Generally required for California employers with one or more employees. We structure cost-effective WC programs tailored to your industry, payroll, and claims history — across multiple carrier markets.
Operating without required coverage can trigger serious enforcement consequences. California regulators can audit and enforce compliance across industries.
What Workers' Comp Covers
California workers' compensation benefits are defined by state law. Here's what every policy must provide.
All reasonable and necessary medical care for work injuries — emergency care, doctor visits, surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, and prescriptions.
Wage replacement while unable to work due to injury — typically 60-70% of pre-injury average weekly wage up to California's maximum weekly benefit.
Compensation for lasting impairment resulting from a work injury. Calculated based on a disability rating from a treating physician under California's rating system.
If the employee cannot return to their previous job due to permanent injury, they receive a training/retraining voucher — often up to $6,000 in California when eligibility applies.
If a work injury results in death, California law requires payments to dependents. Burial and dependency benefits may apply under California rules.
Workers' comp protects the employer from most employee injury lawsuits. The exclusive-remedy rule generally limits many employee injury lawsuits when coverage is properly in place.
California WC premiums follow a specific formula. Understanding each component helps you manage costs.
Each job type has an NCCI class code. Lower-hazard clerical roles generally price far differently from higher-hazard trades like roofing. Accurate classification is critical.
Your claims history vs. industry average. Below 1.0 saves money. Above 1.0 costs more. We review your e-mod for errors.
Safety programs, schedule credits, and carrier underwriting credits may reduce premium when available.
Final premium adjusts at year-end to actual payroll. Pay-as-you-go options eliminate large audit bills.
Experience Modification Factor
The experience modifier can materially reduce or increase your premium based entirely on your claims history.
How to Improve Your E-Mod
Document safety training, conduct regular inspections, and maintain a written IIPP (required in California for all employers). Carriers reward documented programs with premium credits.
Modified or light-duty work for injured employees reduces temporary disability claim duration — the largest driver of claim costs and e-mod increases.
E-mod data can contain errors. We review your unit statistical report for misclassifications, incorrect payroll, or erroneous claims that may be inflating your modifier.
Open claims carry more e-mod weight than closed claims. Working to manage claims promptly — through return-to-work or appropriate claim resolution — may improve your future modifier.
Misclassified employees in high-rate codes drive up premium unnecessarily. We review your class codes to ensure every employee is correctly classified.
By Industry
Every industry has different risks, class codes, and carriers. Select yours to see what matters most.
Serving All of California
Serving employers in every California county — from single-employee businesses to large multi-location operations.
FAQ
Yes. California Labor Code § 3700 requires all employers with one or more employees to carry workers' comp — including part-time and seasonal workers. Operating without it is a serious penalties, stop-work orders, and liability exposure.
Formula: (Payroll ÷ 100) × Class Code Rate × Experience Modifier = Premium. Rates vary dramatically — office workers under $0.50/$100 to roofers over $30/$100. The experience modifier adjusts your premium up or down based on your claims history vs. industry average.
The e-mod multiplies your premium based on your actual claims vs. similar businesses. 1.0 is average. 0.80 saves 20% on premium. 1.25 adds 25%. California e-mods are calculated by the WCIRB. We review your unit stat report for errors that may be inflating your modifier.
Often yes. Under AB5, misclassified workers may be deemed employees, making you responsible for their coverage. Even properly classified independent contractors — if uninsured — can create liability if injured on your job site. Request certificates of insurance from subcontractors and review classification carefully.
SCIF is California's state-operated workers' comp carrier and insurer of last resort — available to any employer. For some high-risk industries or businesses with difficult claims history, State Fund may be an important option to review. For most businesses, private carriers offer more competitive rates. We compare both.
Key strategies: implement a formal safety program and written IIPP, establish a return-to-work program, verify accurate employee class codes, review your e-mod for WCIRB errors, manage open claims aggressively, and shop multiple carrier markets through Bollinsure. Meaningful savings may be achievable depending on payroll, class codes, claims history, and carrier appetite.
Immediately: get medical care, file a DWC-1 claim form within one working day of learning of the injury, report to your workers' comp carrier, and provide the employee their rights information. Prompt reporting is legally required in California and reduces claim costs.
Major California WC carriers include ICW Group, The Hartford, Travelers, AmTrust, Markel, EMPLOYERS, Zenith National, and the State Compensation Insurance Fund. The right carrier depends on your industry, payroll, and claims history. Bollinsure compares available markets.
Ready for a Better Rate?
We compare multiple carrier markets to find the most competitive WC program for your payroll, industry, and claims history — with full e-mod review included.