All About Workers’ Comp Verifications

Now that you have the proper workers’ comp coverage to meet your state regulation and business needs to protect your employees and your business against injuries and illness on the job, you need to understand the official document requirements to prove you have such insurance coverage. 

What is Workers’ Comp Verification or Certificate of Insurance?

This official document is called a workers’ compensation certificate of insurance. It shows documented proof that your business has the needed workers’ comp insurance. Your coverage is first based on state requirements and then additional requirements regarding any contracts as well as any unique needs to protect your business.  

Why Is It Important? 

This document lists your workers’ comp coverage details. Most importantly those details include the dates of coverage, coverage amounts, and any exclusions within the policy. 

This form is also important because it further protects your business when you work with third parties. Third parties, in fact, may have their own workers’ comp insurance coverage expectations for any of their contractors and subcontractors. 

Without meeting their coverage requirements, you are opening yourself up to even more risk and the potential of losing a contract. 

Knowing about any contractor’s individual requirements and understanding the role of this workers’ comp verification form helps you adequately meet the insurance requirements of companies, suppliers, vendors, or even government entities you work with in your industry. That will set you apart because a recent study showed “75% of third parties [are] not meeting the insurance requirements established by a company requesting verification.”

This understanding also helps if you have contractors or subcontractors working for your business. You can and should ask for a copy of their workers’ comp certificate to show they have proper workers’ comp insurance coverage per the state requirements and even your own. 

What Other Names Does It Have?

The workers’ comp verification is also known as the following names:

• Certificate of Insurance form
• COI
• Insurance certificate
• Proof of insurance
• Subcontractor certificate of insurance

While the names are different, they all meet the same provision to document and prove the coverage of your workers’ comp insurance in one form. The form itself is provided by your insurance provider. 

Who Should Hold Onto This?

This form, which can be in paper or electronic format, should be stored with any of your other official business documents: in a safe and secure place. Within your organization, you should already have an employee designated to handle important paperwork such as this. If you don’t, it is important to consider the organizational systems you need to have in place, which should include reviewing the form as well.

This isn’t the type of paperwork to simply be thrown into a pile on a desk. This applies to both your own workers’ comp verification form as well as any you collect from those companies and contractors with whom you work.

When And To Whom Is It Provided? 

The workers’ compensation certificate of insurance needs to be presented for any contracts where you are the contractor or subcontractor. While the construction industry is a good example of why this certificate and its coverage are important, it is necessary within any industry. 

Additionally, if you hire subcontractors, you should ask for this document as well to better protect your business, your employees, and those contracted for the work. 

It is also important for you, or your designated employee, to review any workers’ comp verification forms you have requested to guarantee those you are trusting to complete a project are properly insured for workers’ compensation requirements. You don’t have to do this alone, however. 

How Can Cerity Help? 

We are able to help you through the process of having the proper workers’ comp insurance as well as providing you with the necessary workers’ comp verification form. 

At Cerity, we pride ourselves not only on being a more affordable workers’ compensation insurance provider but also on providing quick quotes so our clients can get back to doing what they do best. We use proprietary tools in combination with modern technology to provide business owners with policies that can begin nearly immediately. It’s how we are able to help small business owners, like you, find and manage the proper workers’ comp insurance coverage. 

We know each situation is unique within workers’ compensation insurance. We also know that you may be concerned about the cost of such coverage. While the premium, or cost, of workers’ compensation insurance, will vary depending on a variety of factors unique to your business, the value of finding the right workers’ comp insurance provider is priceless. 

Visit our free workers’ comp quote tool for your free online quote and experience Cerity’s faster, more affordable approach to workers’ compensation insurance.