Double-digit drop effective December 1

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced today that workers’ compensation insurance rates will decrease for the fifth year in a row, effective December 1, 2021. The voluntary market is seeing yet another double-digit decrease in voluntary market loss costs, with an average 21.02% reduction, and residual market rates will go down an average of 20.01%.

“We have worked hard to lower worker’s compensations costs year after year to help our local businesses and attract new ones to our state. I’m proud to say that companies are doing their part to reduce risks through programs like our Workplace Safety initiative as well,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.

Workers’ compensation insurance is an employer cost that provides coverage when an employee is hurt on the job, it can provide medical coverage as well as payments for lost wages if a person is unable to come to work due to their injury. Lower premiums do not change the amount of compensation an injured employee receives.

The Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau (DCRB) agreed to the lower rates after discussion with the Department of Insurance and the State’s Ratepayer Advocate. The approval process included a review of the DCRB filing by actuaries for each party, and a public hearing. Actual savings vary by policy.

These lower rates are just one component of several efforts shepherded by the Department to help businesses financially. More than 1,100 employers are saving even more money on their workers’ compensation premiums by participating in the department’s Workplace Safety Program. Last year’s total savings was approximately $7 million. Eligible businesses can earn up to a 19% discount on their insurance by successfully undergoing annual safety inspections and complying with associated recommendations. These savings can help employers better weather the storm of the economic downturn due to COVID-19. Importantly, individual employees may also benefit directly from employer-based safety goals – for example, a workplace may offer bonuses if there are no injuries for a given timeframe and thus pass on the financial savings to their workers.

Businesses eligible for the Workplace Safety Program are notified about the program each year seven months prior to their renewal date, but late applications are being accepted as many businesses were closed when they were notified of their eligibility due to COVID-19. Organizations interested in participating can access questionnaires online and contact safety@delaware.gov to begin the process.

Interested employers are urged to note on their questionnaires their current hours and best point of contact if these have been adjusted due to COVID-19 so inspectors can plan site visits. A physical walkthrough is still required for employers to earn a safety discount. Only benefits can be gained by participating, failure to qualify cannot be the basis for premium increases or sanctions imposed by other safety enforcement officials.

View the DCRB website

Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart Announces
Substantial Decreases in Workers’ Compensation Rates

Expected Savings for Employers May Reach $20 million

DOVER, DE  – Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart today approved the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau’s workers’ compensation amended rate filing, resulting in overall average decreases of 9.7% in the residual market rate and 11.5% in the voluntary market loss cost.

The decreases are the result of cooperation among the DCRB, the Department of Insurance and Delaware’s Ratepayer Advocate, and are expected to save employers approximately $20 million in insurance costs this year.

“After several years of rate increases, I am pleased to announce a decrease in the premium most business owners will pay this year when purchasing workers’ compensation insurance,” said Commissioner Stewart. “As I said when the preliminary numbers were released in the fall, the decrease is the result of all the stakeholders working together to bring down Delaware’s high health care costs, which have been driving rates up over recent years.

“I want to thank the General Assembly for passing House Bill 373 last session, requiring that medical costs be reduced over the next three years.  I particularly want to thank my fellow members of the Governor’s Workers Compensation Oversight Panel, including Chair Rich Heffron, and Attorney General Matt Denn, past Chair of Workers’ Compensation Task Force, for doing the hard work that laid the foundation for HB 373.”

The effective date of the decrease is retroactive to December 1, 2014 for new and renewal business.

###

Learn how your business could save up to 19% on workers’ compensation insurance premiums by participating in the Delaware Workplace Safety Program. Learn more about the program by visiting http://delawareinsurance.gov/services/workplacesafetydiscount.shtml, or call 302-674-7377.

Delaware Department of Insurance: “Protecting Delawareans through regulation and
education while providing oversight of the insurance industry to best serve the public.”

Commissioner Schedules Workers’ Compensation Rate Hearing

Decreases in rates supported by independent actuaries

DOVER, DE – Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart announced today that the Department of Insurance has scheduled a public hearing for January 12 and 13, 2015, to receive public comment on proposed rate decreases for Workers’ Compensation insurance for the upcoming year.

Commissioner Stewart has received filings from Milliman, Inc. and INS Consultants, Inc., two independent actuaries engaged by the DOI, and by a third independent actuary, AIS Risk Consultants, working for Delaware’s Ratepayer Advocate. All agree that an overall reduction in both residual market rates and in voluntary market loss costs, as proposed by the Delaware Compensation Rating Bureau under Filing No. 1404, is in order. All documents are available on the DOI website at www.delawareinsurance.gov

Public hearings on the filings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, January 12 and 13, at 9:30 a.m. in the Carvel State Office Building at 9^th and French Streets in Wilmington. January 12 will be reserved for the receipt of oral comments from members of the public, and January 13 will be reserved for the introduction of evidence by the parties to the proceeding. If all parties agree, introduction of evidence by the parties may begin on the first day.

Public comment may be in writing or may be presented orally at the Hearing. Written comments must be received no later than Monday, January 5, 2015 by 4:30 p.m., and should be addressed to the attention of Nicole Holecek, Paralegal, Delaware Department of Insurance, 841 Silver Lake Boulevard, Dover, DE 19904. Also, those intending to provide oral comments at the hearing must notify Nicole Holecek at 302.674.7316 or Nicole.Holecek@delaware.gov, no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, January 5, 2015.

###

For more info contact Jerry Grant at 302-674-7303