read, attractive package.
Our Net Revenue Tracker Pro picks up where our Broker Dashboard leaves off, alleviating analysis paralysis and giving brokers more time to do what they do best: Build relationships, write new business, and cash in on commissions.
States with PFML Programs in Place As of April 2024
As we enter the second quarter of 2024, let’s recap the states with statutory benefits.
As of April 2024, six more states have some form of paid family leave or paid family and medical leave program in the works. Refer to The DBL Center map for more specifics on states with paid leave programs in effect or in the works.
Right now, the following states offer paid family leave or paid family and medical leave, either as a single benefit or separate benefits.
Keep in mind that some states offer opportunities for insurance brokers to boost revenue by helping business owners privatize these benefits, while a handful of states don’t offer that option.
The following states allow private benefits plans through an approved carrier, unless otherwise indicated on our list.
- New York (DBL with paid family leave)
- New Jersey (TDB with family leave insurance)
- Massachusetts (Paid family and medical leave)
- Connecticut (Paid family and medical leave)
- New Hampshire (Paid family and medical leave)
- Washington (Paid family and medical leave)
- California (PFML with no private coverage option)
- Oregon (Paid family and medical leave)
- Rhode Island (PFML with no private coverage option)
- Colorado (Family and Medical Leave Insurance – FAMLI)
Meanwhile, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, and Maine have programs in the works. You can refer to The DBL Center’s paid family leave resource center for details, including premium rates and benefits, on existing programs and read this post for start dates and the latest news on PFML benefits.
FAQ:
Which states have paid family and medical leave?
As of April 2024, the following states have paid family and medical leave laws in effect, where workers can claim benefits for their own medical condition or to care for a family member: New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Washington, California, Oregon, Rhode Island.
What are the rules for paid family leave in NY?
In New York, employees can file for up to 12 weeks of paid family leave at 67% of their average weekly wage, capped at 67% of the state’s average weekly wage, which is $1,151 in 2024. PFL can cover time off to care for and bond with an infant or adopted child in the first year, to care for an aging or ill loved one, or to manage the household while a military spouse is deployed.
How does paid family medical leave work?
Paid family and medical leave, now in effect in many states across the U.S., offers paid benefits to employees to care for their own medical condition or care for family members under various circumstances. Employees should not confuse various PFML programs with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which offers job protection for employees who need time off due to a medical condition or to care for a loved one.
