Workers' Comp Basics

Understanding business insurance isn’t easy. And understanding workers’ compensation? That can be like trying to translate Japanese with only a conversational Italian dictionary. Is workers’ comp taxable? What are workers’ comp monopolistic states? How does workers comp work in Illinois? There can be a lot of questions when it comes to workers’ compensation insurance.

To help, we’ve gathered some of our most helpful articles and put them together here in our guide to Workers’ Compensation Basics.

Topic 1: Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Let’s Start Here

As we've mentioned, workers’ comp can be complex and can vary from state to state. This guide can be a great place to begin to get up to speed on workers’ comp basics, such as:

• An overview of workers’ compensation insurance
• Which businesses need it, and when
• How workers’ comp insurance works
• 5 benefits of workers’ compensation insurance
• What workers’ compensation does and doesn’t cover

Topic 2: A Smart Buyer’s Guide to a Workers’ Comp Policy

Knowing if and when you need workers’ compensation is a good first step. For the next topic in workers’ compensation insurance basics, this guide can help you with the process of getting coverage in place.

Some of the information we cover includes:

• Mistakes to avoid when buying your policy
• How to get workers’ comp insurance
• Workers’ comp and taxes
• How to save on your policy

Topic 3: Workers’ Comp Insurance for the Self-Employed

When you’re self-employed, you do the work yourself, you do the billing yourself, and you likely even empty wastebaskets and clean up yourself. There’s a lot of emphasis on “self” in “self-employed.”

Is workers’ comp insurance for self-employed workers right for you? This workers’ compensation basics guide can help you find out for yourself with information, such as:

• Why you might consider it
• What it usually covers
• If it's required
• How to buy it and what it might cost

Topic 4: Ten of the Most Common Workers’ Compensation Claims

Do you know what injury ranks #1 for workers’ compensation claims? No spoilers here, but we will say that it accounts for just over 30% of total workers’ comp claims. In the guide for this topic, we’ve got more information on all top-ten workers’ compensation claims — along with tips on how to prevent them.

Topic 5: Workers’ Comp Monopolistic States

What is a monopolistic state? While this question isn't likely to come up at a weekly Trivia night, it may come up if you own a business in North Dakota, Ohio, Washington State, or Wyoming.

These states require that you purchase insurance from that state’s workers’ compensation program.

If your business operates in one of these states, this workers’ comp basics topic can tell you more about:

• What working in monopolistic states means for employers
• Self-insurance options are and the state requirements
• Legal protection for your business in a monopolistic workers’ comp state

Topic 6: What is a Workers’ Comp Ghost Policy and Do You Need One?

Don’t worry. It’s not as scary as it sounds. In fact, a ghost insurance policy may be just what you need if you’re a sole proprietor with no employees.

This workers’ comp basics topic demystifies ghost policies by covering a host of subjects, including:

• What is a ghost policy?
• Are ghost policies legal?
• Why do ghost policies exist?
• What do they cover?
• Is a ghost policy right for you?

Workers' Compensation? We Can Help with That

Small business insurance is what we do, and that includes workers’ compensation. Whether you need workers’ comp basics, an online quote at 3 a.m., or you want to talk with a licensed agent, we’ve got you covered.

We understand the different workers’ comp regulations in all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia), so there’s a good chance we can answer your questions and get workers’ compensation insurance for you in just a few minutes, online or over the phone.

Building on the Basics

We don’t just spend time helping small business owners find insurance. We also help them understand what they need and what they’re buying. That’s why we built an online Resource Center with a considerable number of articles, guides, and tools to help tradespeople, professional services, retailers and restaurateurs, health and wellness practitioners, and many other business owners.

We’re constantly adding to those resources as well, with new articles and guides each month. If you’re looking to boost your business and insurance knowledge, feel free to browse what’s new each month or sign up for our regular emails and get helpful business and insurance info dropped right into your inbox.