Workers’ Comp Results Deteriorated for Northeastern States

Most states in the northeastern region reported deteriorating workers’ compensation underwriting results last year, according to A.M. Best.

Pennsylvania’s direct premiums written fell 8.6 percent last year. New Jersey’s fell 8.3 percent. Delaware’s was down by 8.1 percent. Maine fell 5.5 percent while Rhode Island was down 5.2 percent. The total U.S. direct premiums written fell by 5.4 percent last year. New York, on the other hand, bucked the downward trend. The Empire State saw its direct premiums written volume increase last year. It went up by 5.8 percent to $3.62 billion.

Eight states (New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont and Delaware) had higher direct incurred loss ratios last year compared to the previous year. New York (95.8 loss ratio in 2010), Maryland (91.3), Vermont (71.5) and Delaware (89.0) all reported loss ratio hikes of around 10 points or more. Three northeastern states – Pennsylvania (69.7), Maine (61.5) and New Hampshire (68.4) – as well as the District of Columbia (52.4) had lower direct incurred loss ratios last year compared to the previous year. New Hampshire and D.C. saw their loss ratios fall by around 10 points.

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