When Maine‘s paid family and medical leave program begins paying benefits in May 2026, it will be the 13th state to do so. Maine is fortunate to be able to build on a strong foundation that other states have developed while ensuring the program works for Maine workers and businesses. A common theme shared by the most successful programs is a commitment to forging a strong public-private partnership between the state plan and the existing private insurance plan market.
To accomplish this here in Maine, it is necessary to modify the recently proposed regulations implementing this program.
At Unum, our experience and commitment to helping the world of work thrive dates back 175 years. Unum’s financial protection and workplace benefits cover nearly 45 million people and their families and pay nearly $8 billion in benefits annually. In our experience as the nation’s leading short- and long-term disability insurer, state paid family and medical leave programs have become an important part of how we serve our clients as they navigate the complexity of the ever-changing leave landscape. .
In states such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon, and New York, employers can select private insurance plans to meet the requirements of the state’s paid family and medical leave law. Maine will also allow private plans, and these plans must be equivalent to or better than state standards and be subject to oversight by both the Maine Department of Labor and the Bureau of Insurance.
However, recently proposed rules would make Maine an outlier by requiring all Maine employers to contribute to a state fund on January 1, 2025, regardless of their intention to seek private coverage for their employees.
Not only would this proposal be extremely costly for employers who already offer generous benefits today, but it would require 16 months of payroll contributions to a program that their employees would never benefit from if the employer sought an equivalent private plan. Simply put, the current proposal threatens the viability of the private option in Maine and would restrict an employer’s ability to choose the path that works best for its employees.
Unum actively engaged with Maine policymakers throughout this process with a common goal: establishing a program that works for all Mainers, minimizing the burden on employers while ensuring people are financially protected when they need it most. This is core to our mission and we are proud to provide our expertise to help our home state build a strong, sustainable program.
The Maine Department of Labor should consider following the successful lead of several states by allowing employers to declare their intent to seek equivalent private plan coverage prior to the January 2025 contribution start date. This model also allows Employers apply for private plan waivers quarterly once they are ready to make an informed decision about their plan options. Private plans are key to reducing the financial and administrative burden of the state program, giving employers flexibility to maintain long-standing relationships with trusted providers, and encouraging even more generous benefit offerings for Maine workers.
As one of Maine’s largest employers and an industry-leading provider of these important benefits, we look forward to working in partnership with the state on behalf of our nearly 3,000 Maine employees, our Maine customers, and all Maine workers to achieve this together.
Copy story link
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Please use the form below to reset your password. Once you’ve submitted your account email, we’ll send you an email with a reset code.
” Former
Today’s editorial cartoon.
Related stories
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.