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To reduce your claims risk, you could start with implementing a safety program and accident prevention training. For more help and information, please visit our handling claims section of the website here.

Worried about the cost of workers’ comp coverage? Having workers’ compensation insurance can pay for itself in the event that an employee is injured on the job, because workers’ comp policy premiums are typically significantly lower than the costs associated with covering medical expenses, lost wages, and other work injury-related expenses.

While the laws vary between states, most states require all employers, including small business owners, to have workers’ compensation insurance. Workers’ comp insurance covers all employees, even in states where employers are not required to have workers’ comp insurance because most employers still choose to obtain it to protect their business. Workers’ comp insurance can protect all kinds of businesses including accountants, bars, consultants, fitness, healthcare, restaurants, small business, therapists, architects, home-based businesses, independent contractors, lawyers, LLCs, massage businesses, nail salons, personal trainers, pet sitting businesses, photographers, cosmetology, engineering, estheticians, event planners, beauty, catering, cleaning, food and beverage, medical, offices, retail, and services.

We currently provide workers’ comp insurance to business owners in 46 states, including:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Read more about the ins and outs of workers’ comp insurance on our blog post titled What is workers’ comp insurance? in our Learning Center.

Workers' comp policy price is largely based on your payroll over your policy period. We understand that over the course of your policy period, changes occur...life happens! After your policy period ends, a payroll audit will be conducted by Cerity to verify actual payroll & classifications to determine the final premium.

Put simply, establishing and maintaining a safety program with your team may reduce losses, which reduces your workers' compensation premium over time. To get started:

1. Assess your workplace, and identify known hazards and risks

2. Develop written programs and a process for when accidents occur

3. Provide safety training to your employees, educating them on what to do if an accident occurs

4. Clearly post safety protocol for handling equipment and hazardous materials

5. Create a safety committee, focused on continuous monitoring and improvement of the program

Here are some examples of safety work programs provided by the US Department of Labor, which can reduce your premium over time.

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). If you have significant changes to your payroll, call us and we'll update your payroll midterm. Smaller changes like raises and bonuses can wait until the end of policy term audit.

The cost, or premium, varies depending on the jurisdiction your business is in as well as the nature of your business or operation. At Cerity, in order to determine an affordable price for your business, we evaluate your company's specific operational history and your business' payroll.

Yes, if you subcontract some of your work to other businesses or individuals, you should always ask them to provide a Certificate of Insurance to ensure they are covered. 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.

If you, as a business owner, do not obtain workers' compensation insurance for your business, you may expose your business to a multitude of risks including potential lawsuits from injured employees, penalties for failing to obtain statutory coverage per state law, permanent closure of your business, and a variety of fines.

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.

Workers’ compensation is a form of business insurance which provides state required benefits to employees injured in the course and scope of employment, including wage replacement and medical benefits. It also protects your business from liabilities resulting from injuries arising in the workplace.