Workers’ compensation insurance protects businesses and their employees from the cost of workplace injuries. You may also hear it called “work comp” or “workman’s comp.”

Workers’ comp covers medical bills and lost wages when someone is injured at work. Benefits can also include payments to compensate for permanent disabilities and to dependents of workers who are killed in job-related incidents.

A workers’ comp policy also covers the employer in case an injured employee brings a lawsuit for alleged negligence. In this way, insurance provides protection for both the employee and employer.

Workers’ comp policies are issued annually, with a required review or “audit” at the end of each year. The premium is calculated based on the kind of work your employees do and the amount you pay them to do it. Other factors affecting price include your business’ commitment to safety and history of claim activity. Basically, the safer you keep your workers, the less it costs you to insure them.

Unlike other lines of insurance, workers’ compensation doesn’t offer different or optional levels of coverage for you to choose. When your policy is in place, it covers every work-related injury considered compensable by state law.

Workers’ comp benefits are determined by state law and don’t vary from policy to policy within the state. They are designed to:

• Replace wages lost when an employee is unable to work due to a work injury
• Cover medical bills related to on-the-job injuries

Benefits can also include payments to compensate for permanent disabilities and to dependents of workers who are killed in job-related incidents.

We insure employers in Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

We also cover out-of-state operations these employers have in 26 other states including: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia.

Any business that employs full-time, part-time, or temporary workers is a candidate to carry workers’ comp coverage.

Even businesses that do not currently have employees can have a small policy in place to cover individuals who may perform work for them in future. If you have employees, workers’ comp insurance is part of your responsibility to keeping them safe.

Generally, all employees are covered under a workers’ comp policy. In certain instances which vary by state, owners or officers of companies may choose to include or not include themselves under the policy.

Your workers’ compensation premium is based on the type of work your business does, how dangerous your industry is, and the amount you pay your employees. Other factors affecting price include your business’ commitment to safety and history of work injuries. Basically, the safer you keep your workers, the less it costs you to insure them.

Workers’ comp policies are issued annually, with a required review or “audit” at the end of each year.

Sometimes accidental injuries are out of your control, but you’d be surprised how much control you do have. For example, slips and falls are very common causes of serious work injuries. Simply ensuring that your parking lot is shoveled and salted in the winter, and keeping your indoor work environment tidy could prevent one of these accidents.

Our top three tips for holding down your claim costs:

1. Make workplace safety a high priority. Find many general and industry-specific resources to make your workplace safer in our resource catalog.
2. Report claims right away. Our claims representatives are experts in making sure injured workers get the care they need to ensure a smooth and speedy recovery.
3. Provide light-duty work to injured employees who have medical restrictions rather than having them stay off work until they can return to their regular jobs.

Learn more about keeping workers’ compensation costs low.

You have a couple of options for purchasing a workers’ compensation policy. In states that have a voluntary market, you can purchase workers’ comp insurance from any independent insurance agent or insurance carrier that is licensed to provide coverage in your state (like SFM).

To get your workers’ comp coverage directly through SFM, request a quote using the form above or call us at (844) 828-3801.

If you choose to work with an independent insurance agent but don’t already have a relationship with one, use our tool to find an agent in your area.

Use these links to access to workers’ compensation-related websites in your state, as well as national sites:

Indiana

• Indiana Department of Labor
• Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA)
• Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana

Iowa

• Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation
• Iowa — Illinois Safety Council

Kansas

• Kansas Department of Labor
• Kansas and Western Missouri Safety and Health Council

Minnesota

• DOLI — MN Department of Labor and Industry
• Minnesota OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Minnesota Safety Council
• Minnesota Employers Workers’ Compensation Alliance

Nebraska

• Nebraska Safety Council
• Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court

South Dakota

• South Dakota Department of Labor
• South Dakota Safety Council

Tennessee

• Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
• Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA)

Wisconsin

• DWD — Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
• WCS — Wisconsin Safety Council

National sites

• NIOSH — National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• OSHA — Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OSHA Recordkeeping Advisor
• OSHA Safety and Health Training Resources
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Labor