Despite the fact that recent legislation in California limited access to the Worker's Compensation system even further, and imposed medical treatment review procedures without the availability of an adversary system, worker's Compensation rates are increasing in 2014.
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today adopted an advisory average pure premium rate of 2.70 dollars per 100 dollars of employer payroll for workers compensation rates effective January 1, 2014.
The adopted amount is lower than that proposed by the Workers' Compensation Insurance RatingBureau of California's (WCIRB). The WCIRB's proposed advisory average rate was $2.75 per $100 of payroll.
The WCIRB's proposed advisory average pure premium rate is 8.7% ($2.75 per $100 of payroll) above the industry's average filed rates as of July 1, 2013 and the adopted pure premium rate ($2.70 per $100 of payroll) is 6.7% above the industry's average filed rates as of July 1, 2013.
Commissioner Jones, the WCIRB and the public members' actuary all agree that the overall impact of SB 863 (2012) continues to result in savings for the workers' compensation system.
The California Department of Insurance continues to observe that medical and indemnity losses are outpacing wage growth and consequently, the average advisory pure premium will increase in 2014.
Media Note:
- The commissioner's pure premium decision is advisory only. Pursuant to California law, the commissioner does not set or have authority over workers' compensation insurance rates. The commissioner's advisory pure premium rate is not predictive of what an individual insurance company may charge its policyholders because the review of pure premium rates is just one component of insurance pricing.
- Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California
