Medical care
Treatment for a work-related injury or illness, with nothing for the employee to pay.
What to watchBenefits are set by state law, not by the policy.
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Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation insurance
Workers' compensation insurance pays medical care and lost wages for employees who are injured or made ill by their work. Minnesota and most other states require almost every employer to carry it.
Who needs it
If you have an employee, you almost certainly need it. Minnesota requires it from the first hire, with narrow exceptions.
- Every employer with employees on payroll, full-time or part-time
- Production companies and agencies hiring crew and freelancers
- Businesses whose contracts require proof of workers' compensation
- Owners who want to cover themselves, where the state allows
- Businesses with employees working in more than one state
What it covers
What is covered, and what to watch
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every insurance company's policy is different.
Lost wages
A portion of wages while the employee cannot work.
What to watchWaiting periods and percentages vary by state.
Lasting injuries and retraining
Benefits for permanent impairment and for retraining when someone cannot return to their old job.
What to watchSet by law. The insurer manages the claim; the law sets what is owed.
Death benefits
Payments to dependents after a fatal injury.
What to watchSet by law, as above.
Protection for the employer
Lawyers and damages if an employee sues the business outside the workers' compensation system.
What to watchHas a limit. Contracts often require $1 million. An umbrella policy can sit above it.
Other states
Coverage for employees working temporarily in states listed on the policy.
What to watchA few states (Ohio, Washington, Wyoming and North Dakota) require coverage from a state fund instead.
How we work
An independent agency, so the policy fits you and not the other way around
Many insurance companies, one agent
We are appointed with national and specialty companies, so your policy goes where it fits rather than where we happen to have a contract. See who we work with.
Plain English, line by line
Send your current policy and we compare it with what we would offer: what we would keep, what we would change, and why, in writing.
Nothing changes until you say so
No coverage starts and no policy changes until a licensed agent confirms it with you in writing. You always know what you have. How we work, in full.
Exclusions
What it does not cover
- Contractors who genuinely run their own business (treating an employee as a contractor is a common and costly mistake)
- Injuries that did not happen in the course of work
- Owners and officers who have chosen to exclude themselves, where allowed
- Employees in states not listed on the policy
- Deliberate self-injury, and injuries caused by intoxication, in most states
Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry enforces the requirement, and operating without coverage carries significant penalties. If you are unsure whether someone counts as an employee, ask before you decide not to cover them.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01Payroll and job typesTell us what each person does. The kind of work drives the price.
- 02Confirm the statesWhere employees live and work, including temporary travel.
- 03Check who the employer of record isIf a payroll service is the legal employer, the policy may sit with them.
- 04Keep payroll records tidyThe insurer checks actual payroll at the end of the year and adjusts the price. Clean records make that painless.
Common questions
Does Minnesota require workers' compensation?
Yes. With narrow exceptions, every employer with employees must carry it, whether the employees are full-time or part-time. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry runs the system.
I only use contractors. Am I exempt?
Only if they are genuinely independent under the state's tests. Many freelancers on a set or in an office count as employees in the eyes of the law, and the employer bears the cost of getting it wrong.
I use a payroll company for my crew. Do I still need a policy?
If the payroll company is the legal employer of record, it typically carries the coverage for those workers. You may still need a policy for anyone it does not cover, including office staff. Ask who the employer of record is before you buy.
The quote mentions an experience modifier. What is it?
A number applied to your price based on your past claims compared with similar businesses. Below 1.0 lowers the price; above 1.0 raises it. Safety programs and prompt claim handling improve it over time.
Can owners be covered?
Often, by choice. Owners of LLCs and corporate officers can usually include or exclude themselves depending on the state. Excluding yourself saves money and removes your benefits; it is a real trade-off.
Related
Often placed alongside
General liability
Covers injuries and property damage your business causes to others, and satisfies the proof of insurance landlords and clients ask for.
General liabilityCommercial auto
Covers business-owned vehicles, plus your liability for rented vehicles and employees driving their own cars for work.
Commercial autoBusiness owner's policy
Bundles general liability, property insurance and lost income coverage into one policy for small and mid-size businesses.
Business owner's policyGet a quote
The online application takes a few minutes for standard business lines. If there is a wrinkle, call or email and we will tell you what we need.