Minnesota Paid Leave for employers: 0.88% in 2026 and 2027, the small-employer rate of 0.66%, and the 21 approved insurer entities on the official list
Published Sep 19, 2026
Page updated Oct 10, 2026
Short answer, as of October 8, 2026: Minnesota Paid Leave started on January 1, 2026. The premium is 0.88% of covered wages for 2026 and for 2027 (DEED release, Jul 31, 2026). Employers can collect up to 0.44% from employees. A small employer pays a total of 0.66%. An employer can use a private "equivalent plan" in place of the state plan. The official list names 21 approved insurer entities/plans.
The rate for 2026 and 2027
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total premium | 0.88%: Family Leave 0.27% and Medical Leave 0.61% | pl.mn.gov, premium rate page |
| Employee share | Up to 0.44% | The same page; release of Jul 31, 2026 |
| Wage limit | Minnesota's page says "wages up to $185,000" | pl.mn.gov, premium rate page |
| Rate ceiling | "The premium rate cannot be more than 1.1%" | The same page |
| Weekly maximum payment | $1,423 in 2026. The estimator page gives no 2027 maximum (read Oct 8, 2026). | pl.mn.gov, payment estimator |
Premiums and wage detail reports are due on Apr 30, Jul 31, Oct 31 and Jan 31. If a due date is on a weekend or a legal holiday, "it is extended to the next business day". An employer with an equivalent plan still files the quarterly wage detail reports.
Small employers
You are a small employer if you meet two tests (pl.mn.gov, small employers page):
- You "employ 30 or fewer workers in each quarter".
- You pay an average wage of no more than 150% of the statewide average wage, "currently $27,745.88 per quarter".
The total rate is then 0.66%. You can still collect up to 0.44% from employees, so your own share can be as low as 0.22%.
The official list of equivalent plans
The list is a PDF. It says: "These insurance products have been reviewed and approved by the Department of Commerce and certified by Minnesota Paid Leave". The file label says "Last updated 10/2/2025". The file last changed on the state server on June 8, 2026. We checked it on October 8, 2026. The 21 entries are 21 legal entities.
The official list, dated "Last updated 10/2/2025", names:
- Life Insurance Company of North America
- ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company
- Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
- Unum Insurance Company
- Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York
- The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
- Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company
- ReliaStar Life Insurance Company
- Arch Insurance Company
- The Prudential Insurance Company of America
- United of Omaha Life Insurance Company
- UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company
- Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc.
- Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
- Standard Insurance Company
- Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
- ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York
- Symetra Life Insurance Company
- Principal Life Insurance Company
- Continental American Insurance Company
The order is the order of the PDF. This site does not rank insurers and does not print prices. The PDF says: "This list is updated regularly."
The request deadlines are Nov 15, Feb 15, May 15 and Aug 15, for plan starts on Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1 and Oct 1.
The Minnesota board has each rule with its source and check date. The insurer table shows which companies are on the official lists of Minnesota, Maine and Delaware. Compare the programs in rules by state.
This is a private website, not a government site. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Official site: pl.mn.gov.
Sources
- Minnesota Paid Leave — Premium rate and contributions — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Minnesota Paid Leave — Small employers — checked Oct 8, 2026
- DEED release, Jul 31, 2026 — premium rate unchanged for 2027 — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Minnesota Paid Leave — Equivalent plans — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Approved Equivalent Plans (PDF, label 'Last updated 10/2/2025') — checked Oct 8, 2026
- Minnesota Paid Leave — Estimate your payments (weekly maximum) — checked Oct 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
›What is the Minnesota Paid Leave rate for employers in 2027?
0.88% of covered wages, the same as 2026. The release of July 31, 2026 says the rate 'will remain steady at 0.88% of covered wages in Minnesota for 2027'. Employers can collect up to 0.44% from employees.
›Who is a small employer under Minnesota Paid Leave?
An employer with 30 or fewer workers in each quarter and an average wage of no more than 150% of the statewide average wage, currently $27,745.88 per quarter. The total rate is 0.66%, and the employer's own share can be as low as 0.22%.
›How many insurers are on Minnesota's list of equivalent plans?
21 approved insurer entities/plans. The file label says 'Last updated 10/2/2025'. The file last changed on the state server on June 8, 2026. We checked it on October 8, 2026.
›When can an equivalent plan start in Minnesota?
The state's page (read October 8, 2026) shows request deadlines of Nov 15, Feb 15, May 15 and Aug 15 for plan starts on Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1 and Oct 1.
Private website. Not affiliated with the State of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Labor or the FAMLI Division. Official site: paidleave.maryland.gov. General information with sources and check dates — not legal, tax or insurance advice. We are not a licensed insurance producer; we do not recommend any agent, insurer or plan, and we receive no commission or fee based on any insurance sale.