View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2009/09/17/103845.htm

Massachusetts Allows Public to Verify Workers’ Comp Coverage

Massachusetts has introduced a new Web site that allows anyone to see if a business has workers’ compensation insurance.

The Web site was launched by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

The site allows companies to verify proof of coverage for a particular company. Although the site is not designed to detect fraud, the state said it may assist investigations to determine whether fraud exists.

The Division of Industrial Accident said more than $53 million has been paid out of the Workers’ Compensation Trust Fund over the past 10 years to pay injury claims of workers who were employed by businesses that failed to carry workers’ comp.

Thirty-six other states have publicly accessible databases that the public can use to verify coverage for a a business.

Among the stated goals of the site:

• Assist homeowners in ensuring that hired contractors have workers’ compensation insurance
• Assist general contractors with ensuring that all subcontractors are properly insured
• Assist medical providers with coverage questions when treating an injured worker
• Assist state and municipal officials with ensuring workers’ compensation compliance with licensing, permitting, and awarding public contracts
• Help protect employers from agent and broker fraud allowing them to verify their own coverage