Workers' compensation insurance gives employees medical, wage and other financial benefits if they are injured or become ill on the job. This coverage is required in most states. Workers' compensation insurance is also known as workman's comp or workers' comp insurance.
Most states require business owners with employees to have a workers' compensation certificate of insurance. But this coverage isn’t just something you need to have, it’s something both you and your employees will appreciate having.
Also known as workers’ comp or workman’s comp, this insurance gives benefits to your employees for work-related injuries or illnesses. These benefits can help:
Even if you offer your employees health insurance coverage, it may not cover a work-related injury or illness. To cover these claims and help protect your injured workers, you’ll need to have workers’ compensation insurance.
Small businesses that operate out of a home with remote workers, still require work from home workers' compensation insurance.
If you’re self-employed with no employees, your business insurance requirements depend on where you live. It’s a good idea to check with your state’s laws because each state is unique. For example, Arizona requires businesses with at least one employee to have workers’ comp coverage, whether it’s a part-time or full-time employee. But it doesn’t require coverage for independent contractors. Learn more about workers’ compensation for independent contractors.
Other states, like Connecticut, give sole proprietors and single member limited liability companies the option to buy workers’ comp insurance. In states where coverage is optional, small businesses can still get coverage from an insurance company or state-funded account.
Exemptions from workers’ comp laws also vary in each state. Independent contractors in Arizona, for example, don’t need coverage.
Make sure you know what your state's requirements are, because if you’re not carrying workers’ compensation coverage when it’s required, you may be responsible for covering your injured employee’s medical bills. Your business may also face fines if it doesn’t carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Even if your state doesn’t require coverage, you may want to consider getting it to help protect your business and employees.
Your state decides which businesses need to get workers’ comp insurance. But, you may be wondering, “Do 1099 employees need workers’ comp?” Unless your state says 1099 contractors aren’t required to have coverage, it’s a good idea to include them in your policy. Adding them to your policy only helps protect your business more.
For instance, let’s say you don’t add a contractor to your workers’ comp policy, and they get hurt or sick from their job. Because you don’t have workers’ comp coverage for them, they don’t get benefits. Your contractor can then sue you, and you may have to cover medical bills they have. Your business also gets a fine because your state requirements say you need to carry workers’ compensation coverage for independent contractors.
We know that getting workers’ comp insurance can seem complex. You might be asking yourself, “When do I need workers’ compensation insurance?” When it comes to workers’ comp, we’re here to help.
Our specialists can answer your questions and help you obtain workers’ compensation insurance. Get a workers’ comp quote today or give us a call at 855-829-1683. Our team is here to help you get the coverage you need to protect your business.
