Washington Workers' Comp Laws and Requirements

Knowing the laws and requirements surrounding workers' compensation is essential to running a smooth operation. Washington has its own rules when it comes to workers' compensation, and obtaining coverage when you have just one employee on the payroll is one of them.

An independent insurance agent can help sort through all the facts when it comes to your state-specific laws. All agents have done their market research and are licensed to provide workers' compensation coverage through multiple carriers to make sure you're heading in the right direction.

What Is Workers' Compensation Insurance?

First things first — you need to know what workers' compensation insurance is before you can know the laws that govern it in Washington. Workers' compensation insurance is an insurance policy taken out by an employer or independent contractor that will help pay for medical expenses of an injury or illness that occurred while working or as a result of an employee's job.

This policy will also pay for partial wages (usually up to two-thirds) for any employee, including owners or independent contractors, while they're recovering. Almost every state mandates workers' comp coverage in some form or fashion, and an independent insurance agent is the perfect resource to have when it comes to knowing Washington's state-specific guidelines.

Washington's State Workers' Compensation Insurance Requirements

What Washington requires for workers' compensation coverage could mean the difference in some serious penalties and back-charged premiums from your state government, not to mention the legal consequences involved if you're found non-compliant. It could also mean a hefty lawsuit from one of your employees if you're caught skimping on the proper workers' compensation protection.

Having the right protection in place is an important part of your business operations, and not having a policy in place could leave you open to financial burdens that no company wants to bear, like:

Employee medical expenses
Employee lost wages
Legal fees

In the state of Washington, workers' compensation insurance is mandatory if you have one employee and has to be obtained through the state program. An independent insurance agent can get more in the weeds with you when it comes to your state's specifics concerning workers' compensation insurance and any other commercial insurance. Keep in mind that your independent insurance agent will have the most current information as it pertains to your business and the state in which you reside.

Washington's Workers' Compensation Insurance Laws

Each state looks a little bit different when it comes to workers' compensation coverage and when you are required to obtain it as a business owner. Washington is a monopolistic state, which means that you have to obtain workers' compensation insurance and you have to get it through the Washington state program. This is non-negotiable and is a state requirement. If you fail to get proper coverage, you could face some serious repercussions.

Penalties for not having proper workers' comp coverage in Washington:

Stiff financial penalties; these penalties increase with each day that goes by
Be charged with a misdemeanor
Be charged with a felony
Be imprisoned

An independent insurance agent can be your knight in shining armor when it comes to navigating the Washington state workers' compensation program. Just call it the cost of doing business and move on fully protected without the burden of potential penalties hanging over your head.

Washington's Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud Laws

Insurance fraud is a big deal. Filing a claim that isn't real or has been manipulated all in an effort to get a large payout from the insurance company should be taken very seriously mainly because it lacks integrity, but also because the consequences could be dire to you, your employee, and your business.

Some insurance fraud consequences:

Penalties and fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars
Jail time from one year to thirty years

The result of filing a faulty workers' compensation claim and being caught isn't worth the risk. An employee can file a false claim wanting a payout for an injury or exaggerated illness. An employer can misclassify an employee to avoid them filing a claim in the first place, and a healthcare provider can extend the injury or illness to continue getting payment from an insurance company. As the employer, you set the stage. And by setting up proper safety practices and a clean claims reporting process, you can help curb the chances of false claims being filed.

Workers' Compensation Insurance Companies in Washington

Washington is one of four states to require workers' compensation coverage through a state-funded program and only through the state program. The real deciding factor is what industry you are in. The riskier your business operations, the higher your premiums will be through the state program.

For example, if you have a logistics company and your employees are long-haul truckers, your workers' compensation premium is one of the highest premiums in the business. Your chances are greater and more costly when filing a claim in a higher risk industry, and the Washington state program will charge accordingly.

On the other hand, if you own a retail shop and your employees are folding clothes and greeting customers, then you have one of the lowest workers' compensation premiums on the market because your business just isn't that risky. All in all, the Washington state program has a place for your business.

Some states are monopolistic in their ruling, meaning they require you to obtain insurance through their state programs and only their state programs. The four states that adopted this state-funded workers' compensation program are as follows: North Dakota, Ohio, Washington, and Wyoming.

Self-Insured Workers' Compensation in Washington

Some states allow a business owner to self-insure. All this means is that you, as the business owner, agree to file an exemption through the state channels that declares you're insuring any and all workers' compensation claims internally.

This is a risky move even if you have deep pockets. It puts your business in jeopardy of financial ruin if a claim gets big enough. And in a world where you're only as good as your worst employee, taking on that kind of gamble is something to seriously consider carefully.

Luckily, your independent insurance agent is an expert at these types of things, and can tell you if your state will allow self-insurance and discuss the repercussions of such a move. All in all, it should be discussed with a trusted advisor before making any long-term commitments.

Washington's State Workers' Compensation Benefits

In Washington, benefits are paid in the necessity of the claim. This means that the state-funded program will pay out for as long as medically necessary and requested by a physician. Once you are cleared to go back to your regular working duties then the claim will likely stop responding and be closed out.

The Washington workers' compensation program will also pay for the lost wages of a worker as long as they are recovering from a work-related injury or illness.

How Long Can You Collect Workers' Compensation in Washington?

Workers' compensation can be collected and paid out normally until the employee is recovered and discharged from medical care. This is based on the physician's recommendations for the patients' care and recovery. The state program also has specific participating practitioners that you have to receive care from. An independent insurance agent can help with the claims process, making sure all parties, employer, employee, and state program are communicating so there is a timeline of treatment and care.

Who Is Exempt from Workers' Compensation in Washington?

Since Washington has a workers' compensation state program there are little exceptions to the rule that you have to obtain coverage. It just makes plain good sense to protect yourself and your business from a potential lawsuit that could arise, and they do arise.

You may also exclude yourself from coverage as the owner, member, partner, or executive. Your independent insurance agent can help you make sure you remain compliant with the state program, saving you a good chunk of premium by not including your own payroll as the owner. The majority of owners exclude themselves and simply use their health insurance if they get injured on the job.

Some other exemptions for the Washington state program include:

Maintenance and repair workers at private homes or estates
Some domestic workers
Entertainers and musicians
A personal assistant that is hired to perform a task that does not benefit the business but only the individual
A person working in exchange for help from a religious or charitable organization

What's the Cost of Workers' Compensation in Washington

Well, it varies, just like any other state or insurance policy for that matter. It's as vast as the number of industries in the world and the only true way to know is to have your agent run the numbers on your business and its specifics through the state program. While it's nearly impossible to know what your individual workers' compensation premium will be, here are some determining factors you can look out for.

Workers' compensation price-determining factors:

Industry: This plays a big part in the cost of your workers' compensation premium. The riskier your business, the more your premiums will be.
Number of employees: This determines how much your rates will increase. More people equal more money.
Gross annual payroll per employee type: Each employee is given a classification code that classifies their job duties, and then the premium is charged according to how risky or not risky their tasks are. The amount of money you pay them will determine the amount of premium per classification code. The more payroll, the more premium you pay.
Experience modification rating: If your business has had workers' compensation insurance for a total of three years or more, and you are paying over $5,000 in annual premium, then you'll be assigned an experience modification rating, aka "mod." This mod will adjust throughout the years depending on the number, length, and frequency of claims turned in. The better the mod, the better rate you will receive. It's kind of like a credit score for your workers' compensation policy.

How to Apply for Workers' Compensation Coverage in Washington

As a business owner, knowing who to get workers' compensation insurance from can be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with your state requirements. Sure you can just Google it or ask around, but who knows what you're going to get. With an independent insurance agent, you get a local Washington state expert who knows the Washington state program forwards and backwards. It's really as simple as it gets.

Getting workers' compensation coverage with an independent insurance agent goes like this:

Step One: Find a trusted independent insurance agent.

Step Two: Go over your business details such as employee demographics, payroll, and daily operations for proper classification of workers on your workers' compensation policy.

Step Three: Your independent insurance agent will take your information to several insurance carriers and let the offers pour in on coverage and rates.

Step Four: You and your independent insurance agent decide on your best option as it applies to your specific situation and go with a carrier that you decide upon.

Step Five: Enjoy the freedom of working with a trusted advisor and having them handle all your workers' compensation insurance needs.

Following these five simple steps will ensure that you're on the road to a more protected future as a business owner, giving you appropriate coverage quickly and when you need it.

Washington's Workers' Compensation Claim Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for a workers' comp claim, you need to be able to prove the facts. As a business owner, having proper safety protocols in place for your employees is step one. The next is to have a clear-cut workers' compensation claim reporting process that both you and your independent insurance agent agree upon.

To determine if a claim will process and pay out benefits, the insurance companies like to make sure they aren't being taken for a ride, so to speak. Having a streamlined process will help make for a shorter and more accurate claims result. In the end, it's down to the adjuster assigned to the claim and the insurance company to determine if a claim fits into their policy form. Time is of the essence, so be sure to report any claims activity within the first 24-hour period.

Benefits of an Independent Insurance Agent

Independent insurance agents have access to multiple insurance companies, ultimately finding you the best coverage, accessibility, and competitive pricing while working for you. And as your company grows and your needs change, they'll be there to help you adjust your coverage up or down to make sure you're properly protected without overpaying. Find an independent insurance agent in your community here.

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