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Workers' Compensation for Idaho Businesses

What are the legal requirements for workers’ comp insurance in Idaho?

For Idaho businesses who employ one or more full-time, part-time, seasonal, or occasional employees, the state of Idaho requires business owners to maintain a workers’ compensation insurance policy unless you are specifically exempt from the law. Business owners are required to have workers’ compensation insurance in place when the first employee is hired.

Operating a business in Idaho without workers’ compensation insurance is a misdemeanor under Idaho law, and can be costly for business owners. In the event of a work-related injury, Idaho business owners can be held personally liable for all benefits that would be provided to the worker under the state’s workers’ compensation law – including medical costs and wage loss. Also, an uninsured employer may be liable for a penalty of 10% of the amount of medical and wage loss benefits, as well as attorney fees if the injured employee is represented by an attorney. Business owners who operate without workers’ compensation insurance can also face fines of $2 per day per employee, or $25 per day, whichever is greater.

How does workers’ compensation insurance work in Idaho?

Workers’ compensation is no-fault insurance, which means it provides compensation for missed work, permanent injuries, and rehabilitation in the event an employee is injured on the job. Business owners are protected from paying costly medical bills and defending against lawsuits no matter who is at fault in an accident in the workplace.

What types of injuries are covered with workers’ comp insurance in Idaho?

Idaho state law determines what types of injuries are covered by workers’ compensation insurance, but there are general guidelines that can help you understand what typically qualifies for a workers’ comp claim.

These include:

  • No intentional self-harm, harm that results from drug or alcohol use, or fighting. 
  • Must fall within the “course and scope” of employment. If you get into a fender bender on your way home from work after you’ve clocked out for the day, that’s unlikely to qualify.  
  • Long-term occupational injuries, including back strain from repetitive motion. When you think of work-related injuries, you probably think of one-time events — but damage can occur over a long period of time. As long as the injury or illness is clearly associated with the employee’s work responsibilities, it may be eligible. 

Idaho Statistics*

*2017 business stats provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics

304,700

number of Idahoans employed by small businesses

15,234

number of workplace injuries

13 billion

annual milk production, in pounds

309,000

acres of potato farms

7,900

depth, in feet, of Hell’s Canyon

Idaho Businesses We Cover with Workers' Comp Insurance

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Food & Beverage

Bars, Bistros, Cafeterias/Buffets, Candy Stores, Caterers, Coffee Shops, Doughnut Shops, Fast Casual, Fast Food, Fine Dining, Health Supplement Stores, Juice Shops, Tea Houses, Taverns and Nightclubs

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Tech Services

Data Processing, Ecommerce, Hosting, Graphic Design, Network Installation/Repair, Office Machine Installation/Repair, Programming, Strategy & Management Consulting Services, and Software/Web Development (includes SOLOpreneuers!)

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Legal Services

Athlete/Actor/Entertainer Agents, Court Reporters, Lawyers & Attorneys at Law, Notaries and Transcription

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General Retail

Bakeries, Beer/Wine/Liquor Stores, Butcher/Meat Markets, Convenience Stores/Gas Stations, Discount Stores, Fish, Seafood, Fruit & Vegetable Markets, Grocery Stores, Laundromats, Pet Stores, Pharmacies/Drug Stores, Specialty Food Stores

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Educational Services

Computer Training, Cosmetology/Barber Schools, Exam Preparation/Tutoring, Fine Art Schools, Language Schools, Libraries/Archives, Management Training, Professional Training, & Translation/Interpretation Services

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Manufacturing

Microbreweries (less than 15,000 barrels produced per year) & Wine Making (no growing or production of grapes/fruit)

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Personal Services

Barber Shops/Salons, Cemeteries/Mausoleums, Crematoriums, Funeral Homes, Interior Design, Pet Kennels/Groomers, Photography/Photofinishing, Gyms, Nail Salons, Self-Storage, Tanning Salons, Tattoo/Piercing, and Wedding/Event Planners

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Clothing Retail

Bridal Stores, Clothing Stores, Dry Cleaners, Formal Wear/Costume Rentals, Luggage & Leather Goods Stores, Shoe Retail/Repair, and Tailor Shops

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Personal Product Retail

Art Galleries/Stores, Auto Parts, Beauty/Cosmetics, Bike Stores, Bookstores, Camera/Photo Supplies, Cell Phone Retail/Repair, Computer Stores, Jewelry Stores, Musical Instruments, Sporting Goods , Tobacco/Vaping & Video Games

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Medical Professions

Blood Banks, Dental Labs, Dentists/Orthodontists, GP/Medical Specialists, Kidney Dialysis Centers, Medical Diagnostics & Testing, and Veterinarians

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Architecture & Engineering Services

Architects & Drafting, Engineering, Surveyors, & Window Treatment Stores (we do not cover construction contractors or trucking companies)

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Financial Services

Accounting, Auditors, Banks/Credit Unions, Bookkeeping, Collection Agencies, Financial Advisors/Trust Companies, Mortgage & Loan Brokers, Payroll Services, Tax Preparation, Title & Title Insurance

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Scientific Services

Scientific Research & Development/Consulting, Technical Consulting, & Environmental Consulting

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Office, Home, & Garden

Hearing Aid Stores, Hobby/Craft/Art Stores, Gift/Novelty Stores, Florists, Floor Covering Stores, Mailing/Packaging Stores, Models/Toy/Games, Office Supplies, Optical Stores, Paint/Wallpaper Stores, Perfume Stores, Plumbing & Taxidermists

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Therapeutic Services

Acupuncture, Chiropractors, Mental Health Practitioners, and Physical & Occupational Therapy

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Explore commonly asked questions about business type, industry and state.

To put it simply, your business is covered. Just like that. In most cases, all of your employees are covered by workers' compensation insurance. However, a Certificate of Insurance (COI) isn't a guarantee of coverage (policy may have cancelled since issuance). You should request periodic COIs throughout the contract.
Workers' compensation insurance provides all state required benefits, including reasonable and necessary medical treatment and wage replacement, for employees injured in the course and scope of employment.
In most states, it’s required for small business owners to obtain workers’ compensation coverage. In the event that an employee is injured in the course and scope of your employment, workers' compensation insurance protects you from costly lawsuits and provides state required compensation for the employee, including lost wages and medical expenses.
The estimated premium is based on estimated payroll (at the beginning of the policy). The final premium is based on actual payroll (at the end of the policy) for the policy period (usually 12 months). In the event your payroll changes, we'll work with you on adjusting your policy.
Yes, the workers' compensation policy covers all of your employees. Significant changes to your payroll should be reported to Cerity. This will help mitigate having a large additional premium due at the end of your policy period.
Small businesses are unique and valuable to both our economy and our culture. They deserve special attention (which they rarely get). This is why we built Cerity. Cerity is a digital small business insurance provider that has been reimagined and redesigned specifically for small biz. Founded by a company that's insured over 100,000 small businesses, Cerity is a workers' comp provider that makes it easy to purchase workers' comp online with our free workers' comp quote tool.
You do not need any documents to apply, however it will be helpful to have your business FEIN on hand. All you need to obtain a quote is tell us a few quick things about your business and we should be able to get you a quote on a policy you can purchase easily online.