Washington Workers’ Comp Insurance Premiums Increasing 3%

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) said premiums for workers’ compensation insurance will go up, on average, 3 percent in 2009.

Individual employers could see their rates go up or down, depending on their recent claims history and any changes in the frequency and cost of claims in their industry.

Insurance actuary calculations, based on anticipated injured-worker claims in 2009 and on wage and medical inflation, indicated the need for a 6.3 percent premium increase, generating $119 million. Instead, the decision to implement a 3 percent increase will generate $57 million, with the contingency reserve absorbing the remaining $62 million.

“We recognize the difficult economic environment for business and workers, and wanted to limit the increase as much as possible,” said L&I Director Judy Schurke.

As part of the governor’s economic stimulus package, L&I will be working with business and labor and the governor to evaluate whether more can be done in 2009 to help businesses survive and workers stay employed.

“We want to do everything we can in the short term to help businesses and workers weather the economic recession,” Schurke said.

With the 3 percent increase, average premiums will go up by approximately 2 cents per hour worked. The 2009 rate tables by industry are available online at www.lni.wa.gov.

Washington’s workers’ compensation system is made up of three funds that provide benefits when workers are hurt on the job. The Accident Fund rate will increase 1.8 percent. Employers pay premiums into this fund. The Medical Aid Fund rate will go up by 3.2 percent, and the Supplemental Pension Fund rate will increase 7 percent. Employers and workers contribute equal premiums into the latter two funds.

Schurke noted that the system’s contingency reserve has dropped from $1.6 billion in September 2008 to approximately $990 million in the volatile markets. All workers’ comp insurers maintain contingency reserves. Washington’s contingency reserve has one of the lowest ratios of reserves to liabilities. It currently is 9.7 percent of the total liabilities, which now stand at $10.2 billion.

Washington’s workers’ compensation system provides coverage to about 2.57 million workers and more than 170,000 employers. L&I also oversees workers’ compensation programs that cover an additional 870,000 workers whose employers self-insure.

For information, visit www.lni.wa.gov.