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MetLife has become the first carrier to include mental wellbeing resources in a state Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Through a collaboration with TELUS Health, New Hampshire employees enrolled in an employer-sponsored plan now have access cognitive behavioral therapy services.
“The expansion of mental health resources within New Hampshire’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program represents a significant step forward in supporting the overall wellbeing of Granite Staters,” Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt said. “By integrating access to professional mental health services, employees can receive essential care while maintaining financial stability during times of need.”
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New Hampshire Paid Family and Medical Leave (NH PFML) provides participating New Hampshire workers with 60% of their average weekly wage up to the Social Security wage cap for up to six weeks per year for specified leaves of absence from the workplace. This insurance is available to all New Hampshire employers, including for-profit, non-profit, private and public firms, and to all New Hampshire workers.
NH PFML is offered by MetLife, the state’s paid family and medical leave insurance partner. Employers are not required to purchase NH PFML insurance from MetLife, although those who purchase other paid family and medical leave insurance plans will not qualify for the tax credit provided to employers who purchase NH PFML through MetLife.
The program is available exclusively to employees enrolled in employer-sponsored NH PFML plans. Employers can choose how to structure the benefit, whether covering the full cost, implementing an employee contribution or using a shared-cost approach. This enhancement provides employees with an initial clinical assessment, personalized consultations with dedicated therapists, structured therapy modules and ongoing mental health support. The expanded services aim to address conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, obsessive-compulsive disorder and insomnia.
The NH PFML program, launched in December 2022, allows employees to take paid leave for qualifying reasons, including caring for a family member, recovering from a serious health condition or bonding with a new child. With the inclusion of mental health support, MetLife is enhancing access to critical resources that can help employees navigate life’s challenges more effectively, according the state insurance department.
“These updates not only strengthen the program’s ability to support workers but also ensure that employers can provide comprehensive benefits that promote workforce resilience,” said Keith Nyhan, deputy insurance commissioner. “The New Hampshire Insurance Department remains committed to advancing consumer protections and improving access to meaningful coverage options for Granite Staters.”
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
