Vermont Workers’ Comp Rates to Decrease for Third Year in a Row

February 20, 2019

Workers’ compensation insurance will continue to cost less for most Vermont employers when new rates approved by the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) become effective on April 1, 2019.

This is the third rate decrease since Governor Phil Scott took office and represents $10.5 million in pricing relief for Vermont employers. When coupled with the two prior decreases, Vermont employers are paying about $40 million per year less in workers’ compensation premiums.

Governor Scott said this year’s decrease and the continued cost reduction trend is good news for Vermont workers, their employers and the job market in general.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott
Source: State of Vermont Office of the Governor

“I am pleased to announce this substantial decrease in workers’ compensation rates, which will directly lower the cost of doing business in Vermont,” Scott said in a press release issued by his office. “These considerable savings make Vermont a more affordable place to do business, which can allow businesses to hire more workers, increase salaries and expand operations in Vermont.”

In the voluntary market – the open competitive market – loss costs will decrease by an average of 5.1 percent. Loss costs are the primary component of workers’ compensation rates. Approximately 90 percent of Vermont employers receive voluntary market coverage.

In the assigned risk market – the market for employers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market – rates will also decrease by an average of 9.2 percent.

“This continued rate reduction is a clear indication that Vermont’s workers’ compensation market is moving in the right direction,” said DFR Commissioner Michael Pieciak in the release. “This improvement is driven by the commitment of Vermont business owners to improve the safety of their work places and a renewed focus on rate filings by the department.”

Rate changes vary by industry and classification. Of particular note are reductions to non-mechanized (decrease of more than 18 percent) and mechanized (decrease of more than five percent) logging operations, which have historically experienced high rates. Further, ski areas will see a reduction of 12.3 percent, craft brewing a reduction of 9.3 percent and many manufacturing industries will see decreases.

Further relief is in store for those in the logging industry. Under a new program established by Governor Scott’s Workers’ Compensation Task Force, non-mechanized and mechanized logging operations who complete an onsite job safety program will see a 15 percent premium credit for their improved safety job sites.

Source: State of Vermont Office of Governor Phil Scott

Topics Trends Workers' Compensation Pricing Trends Vermont

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