According to Kevin McCarty, the Florida Insurance Commissioner, the insurance rates for workers’ compensation are slated to increase by 8.9 percent, and will do so beginning on January 1, 2012. By giving his approval for the rise in rates, McCarty has simultaneously refused the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) rate request, stating that there was a flaw in the council’s methodology. Equally, McCarty has denied another increase proposal by the NCCI regarding minimum premiums. Should the NCCI wish to continue to pursue its request, it will need to re-file. …
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A.M. Best report highlights the problems facing the nation’s workers’ compensation insurance market
The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance market is in dire straits according to a new report from A.M. Best, an international rating agency. Agency analysts have been examining the effects of competition, rate decreases, economic turmoil and other factors throughout 2010 and have concluded that the market faces challenges times in the coming years. The report highlights the continuation of these trends for some time, but analysts note that the market may see modest growth for the first time since 2005 this year. The problems facing the workers’ compensation sector mirror…
Read MoreNew report shows cost of workers’ compensation dropped during global economic crisis
In 2009, at the start of the global economic crisis, there was a decrease of 4.4 percent in the number of employees who had workers’ compensation coverage. According to a National Academy of Social Insurance report, this drop was the largest in twenty years. The result was that the cost to employers for providing the benefits decreased by 7.6 percent, reaching $73.9 billion that year; which is the most recent year with complete data. This drop closely mirrors the overall decline in employment in the country. According to the chair…
Read MoreFlorida court rules that illegal immigrants are eligible for worker’s compensation benefits
The Florida First District Court of Appeals has released its ruling on the case of HDV Construction Systems v. Luis Aragon. The case stems from a worker’s compensation dispute levied against HDV construction by Luis Aragon. According to the suit, Aragon fell from a roof while working, suffering from serious injuries that prevented him from working during the extent of his recovery. Normally, such a dispute would have been settled without bringing the issue to court, but one issue makes this case court-worthy: Aragon is an undocumented immigrant. Aragon was…
Read MoreWorkers’ compensation exposure on the rise with more mobile workers
A clear growth of workers’ compensation exposure is now causing alarm among employers and risk managers with the remarkable rise in the number of mobile workers. This was discussed in this year’s meeting of Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) held recently in Vancouver. In the said forum experts advised both employers and risk managers to formulate stable and concrete rules pertinent with workers’ use of any types of mobile devices at work. According to Maureen McCarthy, Liberty Mutual, manager of Workers’ Compensation and Managed Care it is a must…
Read MoreDebate over illegal workers covered for “while at work” injuries
Illegal immigrants have once again moved to the forefront of public debate. Now, the various law makers, and state governing boards, are trying to come to a “middle of the road” agreement. What prompted all of this? It seems that a few states have taken a stand against compensating illegal immigrants who are injured at their job. Which prompts another question; how did these illegal immigrants get jobs? The best-guess numbers say that five percent of the U.S. workforce is (illegal) immigrants. The estimate is there are around eight million…
Read MoreCalifornia Insurance Commissioner rejects workers compensation rate hike for the third time
Workers compensation industry recently got shot down for their request of a 28% rate increase – citing higher medical costs and claims frequency on the rise. Steve Poizner, California commissioner, said “NO” for the third consecutive time, stating the industry is not justified due to a lack of legislative procedures ignored. The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating bureau, an industry group, recommends higher rates for insurers due to recent court rulings that grant doctors more room to prescribe expensive treatments for injuries related to the workplace. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been…
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