Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave, Private Plan Option

Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) is a state-mandated benefit in Massachusetts and most employers have to provide this coverage to their employees through the MA PFML State Plan or an approved Private Plan.

What is an Approved Private Plan?

It’s an alternative to Massachusett’s State Plan for PFML benefits that must at least meet or exceed the rights, protections and benefits of the State Plan. An approved Private Plan can be either self-insured by an MA employer or fully insured through an approved insurance carrier like ShelterPoint*.

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Why Would an Employer Want to Provide a Private Plan?

Pricing may not be the only reason why a Massachusetts employer would select a Private Plan. With our experience in this insurance niche, we have been able to identify the top 3 additional advantages for employers:

Reason 1
Private carriers like ShelterPoint have built the experience, scalability, and agility to manage statutory benefits insurance and have the resources to continuously expand and enhance capabilities to provide smooth service from onboarding to claims.

Reason 2
Private Plan carriers have resources to help employers remain in compliance and adequately informed.

Reason 3
Insurance carriers have long-standing experience around administering and paying claims, which may result in fast claims turnaround and dedicated claims service.

Broker's Guide to Private Plan Options

Our Broker's Guide to Private Plan Options dives deeper into more advantages for your clients – regardless of the state program they may be required to provide. Find out why it may be a win-win for both you and your clients here!

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ShelterPoint Statutory Benefits Quoting Guide

This in-depth, state-by-state comparison will help guide you on what’s needed to quote and bind ShelterPoint’s* Statutory Insurance Private Plan Coverages.

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Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave Private Plan Exemptions

Massachusetts employers automatically default to the MA PFML State Plan for their state-mandated PFML coverage unless they choose a Private Plan, file a Private Plan exemption application with the Massachusetts Department Family & Medical Leave (DFML), and obtain approval from the DFML of their Private Plan exemption.

Exemptions may be filed on a quarterly basis and may begin only on the first day of any calendar quarter (January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1). It is important to apply for the exemption as early in the quarter as possible to allow time for the exemption approval before the quarter ends.

Key Dates to Remember

1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter

1st Quarter

Deadline for Quarterly Application Exemptions - March 31.

Exemption Approved as of - April 1.

2nd Quarter

Deadline for Quarterly Application Exemptions - June 30.

Exemption Approved as of - July 1.

3rd Quarter

Deadline for Quarterly Application Exemptions - September 30.

Exemption Approved as of - October 1.

4th Quarter

Deadline for Quarterly Application Exemptions - December 31.

Exemption Approved as of - January 1.

PFML Expert Tip:

It’s important to remember that you will need to renew your Private Plan exemption every year!

How to Apply For a Private MA Paid Family & Medical Leave Plan

For your timing and planning, keep in mind that Private Plans can only be made effective on the first day of a quarter, i.e. the first of the next quarter after approval. The application process may vary depending on the insurance carrier. Here’s how it works at ShelterPoint:

Step 1 – You and your broker

Provide your broker with the information they need to request a quote. Most carriers will have similar information requirements in order to provide your broker with a quote. But, for ShelterPoint specifically, please provide the following information about your group through your broker:

Your company’s full information, including full legal name, address, and SIC code.
Census with employees working at your MA location(s) who are eligible for PFML (more details on employee eligibility in the section below):
- Gender
- Employment status (full-time, part-time, or 1099ers)
- Date of birth (DOB)
- Total Wages
Include part-timers who meet the eligibility requirements.
If more than 50% of your workforce are on a 1099-basis, you need to include them as well.
Desired effective date

If needed, we may require additional information.

Step 2 – ShelterPoint

Based on your information, we will provide a proposal.

At ShelterPoint, after you have accepted the proposal, we will provide an application for coverage. We will also prepare the Confirmation of Policy Form Number Form, prefilled with your information/benefit details and signed by us, which you will need to provide to Massachusetts DFML as part of the Private Plan Exemption application.

Step 3 – You

You, the employer, counter-sign the “Confirmation of Policy Form Number” Form.

Then, through your MassTaxConnect account (https://mtc.dor.state.ma.us/), submit your Private Plan Exemption Application, which includes uploading the Confirmation of Policy Form Number Form.

Here are the State’s official step-by-step video and instructions for applying for an exemption.

Step 4 – Massachusetts DFML

Massachusetts DFML may reach out with questions while reviewing your application in detail through e-messages on your MassTaxConnect Account.

Should they have any questions, your broker and our team of experts can help you with the response.

Step 5 – You and Your broker

Your broker will then need to provide us with a copy of the exemption approval and completed ShelterPoint application for coverage to issue the Paid Family & Medical Leave policy.

It’s important to remember that you will need to renew your Private Plan Exemption every year!

If you are an employer, please contact your broker to get the ball rolling. Brokers are welcome to reach out to us directly with any questions they may have at sales@shelterpoint.com. We look forward to working with you!

Why Choose ShelterPoint* For Paid Family & Medical Leave?

Our decades of experience in PFML and similar state-mandated coverages have made us a specialist in these products,

and we welcome the opportunity to help MA employers by bringing you a thoughtful and efficient stand-alone Private Plan option for your Paid Family & Medical Leave needs.This includes guiding you on what administrative actions you need to complete for an exemption – we help make the switch to our Private Plan easy.

Learn More About ShelterPoint

Statutory benefit programs are what we do.

MA Paid Family & Medical Leave
Frequently Asked Questions About Private Plans

How do I notify my employees about the Private Plan?

Regardless of whether you have a Private Plan or not, there are two requirements for notifying your employees about PFML benefits.

Hang the mandatory workplace poster, which you can download from the DFML site here.
Provide written notice about the PFML law and available benefits (as outline in M.G.L. 175M sec. 4) and obtain acknowledgement of the receipt of the notice (or a statement indicating the employee’s refusal to sign such acknowledgement) from all your employees. Go here for full details about notification requirements and what is required in your written notification, along with a template to use.

How does a Private Plan impact my Paid Family & Medical Leave “tax”?

When you are approved for a Private Plan exemption, you would pay your premium to your private carrier instead of paying a “tax” into the State Plan. In either case, it is still up to you, the employer, how much of the premium or “tax” you want to withhold from your employees to fund their Paid Family and Medical Leave, as long as you do not exceed the maximum employee contribution. See the current maximum employee contribution here .

How do deductions work with a Private Plan?

If you’re switching to a Private Plan, you won’t need to make any further contributions to the State Plan once your Private Plan exemption is effective. You will pay the Private Plan premium to the insurance carrier when the Private Plan becomes effective.

Read more about MA Paid Family Leave Premium and Deductions here.

Learn More About MA Paid Family & Medical Leave

Overview

Private Plan Option

Coverage Requirements

Benefits

Premium & Contributions

Claims

Regulatory Updates

Paid Family & Medical Leave Download Center

Forms - Claims - PFML for Bonding Leave

Forms - Claims - PFML for Family Caregiving Leave

Forms - Claims - PFML for Medical Leave - Self Care

Forms - Claims - PFML for Military Caregiving

Forms - Claims - PFML for Military Exigency

With decades of experience in helping keep people INSURED,

rest ASSURED: you have found the specialists you can turn to.

Stay in The Know

At ShelterPoint, we stay on top of all the latest news, updates, and information about Paid Family & Medical Leave,
so we can pass it on to you. Sign-up for updates now to stay in the know!

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*The ShelterPoint family of companies operates under the “ShelterPoint” name strictly as a marketing name, and no legal significance is expressed or implied. The ShelterPoint family of companies consists of ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company, a NY-domiciled carrier, and its wholly-owned subsidiary ShelterPoint Insurance Company, a FL-domiciled carrier, depending on the state. ShelterPoint is a registered service mark.

Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave is available in MA only and will be underwritten by: ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company (a New York-domiciled carrier): Policy Form# SPL PFMLP 0820 MA.

The information in this material is based on our knowledge of the current MA Paid Family & Medical Leave law and regulations. If the Department of Family & Medical Leave revises the regulations, adopts new policies or if the law itself is amended, we will update this document. This document is not intended to be and should not be construed as legal advice. Employers are encouraged to consult employment law counsel for legal advice.

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All policies are underwritten and administered by either ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company (principal office in Garden City, NY), or ShelterPoint Insurance Company, a FL-domiciled carrier, depending on the state. Contact Underwriting for details.
Policies for Private Plans of Statutory Benefit Programs are underwritten by ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company (principal office in Garden City, NY) in NY, NJ, CT, MA, CO; and underwritten by ShelterPoint Insurance Company (a FL-domiciled carrier) in OR. Click here to view availability by state.
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MA PFML: Private Plan Option