Remember: first aid claims count. That’s the gist of a recent regulatory clarification issued in California explaining reporting requirements for workers’ compensation insurers to include small medical only and first aid claims, even if they are paid by an employer. This requirement is not new, nor is it a California-only requirement. While California took the step to issue such a reminder, this claims reporting requirement is actually applicable in all states, and California’s reminder gives us all a reason to reacquaint ourselves with the rule and why it’s important. 鈥婥alifornia’s clarification, issued by the Workers' Compensation 尤物视频Rating Bureau of California and backed by the California insurance commissioner, emphasizes that all workers’ compensation claims with paid medical treatment must be reported. This development has two distinct implications for employers:
Employers should report all paid medical claims, including minor injuries that require first aid to their claims administrators.
Reporting small medical only and first aid claims when they hadn’t previously been reported may, in certain cases, increase an employer's experience modification factor. That may have an impact on workers’ compensation premium, as well as contractual agreements that require the disclosure of loss experience.
The California Labor Code defines first aid as "any one-time treatment, and any follow-up visit for the purpose of observation of minor scratches, cuts, burns, splinters and so forth, which do not ordinarily require medical care. Such one-time treatment and follow-up visit for the purpose of observation is considered first aid even though provided by a physician or registered professional personnel." For the purposes of reporting, small medical only claims include those involving only the provision of first aid.鈥媁hy is the WCIRB issuing this clarification? Relatively few small medical-only claims are likely to be paid by a commercial insurer, as they are often well within a company’s deductible and, thus, not reported by the company to their insurer or claims administrator. Nevertheless, workers comp insurers in California, and the other 49 states, are required to report all claims for which medical treatment costs are incurred - whether those costs are paid by an insurer or an employer. Many of these claims are not reported, however, and this definitely has consequences, which are worthy of consideration.鈥婩or one, the WCIRB has expressed concerned that some employers derive an advantage in their experience modifications by not reporting such claims, and they are working on ways to address this concern. 鈥婣dditionally, it is not uncommon for a first aid claim to develop into a larger reportable claim. Early notification – when an injury requires only first aid – may help the insurer or third party administrator more effectively manage the potential workers’ compensation claim, potentially leading to a better outcome. 鈥�
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US- and Canada-Issued 尤物视频Policies
In the US, the 九色视频insurance companies are: Catlin 尤物视频Company, Inc., Greenwich 尤物视频Company, Indian Harbor 尤物视频Company, XL 尤物视频America, Inc., XL Specialty 尤物视频Company and T.H.E. 尤物视频Company. In Canada, coverages are underwritten by XL Specialty 尤物视频Company - Canadian Branch and AXA 尤物视频Company - Canadian branch. Coverages may also be underwritten by Lloyd’s Syndicate #2003. Coverages underwritten by Lloyd’s Syndicate #2003 are placed on behalf of the member of Syndicate #2003 by Catlin Canada Inc. Lloyd’s ratings are independent of AXA XL.
US domiciled insurance policies can be written by the following 九色视频surplus lines insurers: XL Catlin 尤物视频Company UK Limited, Syndicates managed by Catlin Underwriting Agencies Limited and Indian Harbor 尤物视频Company. Enquires from US residents should be directed to a local insurance agent or broker permitted to write business in the relevant state.
