Workers Comp Markets Are In 14 States
The best Workers Comp markets in the US exist in 14 states. According to an annual R Street policy study, these 14 states had the best Workers Comp markets (scored 10 of 10):
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Nebraska
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
The states that scored the lowest (4.3 or lower of 10) were:
- Idaho
- Maine
- Montana
- North Dakota (fourth lowest with 2.9 score)
- Ohio (tied 2nd lowest with 2.1)
- Rhode Island
- Washington (lowest score of zero)
- Wyoming (tied 2nd lowest with 2.1)
WC was a small subset of the larger study on the overall insurance market comparisons. The WC section begins on page 25 of the study.
Standard deviations were used heavily with points added to and subtracted from the national norms (means).
One would expect the states that allow no competition to score the lowest. A large amount of weight was given to having only one insurer in the state.
The measurements used in the study were:
- Concentration – number of carriers supplying coverage, monopolistic funds were seen as overly concentrated
- Residual – availability of insurers of last resort or state funds,
- Loss Ratio – as compared to the national average
I do agree with the study as to the extent of measuring market competitiveness. Workers comp markets only covered 10% of the total study. The study is one to download and read for more than just the WC numbers.
The study was very thorough even if some numbers/scores were determined arbitrarily.
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