MN SF4352

Insurance companies licensed to issue disability income insurance in Minnesota may offer paid family leave insurance benefits providing wage replacement for absences not based on disability status, either as a policy rider or separate policy.

Family leave benefits may cover absences for caring for family members with serious health conditions, bonding with newborns or newly adopted/fostered children within 12 months, military-related qualifying exigencies, caring for injured service members, or other family leave reasons specified in the policy.

Insurance policies must set family leave benefits at 52 consecutive calendar weeks per covered reason, with flexibility in calculation methods, and may include unpaid waiting periods with terms specified in the policy.

Policies must define benefit amounts, wage calculations, and allowable offsets for other income sources, with permissible limitations including periods lacking required medical certification, family leave during work, or periods eligible for other statutory or employer-sponsored benefits.

Benefits must be paid periodically and promptly except during contested periods, and the act takes effect January 1, 2021.