New York state's Workers' Compensation Board has started a sweeping effort to examine the system, and look at how it could more effectively meet the needs of injured workers and employers. It's in the midst of holding sessions where injured workers can express their opinions.
The second of three sessions was held yesterday in Syracuse, and allowed injured workers to chime in on the discussion in central New York. Fidel, Alejandro Velacqueis Perez was among those telling stories. His ankle was shattered on the job at a stone cutting company in Delaware County. While waiting four months for a Workers' Compensation hearing, he's basically homeless. "I need help," Perez said. "I don't have any resources. I don't have money to buy food. I don't have money to get a phone and reach my family." Interpreting for Perez is Rebecca Fuentes of the Workers Center of Central New York. She says immigrant voices especially need to be heard, but part of the problem is that many don't even know Workers' Compensation exists. An answer to that would be more outreach from the agency. "People in this building need to get out," Fuentes said. "We want to see them out at events, tabling. We need to see them everywhere. Because workers are getting injured, and they're not having equal access to this right." Fuentes says among other things, some immigrants lose their jobs after an injury because they apply for Workers' Compensation. She says it is a serious issue that the Workers' Compensation Board... |
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(c) 2010-2024 Jon L Gelman, All Rights Reserved.
Showing posts with label insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insurance. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Workers' Compensation Board hosts meetings to help improve services
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
The Workers' Compensation Nuclear Option: Detroit officially enters bankruptcy
The "nuclear option" for a workers' compensation claim is a public entity bankruptcy and Detroit got the Court's approval to go forward with the legal maneuver. Over the course of the last 3 decades, bankruptcy has become a common practice to shield private corporations from product liability claims. Asbestos claims have seen dozen of companies use this legal tactic to reduce payment to less that 5% on the dollar. As corporations struggle for life in this changing economy, workers are now experiencing the effects of bankruptcy ruling to reduce their benefits and break the promise made in 1911 for an efficient and cost effective benefit program. Today’s post is shared from deseretnews.com
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
Rhodes surprised some observers by saying he would support the city in shaving pension expenses, a key bone of contention. The ruling on pensions has significant implications for others cities elsewhere. In California, for example, cities such as San Bernardino could seize the precedent, the Sacramento Bee suggested. "But one... |
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Related articles
- It's Official - Detroit Enters Chapter 9 Bankruptcy Including "Pension Cuts"... (theconservativetreehouse.com)
- Judge: Detroit can use bankruptcy to confront debt (newsok.com)
- Federal judge allows Detroit bankruptcy, including pension cuts (americanthinker.com)
- Detroit officially bankrupt, judge allows for possible pension cuts (conservativeread.com)
- NJ COLA Bill - Legislative Hearings Scheduled (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Work Comp Lost Focus (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Next Wave: N.H.L. Players Sue League Over Head Injuries (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Are Smokers Really the ACA’s Biggest Losers?
On November 25, Fox News put it best: “Obamacare Policies Slam Smokers,” , noting that “smokers are the only group with a pre-existing condition that Obamacare penalizes.” THCB itself has headlined: Smokers Face Tough New Rules under Obamacare.
And these headlines are absolutely accurate — meaning that, with the possible exception of the e-cigarette, ACA is the best thing that has happened to employed smokers ever.
Here is how we arrive at this conclusion. The data is mixed on whether smokers incur much higher healthcare costs or just slightly higher healthcare costs during their working ages than non-smokers do. None of the data shows that their costs are lower, but let’s say there is no impact on health spending.
Nonetheless, the following is incontrovertible: smokers take smoking breaks.Remarkably, there are no laws specifically governing smoking breaks, and like most other quantifiable human resources issues, no one has quantified them. But we all observe these breaks, and about a fifth of us participate in them. They reduce productivity. By definition, if you are outside smoking, you are not inside... |
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- NJ COLA Bill - Legislative Hearings Scheduled (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- California Workers' Compensation Rates Going Up in 2014 (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- John Burton Reports on Workers' Compensation Insurance Industry Underwriting Results (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The World Trade Center Registry Opened Again to Register 9-11 Workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Florida rejects workers' compensation rate hike (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Next Wave: N.H.L. Players Sue League Over Head Injuries (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Privatization of workers, compensation continues throughout WV (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
NJ COLA Bill - Legislative Hearing Scheduled
The NJ Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will hold a public hearing on a pending COLA bill S613 to increase benefits on 12/5/2013 1:00:00 PM.
The Senate Labor Committee report
The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably and with
committee amendments Senate Bill No. 613.
As amended by the committee, this bill provides, from July 1, 2013
forward, an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the weekly
workers' compensation benefit rate for any worker who has become
totally and permanently disabled from a workplace injury at any time
after December 31, 1979 and for the surviving dependents of any
worker who died from a workplace injury after December 31, 1979.
The COLA would be an amount such that, when added to the
workers' compensation weekly benefit rate initially awarded, the sum
will bear the same percentage relationship to the maximum benefit rate
at the time of the adjustment that the initial rate bore to the maximum
rate at the time of the initial award, except that:
1. The bill reduces the amount of the adjustment as much as
necessary to ensure that the sum of the adjustment and the amount
initially awarded does not exceed the amount which would cause any
reduction of disability benefits payable under the Federal Old Age,
Survivors and Disability Act; and
2. The bill reduces the supplemental workers’ compensation
benefits (but not regular workers’ compensation) for claimants injured
after 1979 by the amount of any Social Security benefits (other than
Social Security disability benefits and any increases in Social Security
benefits due to federal statutory changes after May 31, 1980), Black
Lung benefits, or the employer’s share of disability pension payments
received from or on account of an employer, except that if the worker's
original workers' compensation award was already reduced under
current law, there would be no further reduction of the supplemental
benefits under the bill.
These reductions parallel the reductions provided under current
law for claimants who were injured before 1980. The bill also
provides that no supplemental benefits would be paid in any case
where they are calculated to be less than $5 per week.
Current law requires such annual adjustments in the rate of
workers' compensation benefits for death and permanent total
disability to be paid from the Second Injury Fund (SIF), but only for
cases of injury or death occurring before January 1, 1980. The bill
extends the adjustments paid from the SIF to claims originating after
December 31, 1979, although the adjustments would apply only to
benefits paid on those claims after July 1, 2013, thus avoiding a
backlog of retroactive benefits.
The bill provides that supplemental payments will commence only
after SIF assessments are sufficient to pay them without using General
Fund money. The supplemental benefit payments would start on July
1, 2013 and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is
required to take into account the supplemental benefits when
calculating the amount of the Second Injury Fund assessment which
starts on January 1, 2013, thus avoiding the need for any General Fund
appropriation.
To avoid an abrupt fiscal impact on the workers’ compensation
system, the bill provides that one third of the supplemental benefit rate
be paid during the first year, two thirds of the rate be paid during the
second year and the full amount be paid during the third and
subsequent years.
The bill sets time limits for workers’ compensation insurers and
self-insured employers to notify the SIF when supplemental workers’
compensation benefits are required under the bill. An insurer or selfinsured
employer is required to provide the notice not more than 60
days after the supplement is awarded or voluntary payment is to begin.
If a failure to notify results in the payment of an incorrect amount of
benefits, the liability for the payment of the supplemental benefits is
transferred from the SIF to the insurer or employer until the required
notice is provided.
The bill makes no change in the provisions of sections 1 and 9 of
P.L.1980, c.83 (C.34:15-95.4 and 34:15-95.5), which provide for the
reduction of certain portions of workers' compensation benefits by the
amount of Social Security disability benefits paid. In addition, the bill
expressly states that the supplemental benefits shall not be paid in a
manner which in any way changes or modifies the provisions of those
sections. The bill, therefore, will have no effect on existing provisions
of State and federal law regarding offsets between workers'
compensation and federal Social Security disability benefits.
The committee amendments provide that the application of the cost
of living adjustment commence on July 1, 2013, instead of July 1,
2011.
This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2012-2013 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.
The Senate Labor Committee report
The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably and with
committee amendments Senate Bill No. 613.
As amended by the committee, this bill provides, from July 1, 2013
forward, an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the weekly
workers' compensation benefit rate for any worker who has become
totally and permanently disabled from a workplace injury at any time
after December 31, 1979 and for the surviving dependents of any
worker who died from a workplace injury after December 31, 1979.
The COLA would be an amount such that, when added to the
workers' compensation weekly benefit rate initially awarded, the sum
will bear the same percentage relationship to the maximum benefit rate
at the time of the adjustment that the initial rate bore to the maximum
rate at the time of the initial award, except that:
1. The bill reduces the amount of the adjustment as much as
necessary to ensure that the sum of the adjustment and the amount
initially awarded does not exceed the amount which would cause any
reduction of disability benefits payable under the Federal Old Age,
Survivors and Disability Act; and
2. The bill reduces the supplemental workers’ compensation
benefits (but not regular workers’ compensation) for claimants injured
after 1979 by the amount of any Social Security benefits (other than
Social Security disability benefits and any increases in Social Security
benefits due to federal statutory changes after May 31, 1980), Black
Lung benefits, or the employer’s share of disability pension payments
received from or on account of an employer, except that if the worker's
original workers' compensation award was already reduced under
current law, there would be no further reduction of the supplemental
benefits under the bill.
These reductions parallel the reductions provided under current
law for claimants who were injured before 1980. The bill also
provides that no supplemental benefits would be paid in any case
where they are calculated to be less than $5 per week.
Current law requires such annual adjustments in the rate of
workers' compensation benefits for death and permanent total
disability to be paid from the Second Injury Fund (SIF), but only for
cases of injury or death occurring before January 1, 1980. The bill
extends the adjustments paid from the SIF to claims originating after
December 31, 1979, although the adjustments would apply only to
benefits paid on those claims after July 1, 2013, thus avoiding a
backlog of retroactive benefits.
The bill provides that supplemental payments will commence only
after SIF assessments are sufficient to pay them without using General
Fund money. The supplemental benefit payments would start on July
1, 2013 and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is
required to take into account the supplemental benefits when
calculating the amount of the Second Injury Fund assessment which
starts on January 1, 2013, thus avoiding the need for any General Fund
appropriation.
To avoid an abrupt fiscal impact on the workers’ compensation
system, the bill provides that one third of the supplemental benefit rate
be paid during the first year, two thirds of the rate be paid during the
second year and the full amount be paid during the third and
subsequent years.
The bill sets time limits for workers’ compensation insurers and
self-insured employers to notify the SIF when supplemental workers’
compensation benefits are required under the bill. An insurer or selfinsured
employer is required to provide the notice not more than 60
days after the supplement is awarded or voluntary payment is to begin.
If a failure to notify results in the payment of an incorrect amount of
benefits, the liability for the payment of the supplemental benefits is
transferred from the SIF to the insurer or employer until the required
notice is provided.
The bill makes no change in the provisions of sections 1 and 9 of
P.L.1980, c.83 (C.34:15-95.4 and 34:15-95.5), which provide for the
reduction of certain portions of workers' compensation benefits by the
amount of Social Security disability benefits paid. In addition, the bill
expressly states that the supplemental benefits shall not be paid in a
manner which in any way changes or modifies the provisions of those
sections. The bill, therefore, will have no effect on existing provisions
of State and federal law regarding offsets between workers'
compensation and federal Social Security disability benefits.
The committee amendments provide that the application of the cost
of living adjustment commence on July 1, 2013, instead of July 1,
2011.
This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2012-2013 session
pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes
required by technical review, which has been performed.
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
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- The World Trade Center Registry Opened Again to Register 9-11 Workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Next Wave: N.H.L. Players Sue League Over Head Injuries (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
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As Hospital Prices Soar, a Single Stitch Tops $500
Medical delivery costs continue to soar and workers' compensation claims costs are running out of ontrol. Cost for emergency medicare are not usually regulated by workers' compensation prorams, eve where balance cillig is removed from the equation. Todays post is shared from the NYTimes.org With blood oozing from deep lacerations, the two patients arrived at California Pacific Medical Center’s tidy emergency room. Deepika Singh, 26, had gashed her knee at a backyard barbecue. Orla Roche, a rambunctious toddler on vacation with her family, had tumbled from a couch, splitting open her forehead on a table. On a quiet Saturday in May, nurses in blue scrubs quickly ushered the two patients into treatment rooms. The wounds were cleaned, numbed and mended in under an hour. “It was great — they had good DVDs, the staff couldn’t have been nicer,” said Emer Duffy, Orla’s mother. Then the bills arrived. Ms. Singh’s three stitches cost $2,229.11. Orla’s forehead was sealed with a dab of skin glue for $1,696. “When I first saw the charge, I said, ‘What could possibly have cost that much?’ ” recalled Ms. Singh. “They billed for everything, every pill.” In a medical system notorious for opaque finances and inflated bills, nothing is more convoluted than hospital pricing, economists say. Hospital charges represent about a third of the $2.7 trillion annual United States health care... |
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Monday, December 2, 2013
Consumers, Employers Face New Round Of Health Coverage Challenges, Decisions
This news roundup is shared from kaiser.org
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
The Washington Post: Consumer Tips For Healthcare.gov Show Administration's Cautious Optimism The Obama administration on Sunday reported vast improvement with the HealthCare.gov health-insurance portal that opened with extensive glitches in October, while acknowledging that the site still needs more work. One sign of ongoing problems came in the form of a blog entry and infographic that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius published on Huffington Post. Both items provide tips for consumers visiting the site, most notably by encouraging them to use it during off-peak hours — mornings, nights and weekends (Hicks, 12/2). Kaiser Health News: With Three Weeks Left, Consumers Fear They May End Up Without Health Coverage On New Year’s Day For people in the states with well-functioning insurance websites, such as California, New York and Kentucky, this appears to leave plenty of time. But making the deadline could be dicier for people in Arizona and the 35 other states where the federal website healthcare.gov is the path to coverage, as well as Oregon and Hawaii, which have struggled to get their sites functioning. On Sunday, the government reported progress in improving healthcare.gov, saying the site now allows more than 800,000 visits a day with the rate of timeouts or crashes reduced to below 1 percent. Officials said repairs continue (Rau, 12/2). And for employers - The Washington Post: New... |
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- Snowden Offers to Fix Healthcare.gov (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Affordable Care Act, brought to you by ......... the Republicans! (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- California Considers Its Options On Canceled Insurance Plans (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Obamacare Has a Friend in the Health Care Industry (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
How Much Is That X-Ray? Still Hard To Say, Even In Massachusetts
Today's post was shared by Kaiser Health News and comes from www.kaiserhealthnews.org
Finding out how much an X-ray costs sounds like a simple question. But it is actually very difficult to get an answer. In Massachusetts, a new state law requires insurers to be able to tell members how much a test, treatment or surgery will cost.
But while the new law pulls back the curtain on prices of health procedures to some degree, the burden is still on the patient to ask for information. And, as a recent test drive of the new law showed, there are quite a few hoops for patients to jump through. The recorded menu option doesn't mention health care prices, so I press zero, for all other inquiries. Eventually, I connect with Jamie D. (customer service reps at Blue Cross don’t give their last names). I explain that I'd like to compare the price of lower back X-rays at a few facilities. She starts in with the questions: What's the doctor's name? What's the facility where I want to have the X-ray? I have the doctor's name and facility, but I’m stuck on the next question. Blue Cross wants the procedure codes for each X-ray I may need, my doctor's national ID number and the name, address and ID number for my hospital or lab, so it can consolidate all the charges into one estimate. Jamie directs me to a form online. I call my doctor and get the info. If I... |
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- Worried About Costs And Unaware of Help, Californians Head Into New Era of Health Coverage (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- A Reference Guide for Controlling Health Hazards to Hospital Workers (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- California Considers Its Options On Canceled Insurance Plans (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Nearly 1,500 Hospitals Penalized Under Medicare Program Rating Quality (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
The World Trade Center Registry Opened Again to Register 9-11 Workers
On November 13, 2013, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed significant protections for World Trade Center workers into the Workers' Compensation Law under Article 8-A. The legislation extends and enhances workers' compensation eligibility and benefits for World Trade Center workers. Most notably, the legislation reopens the World Trade Center Registry; extends the deadline period for filing Form WTC-12, Registration of Participation in World Trade Center Rescue, Recovery and/or Clean-up Operations, with a deadline to September 11, 2014; reopens previously time-barred World Trade Center claims and considers them timely; and adds qualifying conditions to the law.
Reopening of Registry and Extension of Filing Period for Form WTC-12The World Trade Center Registry, which preserves workers' compensation rights for those who performed rescue, recovery, and clean-up operations after the World Trade Center attacks, is now reopened and will remain open until September 11, 2014. Previously, any claims for which the associated Form WTC-12 was received after September 13, 2010 were time-barred. Those workers were not entitled to benefits. These claims will now be reopened and considered timely.Workers who participated in the rescue, recovery, and clean-up operations of the World Trade Center between September 11, 2001 and September 11, 2002, should promptly register their service participation with the NYS Workers' Compensation Board (Board). This registration will preserve workers'... |
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Read About the Zadroga 9-11 Fund
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Tuesday, November 26, 2013
NJ Workers Compensation Rates 2014
Revision of Rates and Rating Values – Effective January 1, 2014
The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance (“Commissioner”) has approved a 3.6%
increase in rates and rating values applicable to New Jersey workers compensation and employers
liability insurance effective January 1, 2014 on a new and renewal basis. The rating components of the increase are summarized below.
PREMIUM AND LOSS EXPERIENCE
Analysis of data for the latest two complete policy years and the latest calendar-accident
year, following adjustment to present premium and benefit levels, using paid and incurred losses
separately, indicates a premium level adjustment factor of 0.979 (-2.1%) due to experience.
A trend factor of 1.055 (+5.5%) is included to recognize changing exposures and losses.
The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance (“Commissioner”) has approved a 3.6%
increase in rates and rating values applicable to New Jersey workers compensation and employers
liability insurance effective January 1, 2014 on a new and renewal basis. The rating components of the increase are summarized below.
PREMIUM AND LOSS EXPERIENCE
Analysis of data for the latest two complete policy years and the latest calendar-accident
year, following adjustment to present premium and benefit levels, using paid and incurred losses
separately, indicates a premium level adjustment factor of 0.979 (-2.1%) due to experience.
A trend factor of 1.055 (+5.5%) is included to recognize changing exposures and losses.
BENEFIT CHANGES
Effective January 1, 2014, the maximum weekly benefit with respect to all types of injuries,
except permanent partial disabilities, will be changed from $826 to $843. The minimum weekly benefit will be changed from $220 to $225. In cases involving permanent partial disabilities, the present maximum weekly benefits ranging from $220 to $826, varying on the basis of duration of disability, will be changed to $225 and $843, respectively. The minimum weekly benefit for permanent partial injuries will remain at $35. The effect of the changes to the minimum and maximum weekly benefits results in a premium level adjustment factor of 1.007 (+0.7%) due to benefits.
EXPENSES
There is need for decreases in the provisions for Loss Adjustment Expense, the Security
Fund and Bureau Expense. The changes to the expense provisions result in a premium level adjustment factor of 0.996 (-0.4%).
OVERALL PREMIUM/RATE LEVEL CHANGE
The combined effect of the above adjustment factors results in an indicated premium level
adjustment factor of 1.036 (+3.6%). The rate level adjustment is also an increase of +3.6%.
CATASTROPHE PROVISIONS
A Terrorism Premium Charge of $0.03 per unit of exposure applies to all policies except
for the exclusions in 3:9-2 and 3:9-5 of the Manual. Upward deviation from the $0.03 rate is
permissible.
A Catastrophe (Other than Certified Acts of Terrorism) Premium Charge of $0.01 per
unit of exposure applies to all policies except for the exclusions in 3:9-9 and 3:9-12 of the Manual.
CLASSIFICATION RATES
The adjustment of classification rate relativity is based on the policy experience for 2006
through 2010, as reported through the Statistical Plan. The changes in the rates for the individual
classifications including those in the Admiralty and Federal Employers Liability Act coverage are
supported by, and derived from, the experience.
There are 572 classifications in the Manual effective January 1, 2014 including the codes to
accommodate Federal employments. Eight classifications carry no rate assignment. Of the remainder, 381 will experience increased rates, the rates for 167 classes will decrease, and 16 are unchanged. There are no changes to the annual policy charges for private estate or residence employees as set forth in 3:5-12 of the Manual.
In order to comply with the decision of the Commissioner, changes in manual rates for any
classification have been limited to an increase of 15% from last year’s rate. The increase percentage applicable to non "F" classifications when coverage is provided under the United States Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act remains unchanged at 50%.
MINIMUM PREMIUM FORMULA
The minimum premium multiplier is increased from 100 to 150 and the maximum
minimum premium is increased from $850 to $900. The change to premium resulting from the new
rating values in the minimum premium formula is minimal and does not impact the overall rate level.
Special minimum premiums applicable to private residence classifications and to classifications subject to Maritime or Federal Employers Liability Act coverage are not affected.
SURCHARGES
New Jersey law mandates application of separate policyholder surcharges to finance the
Second Injury and Uninsured Employers’ Funds. Based on the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development’s estimate of 2014 Fund requirements, the policyholder surcharge percentages effective January 1, 2014, on a new and renewal basis to be applied to the modified premium are:
Second Injury Fund 6.56%
Uninsured Employers’ Fund 0.00%
Effective January 1, 2014, the maximum weekly benefit with respect to all types of injuries,
except permanent partial disabilities, will be changed from $826 to $843. The minimum weekly benefit will be changed from $220 to $225. In cases involving permanent partial disabilities, the present maximum weekly benefits ranging from $220 to $826, varying on the basis of duration of disability, will be changed to $225 and $843, respectively. The minimum weekly benefit for permanent partial injuries will remain at $35. The effect of the changes to the minimum and maximum weekly benefits results in a premium level adjustment factor of 1.007 (+0.7%) due to benefits.
EXPENSES
There is need for decreases in the provisions for Loss Adjustment Expense, the Security
Fund and Bureau Expense. The changes to the expense provisions result in a premium level adjustment factor of 0.996 (-0.4%).
OVERALL PREMIUM/RATE LEVEL CHANGE
The combined effect of the above adjustment factors results in an indicated premium level
adjustment factor of 1.036 (+3.6%). The rate level adjustment is also an increase of +3.6%.
CATASTROPHE PROVISIONS
A Terrorism Premium Charge of $0.03 per unit of exposure applies to all policies except
for the exclusions in 3:9-2 and 3:9-5 of the Manual. Upward deviation from the $0.03 rate is
permissible.
A Catastrophe (Other than Certified Acts of Terrorism) Premium Charge of $0.01 per
unit of exposure applies to all policies except for the exclusions in 3:9-9 and 3:9-12 of the Manual.
CLASSIFICATION RATES
The adjustment of classification rate relativity is based on the policy experience for 2006
through 2010, as reported through the Statistical Plan. The changes in the rates for the individual
classifications including those in the Admiralty and Federal Employers Liability Act coverage are
supported by, and derived from, the experience.
There are 572 classifications in the Manual effective January 1, 2014 including the codes to
accommodate Federal employments. Eight classifications carry no rate assignment. Of the remainder, 381 will experience increased rates, the rates for 167 classes will decrease, and 16 are unchanged. There are no changes to the annual policy charges for private estate or residence employees as set forth in 3:5-12 of the Manual.
In order to comply with the decision of the Commissioner, changes in manual rates for any
classification have been limited to an increase of 15% from last year’s rate. The increase percentage applicable to non "F" classifications when coverage is provided under the United States Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act remains unchanged at 50%.
MINIMUM PREMIUM FORMULA
The minimum premium multiplier is increased from 100 to 150 and the maximum
minimum premium is increased from $850 to $900. The change to premium resulting from the new
rating values in the minimum premium formula is minimal and does not impact the overall rate level.
Special minimum premiums applicable to private residence classifications and to classifications subject to Maritime or Federal Employers Liability Act coverage are not affected.
SURCHARGES
New Jersey law mandates application of separate policyholder surcharges to finance the
Second Injury and Uninsured Employers’ Funds. Based on the Department of Labor and Workforce
Development’s estimate of 2014 Fund requirements, the policyholder surcharge percentages effective January 1, 2014, on a new and renewal basis to be applied to the modified premium are:
Second Injury Fund 6.56%
Uninsured Employers’ Fund 0.00%
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- Parsippany NJ settles $54,000 workers' comp dispute with ex-construction official (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Voters Will Decide on Minimum Wage Hike - Impacting Workers Compensation Benefits (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- The Next Wave: N.H.L. Players Sue League Over Head Injuries (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Florida rejects workers' compensation rate hike (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- Privatization of workers, compensation continues throughout WV (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- What a Government Default Will Do To Workers' Compensation (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
- John Burton Reports on Workers' Compensation Insurance Industry Underwriting Results (workers-compensation.blogspot.com)
The Next Wave: N.H.L. Players Sue League Over Head Injuries
Occupational illness claims have been a traditional
battleground in workers' compensation for larger and more significant lawsuits
and dynamic changes in the safety of the workplace induced by economics.
From the lack of the incorporation of occupational claims in
the 1911 model workers' compensation acts, in the 1950's, employers and their
insurance companies sought refuge under the "exclusivity bar" of the. workers' compensation act to shield themselves from
negligence actions for silicosis and asbestosis claims.
The creativity of claimant's lawyers, and the blatant
intentional tort acts of unscrupulous asbestos companies, brought forth a
sweeping change in the economic balance as claimants used the civil justice
system to establish an avenue for adequate compensation for asbestos victims
(lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma claims).
Asbestos litigation, "longest running tort, continues
today and is the perfect example of the societal benefits of a working civil
justice system. In fact, the same
dynamic existed in: tobacco litigation, lead paint litigation, latex litigation
and has been repeated many times over.
The civil justice system, not the workers' compensation
system, established an economic incentive establishing a safer workplace for workers
and their families.
It is more than obvious that contact sports are seeing the
next wave of litigation as the employers and their insurance companies
accelerate the cycle, by barring professional athletic players from even
seeking workers' compensation benefits, ie. California.
Since it appears that no safe helmet can be manufactured to
protect the mayhem of some contact sports, the business of sports will be the
next "industry" to experience economic incentives to make the
workplace safer. The higher education system will just have to find another
economic engine to fund colleges and university and stop luring students to
play dangerous sports in hope of winning the professional sports lottery.
First football, now hockey, are emerging targets of the civil
justice system as the economics of safety takes hold and the need for safety
takes hold. Today's post is shared from the nytimes.com.
Ten former N.H.L. players sued the league Monday
for negligence and fraud, saying the sport’s officials should have done more to
address head injuries but instead celebrated a culture of speed and violence.
The players, who were in the league in the 1970s,
’80s and ’90s, filed their suit in federal court in Washington. One of the lead
lawyers is Mel Owens, a former N.F.L. player who has represented scores of
other retired players in workers’ compensation cases.
[Click here to see the rest of this post]
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
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