Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

Insurance industry and Coverage

In 1993, workers’ compensation reform legislation repealed California’s 80-year-old minimum rate law and replaced it beginning in 1995 with an open-competition system of rate regulation in which insurers set their own rates based on “pure premium advisory rates” developed by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB). Subsequent to the repeal of the minimum rate law, the workers’ compensation insurance market became unstable. Major changes were noted: • Insurers seeking to retain or add to their market share engaged in price competition on premium costs. • Many insurance carriers shifted the risk of their workers’ compensation claims to other insurance companies after open rating. This section covers specific issues of coverage, risk, pools and premiums.

CHSWC Background Paper on the Impact of Terrorism and California Workers’ Compensation, version version April 2006

Issue paper on tax status of Self-Insured Groups (SIGs), April 2006 version

Workers' compensation compliance and proof of coverage, February 2006 version word image version

United States Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation market in California, April 2005 version word image version

CHSWC issue paper on public access to WC insurance coverage information, April 2005 version word image version

Draft study of the California workers' compensation insurance market study, Hays, September 2003 version word image version

State of the Workers' Compensation insurance industry in California, April 2002