Workers Compensation Insurance
Workers Compensation insurance pays benefits to your employees if they are injured while on the job. Specifically, it covers their medical bills, a portion of lost wages, vocational rehabilitation and death benefits.
Why do I need workers’ compensation?
Most states require by law that employers provide workers’ compensation benefits. Failure to carry workers compensation insurance exposes the employer to paying what the insurer would have paid, plus severe fines, and possibly even jail time for violating the law. The benefits can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The employer has a legal duty to make sure employees get the legally mandated benefits without delay.
What does workers’ compensation cover?
Benefits paid to employees generally include: unlimited reimbursement of medical expenses, a portion of lost wages, some vocational rehabilitation, a survivors death benefits. Benefits paid to the employer generally include: Responses to lawsuits brought by injured employees or their dependents for grossly negligent acts by the employer, protection against employee claims for pain and suffering and loss of relationship in most states.
How does workers’ compensation work?
When a worker suffers an injury, even a minor one, it is immediately reported to the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The employee seeks necessary medical attention, and the insurance company pays the bills. If the employee misses work because of the injury, the insurance company pays the employee limited benefits for the lost time. If the employee is not able to return to the job due to a permanent injury, the insurer pays to re-train the employee for another line of work. If the employee dies, the insurer pays a death benefit to the employee’s family.
What affects my rates?
- Size of payroll – Workers’ compensation premiums are based directly on the amount of your payroll. The higher your payroll, the more in workers’ compensation premiums you will pay!
- Job classifications – The cost of workers’ compensation insurance also varies widely depending on the work function of an employee. In general, a premium for an employee who is a roofer is much higher than a premium for a clerical worker. Employers must accurately report payroll by classification of work performed. Your insurance company can advise you which classes apply to your employees.
Who does workers’ compensation cover?
Workers’ compensation covers all the employees of the business (provisions must be made for employess who work out-of-state). It can cover the business owner if the business is a corporation, and the owner is actively involved in the business. It does not cover independent contractors. Sole proprietors are not included for coverage. Officers of private, for profit corporations may be excluded from coverage. Partnerships - general partners may be excluded from coverage, limited partners may not be excluded. There are other provisions for non-profit organizations or corporations with volunteers.
To get your free, no hassle quote call, 888-858-6259 or complete our online quote form
source: PGIA LLC , PIA INC.
