The California Insurance Commissioner Lara has approved an increase in hourly wage thresholds for all 16 construction dual-wage classifications.
WCIRB Files for Workers’ Comp Rate Increase
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Earlier this month, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) recommended a nominal .9% increase in the advisory pure premium rates. The reason given, increased loss development for medical costs and higher claims adjustment expenses. This recommendation is now sent to the California’s Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara for approval. If approved, the increase in rates then take effect September 1, 2024.
Cracking the Code: Deciphering the Primary Threshold’s Impact
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every business owner understands the correlation between their Experience MOD (XMOD) and what they will pay in workers’ compensation premiums. When the XMOD increases, there is a good chance that the workers’ compensation rates or premiums will rise as well. This is why it is so crucial to really hone in on company safety procedures to limit work-related injuries as much as possible. The reality is that even the safest company that does everything the right way is going to run into a workers’ compensation claim from time to time.
WCIRB Proposes 2024 Construction Dual Wage Threshold Increase
The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has proposed an increase in hourly wage thresholds for all 16 construction dual-wage classifications.
The increases range from $1 to $4 depending on the classification and if approved will go into effect for policyholders renewing September 1, 2024 and thereafter. The chart below outlines the proposed increases for each classification.
Implementing Technology and Other Safety Tactics to Protect Your Fleet
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
One of the most important practices for any landscape professional is fleet safety. Whether you have 10 trucks or 100, the exposure and risk remain the same. Explore a prior podcast episode, Episode #251, in which I delve into compelling statistics that shed light on the increasing frequency and severity of auto accidents each year.
Pure Premium Increase for Landscape (0042) in Consecutive Years
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When my baseball career ended in 2021, it was time for me to do something new with my life. For me the decision was easy and one that I am very grateful for. My dad, Dave Garcia started Rancho Mesa 25 years ago and throughout the years he and many others have contributed into what Rancho Mesa is today, a 16-time National Best Practices Agency. I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity to join such an amazing organization.
California Insurance Commissioner Leaves Workers’ Comp Rates Flat
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara released a statement that he is rejecting the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s (WCIRB) recommended 7.6% increase in the workers’ compensation pure premium rates as well as the add-on to cover COVID-19 claim costs. The Commissioner also rejected a more modest 2.8% increase recommended by the Department of Insurance’s actuaries and the 1.4% decrease recommended by an independent actuary for the public members of the Bureau’s governing committee.
WCIRB Approves 2022 Construction Dual Wage Threshold Increase
The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved the recommended increase in hourly wage thresholds for all 16 construction dual wage classifications. The increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the classification and will go into effect for policyholders renewing September 1, 2022 and thereafter. The chart below outlines the increases for each classification.
Understanding the Impact of MEP Contractors’ Dual Wage & Total Temporary Disability
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
What is a dual wage threshold? According to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB), in California there are sixteen (16) construction operations that are divided into two separate classifications based on the hourly wage of the employee. There are different advisory pure premium rates for the low wage employee and the high wage employee.
CA Insurance Bureau Recommends 7.6% Rate Increase
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) voted to submit a September 1, 2022 Pure Premium Rate Filing to California’s Insurance Commissioner Lara.
WCIRB Proposes Expected Loss Rate Decrease for Landscape Industry
Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has proposed a 2% decrease (from $2.42 to $2.37) in the expected loss rate for the landscape class code 0042.
2022 Construction Dual Wage Thresholds - An Early Look
Author, Kevin Howard, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are 16 construction workers’ compensation class code pairs in California, each set up as dual wage classifications. The purpose of these “split” class codes allows the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) and California insurers to better predict future risk and underwrite with more accuracy.
How Rising Pure Premium Rates Will Impact the Tree Care Industry
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In California, each workers’ compensation insurance company has its own set of base rates for each class of business. In order to come up with their base rate for each class code, the insurance carrier applies their Loss Cost Multiplier (LCM) to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s (WCIRB) pure premium rates.
Bond Companies Thoroughly Track Status of Construction Projects
Author, Matt Gaynor, Director of Surety, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When the bond company approves a performance and payment bond for our contractor clients, they want to keep track of the project until completion - at which time the liability for the bond is no longer on their books. One tool they use to track a construction project is the Work In Progress Report (WIP) which the bonding company analyzes on a quarterly or six-month basis to track the profitability of the project on a percentage of completion basis. When the bond company sees that a project is 100% complete on the WIP or Completed Contract Report, they will mark the bond file as “closed,” once the warranty period has expired.
Strengthen Your Risk Profile During COVID-19
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
While the effects of COVID-19 on the workers’ compensation marketplace vary among the different business sectors, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved a filing that will increase the 2021 pure premium advisory rates by 2.6%. With impending rate increases on the horizon, it’s more important now than ever to be proactive when it comes to your company’s risk management program. Carriers are already tightening up their underwriting guidelines and limiting schedule credits. In order to earn the most competitive pricing possible, a business must differentiate itself from other businesses. Below are three strategies you can use to strengthen your risk profile during COVID-19.
Choosing the Right Classcode: A Guide to Distinguishing Tree Trimming from Landscape Work
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Many tree care companies perform work that could be classified as “landscape gardening.” The risk and exposure associated with this class code is minimal compared to those associated with tree trimming. Without the additional tree care exposure, landscape gardening workers’ compensation insurance rates are significantly lower than tree trimming rates. Common questions we receive from our tree care clients are…
Post COVID-19 XMODs Threaten a Double Whammy
Author, Kevin Howard, C.R.I.S., Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
COVID-19 has created a multitude of challenges for California business owners in the first half of 2020. A concerning trend is the potential combination of lower payrolls and the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s (WCIRB) recommendation to lower expected loss rates, creating what very likely could be significant Experience Modification Rate (XMOD) increases for numerous California businesses.
California Workers' Comp Carriers React to Commissioner's COVID-19 Amendment Approval
Author, Alyssa Burley, Media Communications and Client Services Manager, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
With California Insurance Commissioner Lara’s recent approval of a special regulatory filing introduced to alleviate the burden COVID-19 workers’ compensation (WC) claims threaten to have on California employers, we reached out to several prominent carrier executives to share their thoughts.
Commissioner Lara Approves WCIRB Proposed Amendments Addressing COVID-19
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California Insurance Commissioner Lara has approved, as filed, the proposed special regulatory filing submitted by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) concerning proposed amendments addressing the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). The special regulatory filing is effective July 1, 2020 and will apply retroactively starting March 19, 2020, the day California Governor Newsom issued the Stay-at-Home Executive Order N-33-20. Those amendments are as follow…
Potential Workers’ Compensation Changes Due to COVID-19 Claims
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Last week the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) began developing emergency regulations resulting from the COVID-19 crisis that will be presented to the Insurance Commissioner in the coming weeks. The major areas to be addressed are…