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workers compensation

California Workers Comp. Insurance Rates Up 3%

California workers compensation insurance rates increased 3% on average during the first six months of 2010 over the same period in 2009, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California said. Written premiums, meanwhile, increased to $5.2 billion during the first six months of the year, a 16% increase over the first six months of 2009, according to the summary of insurer experience released Monday by the WCIRB. The WCIRB’s information is based on data reported by insurers that wrote nearly all of California’s workers comp premiums. While rates climbed 3% during the first six months of 2010, they still… Read More »California Workers Comp. Insurance Rates Up 3%

Will Group Health Cost Rise in 2011?

According to Hewitt’s Associates, group health care plan costs are expected to increase an average of 8.8% in 2011, the largest percentage gain since 2005, new research shows. The average group health plan cost per employee is projected to rise to $9,821 next year. Costs include employer and employee premium contributions, but not employee out-of-pocket expenses, such as copayments and coinsurance. The analysis is based on information from 325 large employers, which mainly self-fund their health care programs. That 8.8% cost hike compares with a 6.9% increase this year and 6% increases in 2008 and 2007. The spike in costs… Read More »Will Group Health Cost Rise in 2011?

California Worker’s Compensation Medical Provider Network (MPN) New Requirements Effective October, 2010

In an effort to streamline the notification process and reduce the burden on employers, the Administrative Director of the California Division of Worker’s Compensation (DWC) recently amended regulation relating to MPN’s. The DWC regulates how an employer implements a MPN, requiring them to provide specific notification to their California employees. The purpose of this letter is to alert you to the new requirements and advise you of the steps being taken to inform our customers. The amended regulation becomes effective on October 8, 2010. By that date employers must: Post the updated form DWC-7, Notice to Employees –Injuries Caused by Work… Read More »California Worker’s Compensation Medical Provider Network (MPN) New Requirements Effective October, 2010

Facebook rules again

In the past, we were astonished by several messages, coming from different sources, on how Facebook helps to adhere the law. There was beer case and mafia boss and numerous arrests have been made… Today we have learned about a New York state woman whose own Facebook posting revealed workers compensation fraud has received probation and been ordered to pay restitution, the New York State Insurance Department said. Alexis M. pleaded guilty to stealing $8,975 in workers comp benefits, the state agency said Monday. Investigators said they discovered a Facebook posting in which Ms. Muniz boasted about her salary as an… Read More »Facebook rules again

Workers’ Comp Fraud and You: Don’t Get Cheated

Fraud can take several forms in workers’ comp, but the bottom line is the same: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>Someone is trying to cheat the system to gain an unfair advantage. • Employees may commit claimant fraud by attempting to obtain workers’ compensation benefits to which they’re not entitled. • Employers may commit premium fraud by intentionally misrepresenting their payroll, the nature of their work, or their number of employees. • Medical practitioners and other service providers may commit provider fraud through falsified or unwarranted billing practices. As an employer, you can make a difference in  preventing fraud: 1. Educate your employees about workers’… Read More »Workers’ Comp Fraud and You: Don’t Get Cheated

Employer’s Basic Workers’ Comp Responsibilities

It’s time for a quick policy checkup. By law you must follow certain procedures for (1) notifying your employees about workers’ compensation and (2) responding to workplace injuries. Check the lists below to make sure you’re in compliance. If you need any of the forms listed here or any other help, contact your company’s Customer Service Center*. ____________________________ *Applicable for California Employers only. Check with your insurance company for law that applies to your State. Required Employee Notices These notices tell employees about their workers’ compensation rights and how to get medical treatment for workplace injuries. • Post the Notice… Read More »Employer’s Basic Workers’ Comp Responsibilities

Disability Benefits for Injured Employees

In addition to providing medical treatment, workers’comp insurance compensates injured employees for their disability and lost earnings. These compensation benefits can take several forms, depending how severe the injury is. Let’s take a closer look: • Temporary disability. TD is intended to partially replace employees’ wages while they are disabled due to a work injury or illness. In most cases, TD provides benefits for a maximum of 104 weeks. • Permanent disability. PD is provided to employees whose medical disability permanently affects their ability to work. The exact PD benefit depends on such factors as the employee’s medically determined impairment… Read More »Disability Benefits for Injured Employees

Understanding the Cost of Your Workers Compensation Policy

Workers’ compensation premium is calculated differently from other types of insurance. Your cost depends on the type of business you operate, your payroll size, and other factors. You make premium payments throughout the policy term, but your exact final premium is configured after the policy term ends. Let’s look at the components that go into determining your premium. Classification system. The California workers’ comp system groups occupations and industries into about 500 distinct classifications. Insurance providers charge a rate for each classification based on the projected claims costs for that industry.  The higher the expected claims are for classification, the… Read More »Understanding the Cost of Your Workers Compensation Policy

What to Expect When an Employee Is Injured

As soon as you are aware of a possible work-related injury or illness, you should take action to provide medical treatment and report a claim. When you file a claim with your workers’ comp insurance company, you are notifying the insurer of an injury or illness that may be covered by your policy. By law, you must file a claim for every occupational injury or illness, with one exception: When the incident does not cause the employee to miss work for a full day or shift beyond the date of injury or illness, and also does not require treatment beyond… Read More »What to Expect When an Employee Is Injured