Workman's Comp Rates

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Are you required to have Workers Comp Insurance?

  • Total voters
    18
David Waldmann

David Waldmann

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This poll is in response to a recent flurry of messages on the PPFA HitchHikers forum.

Due to the limitations of this poll format the information will not necesarily be entirely accurate nor helpful, because every state is different, and there is no way to link the answers together. However, I have included a "N/A" answer for every question for those without complete info.

I suggest you get your insurance policy out before you try to fill this out.

I tried finding all the classification numbers that might be applicable, but came up short on a couple. Hopefully the descriptions are accurate enough.
 
In Tennessee, as I understand it, if your business is under a certain size, workman's comp is not required.

I guess I'd better check if that is still correct, huh?

Betty
 
Sometimes I could kick myself. I went through the Grumble post, and my PPFA folder and put down all the classification numbers people had responded with. Of course, now that the poll is live I found a couple in my regular inbox! Here are the numbers for two of the categories. Sorry.

Picture Frame Assembly - 2840
Furniture Assembly - 2881
 
I noted that someone stated if an employee has 2 jobs (sales, fitter) the rate is based on the highest rate. That is the case with my policy. As the owner, my rate is the same as a frame fitter. They will not exclude me.
 
David -
Is your "Experience Modification factor" the same thing as a "merit rate adjustment"?

Penna also has an "terriorism premium charge" (ours is $7.00)

I am starting to classify insurance "professionals" in the same category as lawyers :mad: (don't even get me started on health insurance)
 
Hey! I am happy to have discovered that I'm neither illegal nor living dangerously. I am not required to have WC, in Virginia, if I have 3 or fewer employees. When I was an SCorp. it was required, but now I'm an LLC. When I was an SCorp. it was the lowest amount, $468.00 for 2 employees, an annual payroll of 28,000. I would have a problem today, The Hartford will not write a policy for my employee because the annual wage is too low. Melinda
 
My question to those who are classified as "retail". Has your insurance carrier seen your establishment and approved that rate classification after the visit? If so, what type of shop do you operate: power tools (y/n) saws (y/n) cut glass (y/n) use sharp blades (y/n)
 
Hey Melinda-I'm not sure happy is the best term. It's great to save some money on premiums, but WC provides some legal protection in addition to medical benefit. This is really true if you should ever have any long-term disability problems with an injured employee-not to mention the payroll subsidy.

Most states, like California, have programs in chaos. But, it still might be the most affordable of all insurances that you hope you will never need.

And, there is an easy cure for that "too low" payroll problem....
 
I am an employee and currently on what will probably be long term Workman's Comp. I am still able to work, but have to keep going back to the doctor and therapy and may have to go the rest of my life. I was injured in January.

Workman's Comp covers all medical payments that are related to the injury for me, even though I still can work full time. The biggest pain was the paperwork for me and my boss, but the lack of money worries is wonderful for both of us.

I don't know yet if they are going to cover lost wages.
 
[ 09-04-2003, 02:08 AM: Message edited by: CharlesL ]
 
I shoveled the last shovel full of snow of the season and my back went out of place.

Two weeks ago, there was a box too heavy for me to carry, so I pushed it across the floor with my foot and redid the injury. I should have gotten on my hands and knees and pushed. There is always some way to do it all at this point.

I just now need to learn the weight amounts I can lift, how to lift, and how to do weight bearing things in different ways that would not set it off. Most heavy things, I have been retrained through therapy, to know how to handle. It is the unexpected thing that hits me.

As I get older the problem will be aggravated more and will be with me the rest of my life, at the least by arthritis.

That is more than you asked, but the problem will continually reoccur with age if I do not use workman's comp to my advantage through retraining.

[ 09-04-2003, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: SusanNolan ]
 
Originally posted by mcphoto:
David -
Is your "Experience Modification factor" the same thing as a "merit rate adjustment"?
Click to expand...
Sorry for the delay - I was gone to Atlanta.

I'm not 100% sure of the answer, but I can say this. Our rates are reviewed by the NCCI, which is an independant national rating firm. Maybe some states use their own methods and little states like Vermont sub it out. Every year, about 2-3 months before our renewal comes up we get a very complicated looking form from the NCCI that has all premium and loss amounts for the last three years, and some sort of indeciferable formula. One of the calculations is "Experience Mod". It will not normally affect the actual rate of the policy, but it does affect your effective rate, because it's a multiplier.
 
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