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Hill & Usher and Your Workers' Compensation
The Reality: Increased Workers' Compensation Rates
For the first time in nearly 15 years, average Workers' Compensation rates for Arizona employers increased first in October 2006 and again in October 2007. Rates and are set to be adjusted again effective January 1, 2008 for all 120,000 Arizona employers.
To manage the escalating cost of your Workers' Compensation policy, employers should carefully consider alternative insurance carriers.
Why is there a mandatory rate increase for all Arizona Workers Compensation policyholders effective January 1, 2008?
Arizona Workers' Compensation rates are determined by a number of factors, including (1) the cost of medical care; (2) the cost of time-lost / disability claims; (3) the frequency of accidents; and (4) the severity of accidents.
The Arizona Workers' Compensation rate increases effective January 1, 2008 directly relate to statutory changes in the amount of disability and benefits paid to injured employees.
| Scheduled Changes in Compensation Levels for Injured Arizona Employees |
| Date of Injury |
Maximum Monthly Compensation |
| Prior to January 1, 2008 |
$2,400 per month |
| January 1, 2008-December 31, 2008 |
$3,000 per month |
| January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 |
$3,600 per month |
| January 1, 2010 – Forward |
Future Legislation |
Why Choose Hill & Usher for Workers' Compensation?
- In house, dedicated claims support for complicated or potentially expensive employee injuries.
- Access to more than a dozen insurance carriers targeting Workers' Compensation business in Arizona.
- Access to improved safety and loss control services provided by your Workers' Compensation carrier, but managed by Hill & Usher.
- Technical expertise delivered by qualified insurance brokers whose prior experience ranges from former insurance company executives, corporate risk management, and business ownership.
- Communicate with Hill & Usher in whatever manner you prefer, via email, telephone, or fax.
- Assigned team of professionals to manage your policy, rather than a single point of contact who may be hard to reach.
- Package your Workers' Compensation policy with the same carrier who insures your property, liability, auto and other coverage; or select a specialty Workers' Compensation carrier. Either way, you can choose the best approach for you.
- Manage Workers' Compensation coverages in other states all with Hill & Usher.
- Automatic shopping of your insurance renewal through Hill & Usher, regardless of your policy's size to ensure you have the right carrier, year after year.
Workers' Compensation Coverage
Workers' Compensation Coverage provides medical costs and other related benefits to employees who suffer from an occupational injury or disease. Generally speaking, Workers' Compensation regulations are established, monitored, and enforced at the state rather than at the federal level. State Workers' Compensation laws and regulations do vary, but without question, Workers' Compensation laws among all states follow a similar framework.
Workers' Compensation insurance policies provide coverage to an injured employee in a number of ways:
- Medical Coverage. Pays on behalf of the injured employee all direct costs associated with medical treatment, including the costs paid to treating physicians and hospital care. In Arizona, medical coverage under Workers' Compensation is not subject to either a maximum dollar or time limit.
- Rehabilitation Coverage. Pays on behalf of injured employee costs of rehabilitation.
- Disability Coverage. Pays lost wages, as a percentage of income, that result from an injured employee's inability to work. State statutes define and segment the type of disability, and reimburse the employee according to a "schedule" of benefits.
- Death Coverage. Pays surviving minor children and spouse a death benefit in the event an employee's death arises during the course of his or her employment.
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