Overview of Workers’ Comp Insurance in Florida
With a few exceptions, most companies buy workers’ compensation insurance to pay for injuries that employees get on the job.The law requires most businesses in Florida to purchase workers’ comp insurance. A workers’ compensation program pays workers for injuries they sustain on the job, regardless of who is at fault. Its coverage safeguards organizations from specific work-related injury claims.
The Division of Laborers’ Compensation in the Department of Financial Services ensures laborers receive the appropriate benefits under this plan in Florida. These benefits may encompass compensation for medical expenses, disability, or mortality. In Florida, over 250 insurance companies offer workers’ compensation insurance.
Is Florida Workers’ Compensation insurance required?
Workers’ compensation insurance is a must for most businesses in Florida with four or more staff.
Every real estate company needs to have workers’ comp insurance for all their employees, contractors, and people who work for themselves.
Florida also has rules for people who want to work in agriculture. You need to offer workers’ compensation if your business has at least six full-time workers, 12 contract workers who work more than 30 days a year, or both.
You might also need workers’ comp where you work or to get specific business licenses and permits. For instance, Florida’s standards for a general contractor license include showing proof of workers’ compensation insurance.
Why is workers’ comp insurance so important for Florida businesses?
Workers’ compensation insurance is very important for small businesses because it pays for injuries on the job and provides disability payments and medical bills. In the event of a tragedy at work, it can pay for the funeral and give the family of the deceased death benefits.
By regulating this insurance coverage, Florida officials encourage businesses to keep employees safe while also lowering the chance of litigation against business owners. This means that your small business insurance can:
If an employee is injured, cover their medical expenses and lost income.
Employers must cover legal costs if an employee files a lawsuit due to a work-related accident or illness, as workers’ compensation includes liability insurance.
Comply with the applicable workers’ compensation laws.
Different insurance companies assist businesses from many industries in comparing estimates and purchasing Florida workers’ compensation insurance plans. We can help you locate the right coverage for your business, whether it’s a dental practice, photography studio, convenience shop, or something else.
How does workers’ comp insurance work in Florida?
Your workers’ compensation insurance can help you pay vital benefits, such as medical expenses, if your employees suffer a job-related injury or illness. This encompasses ongoing therapies, such as physical therapy, and care for repetitive stress injuries.
If your employees sustain an injury or illness and need time off to recover, this coverage also helps replace lost earnings. It can also help cover a permanent disability that keeps your employee from returning to work. It will even help cover funeral costs if a job-related accident causes an employee’s death.
What does Florida Workers’ Compensation cover?
Workers’ comp can help cover the costs associated with workplace injuries for both employees and business owners.
If you or an employee suffers an injury on the job, Florida workers’ compensation coverage may provide financial aid for:
- Medical costs and emergency care
- Income and Lost Benefits
- Death Benefits
- If you are unable to execute your duties, you may need retraining
- Permanent injury.
- A short period of disability
Assume you are the proprietor of a small plumbing business. An employee suffers a cranial injury while on the job and goes to the emergency department. Workers’ compensation may cover emergency medical fees up to the insurance limit.
Workers’ compensation does not cover incidences that are not occupational or instances in which the injured individual violates corporate policies, engages in misconduct, or drinks alcohol or drugs.
Who needs workers’ comp insurance in Florida?
Florida law states that workers’ comp insurance is required when a business has four or more full-time or part-time employees.
There are unique considerations for some personnel, including company officers.
- Sole proprietors & partners are exempt from the workers’ compensation law but can obtain coverage by filing for an election of coverage.
- Workers’ compensation insurance is highly mandatory for all employees, including contractors, in construction enterprises. If each corporate officer can demonstrate ownership of at least 10% of the company, they may be exempt. Furthermore, contractors are accountable for guaranteeing that their subcontractor provides insurance coverage for their employees.
- Agricultural firms with six or more permanent employees and twelve or more seasonal employees working for more than 30 days must have insurance coverage.
- Non-construction businesses with at least four workers. This includes business owners who are corporate officers or LLC members.
- Out-of-state employers with workers in Florida need a workers’ comp policy with an approved insurance carrier.
- Contractors need to ensure workers’ compensation for self-employed or independent contractors at the start of a project in the state.
- Florida’s Division of Workers’ Compensation within the Department of Financial Services can give you more details on the state’s requirements.
Do part-time employees require workers’ compensation, then? Yes, provided that they don’t fit under any of the three exceptions above. Independent contractors are not regarded as employees unless they work in the construction business, and their employers are not obligated to suggest workers’ compensation insurance.
Do you need workers’ comp if you are self-employed?
Whether or not sole proprietors, independent contractors, and other self-employed individuals need workers’ compensation insurance depends on the type of work they do.
Workers’ comp insurance is mandatory for self-employed workers in the construction industry in the state of Florida. Even if you work in a low-risk industry and don’t have any employees, it may still be wise to consider getting coverage.
If you suffer an injury at work, workers’ comp coverage can help you out just like a seasoned financial professional by paying for lost wages and other costs that your regular medical insurance may not be able to cover.
Florida workers’ comp proof of coverage
Clients may also request proof of coverage before finalizing a contract with you.
With different insurance companies, you can quickly secure the coverage and certificate of insurance you need to meet any license or bid requirement.
A workers’ comp policy is optional for businesses with three or fewer employees. Without coverage, you may be held responsible for costs in the unfortunate event of an injury to you or one of your employees while on the job.
Receive an immediate quote.
How much does workers’ comp insurance cost in Florida?
Workers’ compensation in Florida costs an average of $54 per month.
There are several factors that affect your workers’ compensation premium, including:
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Industry and risk factors
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Payroll
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Location, such as downtown Miami or Orlando
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Claims history
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Number of employees
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Coverage limits
The cost of workman’s comp insurance is calculated per $100 of payroll with this formula:
Your state determines your classification code, depending on the type of work your employees do. Your state will also determine your experience modification number by comparing your company to others in your industry.
Contact your insurance company or get a workers’ compensation quote from us today to learn more.
When you pay $100 in wages, salary costs usually run between $1.50 and $2. For example, if your yearly payroll is $200,000, you can expect to pay between $250 and $330 monthly for your workers’ compensation coverage.
Kinds of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
Should one of your employees sustain an injury or illness at work, workers’ compensation insurance will assist in covering their medical expenses. Most states require this kind of insurance, and it’s the employer’s job to buy and give it to their workers.
Benefits from workers’ compensation insurance typically assist employees by:
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Treatments for an illness
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Assistance for the disabled
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Rehabilitation for work
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Death and events for the funeral
Different kinds of workers’ compensation Most insurance companies don’t offer different workers’ compensation plans. Usually, in the field, it is the state fund workers’ compensation plan or the workers’ compensation plan you can get from an insurance company. Though some companies, like The Hartford, offer add-ons to make coverage last longer, your benefits and coverage standards may differ depending on your state.
Getting medical care
If one of your employees gets sick or hurt at work, they can claim workers’ compensation to earn money to pay for their medical bills. This could assist in covering their medical expenses.
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Going to the doctor
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I have visited the hospital and emergency room.
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Prescription drugs
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Therapy and getting better
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Equipment for recovery
Your worker may need ongoing care to help them get better after a more severe illness or accident. Workers’ compensation will usually cover these costs, but it may not cover some types of outside care, such as
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Using acupuncture
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Treatment with naturopathy
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Medicine made from plants
Workers’ compensation can still help your employee if an illness or injury leads to another health problem. One of your workers hurts his ankle when he trips over an office chair. He limps because he injured his ankle, which hurts his back. Since he broke his back because of the ankle injury, workers’ compensation can help pay for his care.
Benefits of Workers’ Comp Income in Florida
Worker’s compensation income benefits in Florida comprise one of three alternatives. The Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation establishes the utmost annual compensation:
Temporary total disability indicates that a doctor has determined that the wounded individual cannot work due to a workplace injury. They can get up to two-thirds of their average regular weekly wage for a maximum of 104 weeks.
Permanent impairment occurs when a doctor evaluates an injury that will not recover appreciably. Employees could get up to 75% of their temporary disability rate. The Florida Department of Financial Services’ calculator can estimate benefits.
Employees with a permanent, complete disability cannot work. Up to 2/3 of the person’s average weekly earnings will be reimbursed until 75 years old.
Workers’ comp death benefits in Florida under law
If a worker’s death is due to a work-related injury within a year or five years of continuous disability, their survivors may be eligible for death benefits. The deceased employee’s family may be eligible for:
- Up to $7,500 for funeral expenses.
- Education benefits a surviving spouse.
- Dependents can get up to $150,000 in compensation benefits (up to 66.67% of the decedent’s weekly earnings). Learn more about worker compensation coverage.
What if you don’t have Workers’ Comp insurance in Florida?
The Division of Workers’ Compensation may enforce a stop-work order if required to provide workers’ compensation. The state’s data indicates that stop-work orders are issued approximately 2,500 times annually, or an average of nearly seven times daily.
Until it complies, any business that receives a stop-work order must cease. In certain instances, the predicted workers’ compensation insurance costs may be subject to a penalty of double the amount for two years.
If Florida laws do not mandate the provision of workers’ compensation, employees may still file a lawsuit to recover medical costs or lost wages due to a workplace injury.
What if you don’t have Workers’ comp insurance in Florida?
The Division of Workers’ Comp may enforce a stop-work order if required to provide workers’ comp. The state’s data indicates that stop-work orders are issued approximately 2,500 times annually, or an average of nearly seven times daily.
Only when it complies will any business that receives a stop-work order cease. In certain instances, the predicted workers’ comp insurance costs may be subject to a penalty of double the amount for two years.
Suppose Florida laws do not mandate the provision of workers’ comp. In that case, employees may still file a lawsuit to cover medical expenses or lost wages due to a workplace injury.
Workers’ Compensation Settlements in Florida
An employee might sometimes try to get more substantial workers’ compensation.
If a hurt worker wants to take their claim to a more significant settlement meeting, their boss should stay in on the conversation to keep them from being sued if one happens.
Before paying out on a claim, the insurance company will ask the worker and his or her lawyer to determine the expected costs.
After all this math, the insurance company won’t just pay a payment. The insurance company and the employee’s lawyer will often talk things over for a while before coming to an agreement that works for everyone. If they can’t agree, there might be a court case or hearing.
Common claims for Workers Comp Insurance in Florida
In Florida, there are more accidents and injuries at work. Businesses can make the workplace safer by taking preventative steps and learning about these common claims. The following are some of the most common workers’ comp claims in Florida:
When people slip and fall
Slip-and-fall accidents can occur at any workplace, from offices to construction sites. Employers should prioritize keeping the workplace clean and free of hazards to reduce the chance of these accidents.
Accidents with cars
People who have to drive a lot for work, like delivery or truck drivers, are more likely to be in car crashes. Employers should prioritize driver training, set up safety rules, and encourage safe driving habits to lower the chance of accidents.
Accidents with machinery
Machinery accidents can happen to people working with machines, like those working in factories or building sites. These accidents are less likely to occur if employers ensure their workers get the proper training, keep their equipment in good shape, and follow safety rules.
Florida Division of Workers Compensation
The goal is to give everyone who wants to or already does work in the Florida workers’ compensation system the tools and information they need to do so. Here, ensure businesses, healthcare providers, and insurance companies in Florida follow the rules and laws for workers’ compensation.
- Employers: Employer Resources & Information.
- Employee: Support for wounded workers in Florida.
- Insurance firms, self-insureds, and QSEs are examples of carriers.
- Providers: Details for medical professionals in Florida.
- EDIClaims: Proof of Coverage (EDI and Medical).
Conclusion
Florida business owners must have workers’ comp insurance to protect their employees. If you follow the law and put your employees’ health and safety first, this insurance protects your workers and business.
If an accident or illness happens at work, workers’ compensation insurance will ensure your employees get the medical care, financial help, and recovery services they need. This shows that you care about their well-being and creates a positive work environment that boosts morale and helps you keep employees.
To protect yourself, do something today and get workers’ compensation insurance in Florida. Make sure your workers are safe, your business is secure, and the future is bright.