Can I Buy Coverage for All States?
The short answer "no". Even though there are insurance companies and agencies that write and sell insurance in all 50 sates, there are four monopolistic states (ND, OH, WA, WY) where workers' compensation must be purchased directly from the state. Ironically, work comp coverage is the only line of insurance where states have these distinct divisions by state lines. Most employers don't actually need coverage in every state. It is, however, relatively easy to purchase work comp coverage in all other other states across the U.S. (except monopolistic).
Most states do have a coverage clause known as an extraterritorial provision. This provision basically allows for the primary state coverage to apply to an injury or claim when an employee is hurt across state lines. The provision was intended for situations where an employee is simply passing through a state on business or when the scope of work is deemed to be temporary. Most states consider temporary to mean less than 30 days in a period of one year. It is important to note that some states, like New York, require contractors to have primary coverage in the state if they perform any work at all.
Other States Insurance
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A workers compensation policy form is made up of six parts. Part One and Part Three are designed to outline policy coverages available in other states. The confusing part is they often create ambiguity with regard to what states are actually covered under the policy. And ultimately, employers are responsible for insuring that they have adequate coverage despite the confusion.
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Section 3A and Section 3C Coverage
If your business has employees that cross state lines or travel out of state to conduct any work, then you should take a look at section 3A and 3C of your workers' compensation policy.
Section 3C can be found under Part Three- Other States Insurance, and is basically a catch-all statement informing an insured where the policy can extend temporary coverage. Often times, this is a list of the states where the insurance company is authorized to provide coverage in that state. Section 3C really means that policy benefits can comply with state requirements when an employee is injured in that jurisdiction. This applies to employees injured while working temporarily in those states. It does not apply to employees who live or consitantly work in the those other states.
Section 3A appears under Part One- Information Page, of a workers' compensation insurance policy. This section lists the actual states where an employer has notified the insurance carrier that they need coverage in that state due to employees living or working there. In other words, states listed in section 3A are covered as primary states and the carrier is reporting such coverage to the state on behalf of the employer. Section 3A is what really matters in order to maintain compliance with state rules and have ongoing coverage under the policy and the laws of the states listed.
Why Can't my Local Agent get Coverage for me?
The vast majority of insurance agents do not have the ability to sell insurance in more than one or a handful of states. One reason they often can't sell coverage is because they are not licensed to do business in other states by the Department of Insurance or other regulatory body. A second reason agents can't offer other states coverage is because they may not be authorized by the insurance carrier/carriers they are appointed with to write insurance outside of one or a few surrounding states.
It takes a certain level of sophistication and size in order to fully grasp the
nuances between states regulations and coverages. Many regional insurance companies are also limited to fewer than 20 or so states because they are not approved by the state to sell workers comp coverage in every state.
Buy Workers
Compensation Out of State
Workers Compensation Shop.com is a national insurance firm specializing in multi-state and out of state coverage. We often work with
employers when they need to procure primary coverage in two or more states. Many of our customers are national and regional franchise owners, medium to large businesses or they are specialized industries who travel out of state for large jobs and/or have employees who live and work in several states.
We work with numerous national and regional insurance companies with regard to workers compensation throughout the United States.
Learn more about Multi-State Workers Compensation Coverage.
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