Calif. Regulators Announce 2011 Workers’ Comp Assessment Rates

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has calculated the 2011 assessments that state law requires workers’ compensation insurers collect from policyholders to cover the budget of the state Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC), and five related workers’ comp programs mandated by state law. The assessments and surcharges cover the Workers’ Compensation Administration Revolving Fund; the Uninsured Employers Benefits Trust (UEBT) Fund; the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust (SIBT) Fund; the Occupational Safety and Health Fund; the Labor Enforcement & Compliance Fund; and the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Account.

Insurers must apply the following rates against insureds’ estimated annual assessable premium for policies incepting Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2011:

• 2011 WC Administration Revolving Fund Assessment/User Funding: 0.014721
• 2011 Uninsured Employers Benefit Trust Fund Assessment: 0.004101
• 2011 Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund Assessment: 0.001776
• 2011 Occupational Safety & Health Fund: 0.002467
• 2011 Labor Enforcement & Compliance Fund 0.002315
• 2011 WC Fraud Account Assessment: 0.004348

Assessable premium is the premium an insured is charged after all rating adjustments (experience rating, schedule rating, premium discounts, expense constants, retrospective rating, etc.) except adjustments resulting from the application of deductible plans or the return of policyholder dividends. Insurers must advance the money to the state on behalf of policyholders, then recoup the funds via policy surcharges and assessments. The first installment is due to the state on or before Jan. 1, 2011; the balance is due on or before April 1, 2011.

To cover their portion of the 2011 assessments, self-insured employers should apply the following rates against the total amount of workers’ comp indemnity paid and reported on their Self-Insurer’s Annual Report.

• 2011 WC Administration Revolving Fund Assessment: 0.022070
• 2011 Uninsured Employers Benefit Trust Fund Assessment: 0.008843
• 2011 Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund Assessment: 0.003563
• 2011 Occupational Safety & Health Fund: 0.007450
• 2011 Labor Enforcement & Compliance Fund: 0.006959
• 2011 WC Fraud Account Assessment: 0.005931

More details were included in a memo that DIR has issued to workers’ compensation insurers and self-insured employers along with invoices for each company’s share of the assessments and surcharges.

Source: CWCI