Click on the state in order to see the workers’ compensation rules for that state.
Alabama
Businesses with five or more employees must carry coverage. With corporations or LLCs, officers and members are counted as employees. If there are more than four employees, workers’ compensation insurance is required.
Details/Exceptions:
Coverage isn’t required for businesses with four or fewer regular employees (full-time or part-time), other than businesses constructing or assisting on-site in the construction of new single-family, detached residential dwellings. Employers of household/domestic employees, farm laborers, or casual employees aren’t required to provide coverage, but have the option to. Sole proprietors can opt out of carrying coverage.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure. Alabama doesn’t have state-administered fund.
Visit: Alabama Department of Labor
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 171,600 | 43,300 Flat | 3/1/2017 |
Alabama
Alaska
Employers with one or more employees must have workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, executive officers in a nonprofit corporation, members in a member-managed LLC, part-time babysitters, non-commercial cleaners, harvest help and similar part-time/transient help, sports officials for amateur events, contract entertainers, commercial fishers, and taxi drivers whose compensation is by contractual arrangement are exempt. Executive officers in a for-profit corporation may choose to exclude themselves.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier or through Alaska’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 26,000 | 104,000 | 33,600 Flat | 3/11/2017 |
Alaska
Arizona
Mandatory for any business (including sole proprietors) that regularly hires or employs at least one employee, regardless of the number or type of workers (whether part-time, full-time, minors, aliens, or family members).
Details/Exceptions:
Coverage isn’t required for working partners, independent contractors, casual workers, or domestic servants working in your home. Sole proprietors can opt out of coverage if they don’t have employees, but can also choose to carry coverage.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Industrial Commission of Arizona
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 54,600 | 23,600 | 55,512 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
Arizona
Arkansas
Most employers with three or more employees must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Employers with two or fewer employees, farm laborers, and real estate agents. There are exceptions to the three-or-more requirement, so employers with fewer than three should check with authorities before assuming they do not fall under the workers’ compensation laws.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 161,200 | 40,500 Flat | 7/1/2017 |
Arkansas
California
All employers and work situations, even those with just one employee, including corporate officers and directors, must carry coverage. If you’re an out-of-state employer you might need workers’ compensation coverage for any employees regularly working in California, or if you enter into a contract of employment.
Details/Exceptions:
Executive officers and directors of corporations must be included in workers’ compensation coverage, unless the corporation is fully owned by the directors and officers. If the directors and officers fully own the corporation, they can choose to be excluded from coverage. Sole proprietors without employees can opt out of coverage.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or through California’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: California Department of Industrial Relations
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 50,700 | 128,700 | 128,700 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
California
Colorado
All employers with one or more employees, whether full- or part-time. Anyone hired to perform services for pay is considered an employee.
Details/Exceptions:
Exemptions include casual maintenance or repair work for a business for less than $2,000 per calendar year, private domestic and maintenance/repair workers not working full-time, real estate agents and brokers paid by commission, independent contractors (with no employees), and drivers working with a contract carrier. Sole proprietors can purchase workers’ compensation insurance for themselves, but are not required to. A corporate officer of a corporation or a member of an LLC may choose to exclude themselves from coverage.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 53,700 Flat | 53,700 Flat | 53,700 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
Colorado
Connecticut
All businesses with one or more employees (full-time, part-time, or contract) except those able to self-insure. Also included are uninsured subcontractors.
Details/Exceptions:
Corporate officers and members of multi-member LLCs are automatically included but may opt-out. Sole proprietors and single member LLCs may purchase it, but are not required to. Other exemptions include partnerships, who don’t have to cover themselves (but must provide coverage for employees). Employers or workers who work in or around a private home for 26 hours or less per week are also exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Connecticut
Delaware
Employers with one or more employees.
Details/Exceptions:
Farm workers are exempt from the workers’ compensation law, but employers may choose to provide coverage. Workers considered to be independent contractors, rather than employees, are also not covered.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Delaware Department of Labor
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 49,400 | 135,200 | 135,200 Flat | 12/1/2016 |
Delaware
District of Columbia
Employers with one or more employees.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors are not required to unless they have employees, but can choose to purchase coverage for themselves. Homeowners are required to have coverage for domestic workers if one or more works at least 240 hours during any calendar quarter in the same or previous year.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: DC Department of Employment Services
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 75,400 | 306,800 | 76,300 Flat | 11/1/2017 |
D.C.
Florida
Construction businesses with one or more employees and non-construction industry employers with four or more employees (full-time or part-time, including corporate officers and LLC members) must carry coverage. Agricultural businesses with six or more regular employees and/or 12 or more seasonal employees who work for more than 30 days must carry coverage. Sub-contractors are responsible for providing coverage for their workers, but primary contractors are responsible for ensuring that the sub-contractor has it. Out-of-state employers must immediately notify their carrier that they have employees working in Florida, carry a Florida workers’ compensation policy, or have the out-of-state policy include Florida.
Details/Exceptions:
Corporate officers are considered employees, unless they choose to exempt themselves from coverage. Sole proprietors and partners in the non-construction industry are not considered to be employees unless they choose to be. Members of an LLC will be considered as corporate officers/employees, unless they choose to be exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 130,000 | 43,800 Flat | 1/1/2016 |
Florida
Georgia
Employers (including individuals, firms, associations, or corporations) of three or more people are required to carry coverage. Exempted officers of corporations or members of LLCs are counted as employees. Contractors who sub-contract any part of their work might be liable for coverage for the subcontractor’s employees if the subcontractor lacks coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Georgia considers sole proprietors and partners to be employers (not employees), so they’re exempt, but can choose to be covered as an employee by advising their insurance carrier.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: State Board of Workers’ Compensation
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 49,400 | 202,800 | 50,200 Flat | 3/1/2017 |
Georgia
Hawaii
Any employer with one or more employees (full- or part-time, permanent or temporary) must carry coverage. LLC members must also be covered.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and partners are excluded, but can choose to cover themselves. Other exemptions include domestic workers earning less than $225 per calendar quarter, some 25-percent stockholders and all 50-percent stockholders, and real estate salespeople paid by commission. Employers can choose to cover any excluded employees.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 166,400 | 42,200 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
Hawaii
Idaho
Employers with one or more full- or part-time, seasonal, or occasional employees are required to have workers’ compensation coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors are exempt, but can choose to cover themselves. Other exemptions include household/domestic workers, sole proprietors who employ family members that live in their household (certain family member employees of a sole proprietor employer who don’t live in the same household as the employer can be exempt), pilots of agricultural planes, real estate salespeople paid by commission, and casual employees whose work occurs occasionally or at irregular times (and is not related to the type of business conducted by the employer).
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Idaho’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Idaho Industrial Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 39,000 | 150,800 | 13,000 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
Idaho
Illinois
Required in nearly every work situation and for every employer, even those with one part-time employee. If your business is in construction, trucking at a construction site, or other hazardous fields, in almost every instance Illinois requires employers to obtain insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors (with no employees) are exempt but can choose purchase insurance themselves. Employees who are family members must also be insured unless they are corporate officers, work for an agricultural business that employs less than 400 days of labor per year, or are immediate family members who live with the employer.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 57,200 | 223,600 | 56,200 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Illinois
Indiana
All employees must be covered.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded from coverage, but can choose to be included. Corporate officers are included but can choose to be exempt. Independent contractors in the building and construction trades must be certified with the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Board. Independent contractors’ injuries are not covered by workers’ compensation.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Workers’ Compensation Board of Indiana
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 39,000 | 176,800 | 176,800 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Indiana
Iowa
Most employers are required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and LLC members are not required to be covered, but may choose to cover themselves. Exempt and non-covered employees include domestic/casual workers who make under $1,500 from their employer during the 12 consecutive months before injury, agricultural workers whose employer has a cash payroll of less than $2,500 in the calendar year before the injury, agricultural exchange labor, and officers of a family farm corporation (as well as their spouse, parents, brothers, sisters, children, stepchildren and spouses of those family members).
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 23,400 | 176,800 | 176,800 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Iowa
Kansas
Mandatory for all employers with employees with gross payroll over $20,000 (paid in Kansas or elsewhere and including executive officers), with some exceptions. Sole proprietors’ and partnership wages paid to owners and owners’ family members are not counted toward the total payroll.
Details/Exceptions:
Agricultural employers and those with annual gross payroll under $20,000. Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are exempt, but can choose to be included. Independent contractors with no employees may choose to be exempt from carrying insurance, but those with employees and payroll exceeding total gross payroll of $20,000 must provide coverage. Family members that are not true owners of a company, or do not own 10 percent of the business, must be included in the coverage and cannot choose to be excluded.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Kansas Department of Labor
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 176,000 | 43,700 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Kansas
Kentucky
All employers with one or more employees, regardless of employee status
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded from coverage, but can choose to cover themselves. Exceptions include farm workers, domestic servants in a home with fewer than two full-time employees, and employees protected by federal laws (railroad and maritime workers). Independent contractors aren’t covered unless they have their own policy.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Kentucky’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Kentucky Department of Insurance
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 171,600 | 43,400 Flat | 10/1/2017 |
Kentucky
Louisiana
All employers must provide workers compensation insurance for their employees (whether part-time, contractors, or full-time).
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, and LLC members are included, but can choose to be excluded. Exemptions include dusting/spraying airplane crews, real estate brokers and agents, musicians and performers, employees covered federally, unpaid officers and board members of certain nonprofit organizations, and people whose work includes the exploration, development, production, or transportation of minerals.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Louisiana’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Louisiana Workforce Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 46,800 | 135,200 | 45,600 Flat | 5/1/2017 |
Louisiana
Maine
Any business with one or more employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Independent contractors don’t count as employees, but if contractors employ subcontractors, subcontractors must be covered.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded but can choose to include themselves. Other exemptions include employers of domestic servants, employers of casual or seasonal laborers in agriculture/aquaculture businesses (but they must have $25,000 in liability insurance and $5,000 in medical payments coverage), and employers of six or less agriculture/aquaculture employees (must have liability insurance of $100,000 for each full-time equivalent employee and at least $5,000 minimum in medical payments coverage).
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Maine’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Maine Workers’ Compensation Board
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 166,400 | 41,100 Flat | 4/1/2017 |
Maine
Maryland
Every employer with one or more employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance, with a few exceptions.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors are excluded from requiring mandatory coverage, but can choose to include themselves in their policy. Agricultural employers with less than three full-time employees or an annual payroll for full-time employees below $15,000 are exempt. Agricultural office workers, independent contractors on farms (other than migrant laborers), and owner-operators of large tractor-trailer vehicles are also exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Maryland’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 54,600 | 218,400 | 54,700 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Maryland
Massachusetts
All businesses must carry workers’ compensation insurance, including owners considered employees, regardless of the number of hours worked. Employees in domestic service must be covered if they work 16 or more hours per week.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are not required to carry coverage for themselves, but may choose to be covered under their policy. Other exemptions include workers engaged in interstate/international commerce, salespeople working in real estate or consumer goods paid by commission, taxi drivers who lease their cabs on a fee basis not related to fares (and who are not employees under federal tax law), people working in interstate/international commerce who are covered by federal law for compensation for injury or death.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 10,920 | 55,120 | 48,700 Flat | 10/1/2017 |
Massachusetts
Michigan
All businesses with one or more employees are required to carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Employees of a sole proprietorship are covered by the Workers’ Disability Compensation Act, but the sole proprietor (the business owner) is self-employed, not considered to be an employee, and not covered. Under certain circumstances named partners and corporate officers who are also shareholders of small, closely-held corporations may exempt themselves from coverage. Certain family members of an employer may also be exempt. Virtually all other employers and employees are subject to the law.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Michigan’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Michigan Workers’ Compensation Agency
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 25,116 | 98,800 | 19,800 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Michigan
Kentucky
All employers are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage to all employees, including non-US citizens and minors.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, some managers of LLCs, officers of closely held corporations and certain relatives are excluded from compulsory coverage, but may choose to be included in their policy. Employers covered by federal liability laws are exempt, and so are family farm operations, with some restrictions.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 53,352 | 213,408 | 213,408 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
Minnesota
Mississippi
All employers with five regular employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers don’t count toward the employee total if they choose to not cover themselves. Employers with less than five employees or domestic or farm laborers are not required to have coverage but may be choose to provide it. Independent contractors are usually excluded from coverage but protection is given to employees of subcontractors.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Mississippi Workers Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 36,400 | 119,600 | 36,600 Flat | 3/1/2017 |
Mississippi
Missouri
Employers with five or more employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage. All construction businesses with one or more employees (including part-time, full-time, temporary, and seasonal) require coverage. Corporate officers count toward the employee total.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and partners are excluded from requiring coverage, but can choose to be covered. Close family member-employees and members of LLCs are covered unless they opt out. Other exemptions include farm laborers, domestic servants, real estate salespeople, and commercial motor-carrier owner/operators.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Missouri Department of Labor
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,100 | 41,100 | 41,100 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Missouri
Montana
All employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for all employees. Businesses in the construction industry must provide coverage for all employees, both resident and nonresident, if and while they work in Montana.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors can exclude themselves from coverage, but may choose to be included. Contractors don’t have to be covered under a business’ workers’ compensation policy, but must provide proof that they are a certified independent contractor. Without proof, your business might be held responsible for their injuries. Other exceptions include domestic/household workers, casual/infrequent employees, freelancers, newspaper carriers, licensed barbers or cosmetologists who contract with cosmetology establishments, petroleum land professionals, and real estate, securities, and insurance salespersons paid by commission.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Montana’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Montana Department of Labor and Industry
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 10,400 | 59,904 | 59,904Flat | 7/1/2017 |
Montana
Nebraska
All employers (including contractors) with one or more employees (including part-time employees and minors) must have workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors with no employees are not required to carry coverage, but may choose to purchase coverage. Federal employees, railroad employees, most volunteers, and independent contractors are exempt, as are household/domestic servants and some employees of agricultural operations (unless the business chooses to provide coverage).
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 161,200 | 40,800 Flat | 2/1/2017 |
Nebraska
Nevada
All employers with at least one employee must carry coverage. Subcontractors, independent contractors, and their employees must also be covered (unless they’re independent enterprises). Construction businesses are required to have workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors without employees aren’t required to carry coverage, but can choose to carry coverage for themselves. Other exceptions include household/domestic workers, agricultural or horticultural labor, employment related to interstate commerce entities not subject to Nevada’s laws, employment covered by private disability and death benefit plans, employers working in Nevada temporarily and insured in another state (not including construction), and casual employees (lasting less than 20 days with a labor cost of under $500), among others.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Nevada Department of Business & Industry – Industrial Relations
** NV Sole proprietor or partner electing higher benefits: 21,600.
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 6,000 | 36,000 | 3,600 Flat | 7/1/1999 |
Nevada
New Hampshire
All employers with any employees (full- and part-time, and family members) must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Even non-profit organizations must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and self-employed individuals are not required to carry coverage for themselves, but may choose to. Business that use subcontractors must ensure they have coverage or could be held liable for any injuries to the subcontractor’s employee(s). Coverage is not mandatory for corporations or LLCs with three or fewer executive officers or members and no other employees, but remains optional. Once there’s a fourth officer or member, though, workers’ compensation must be obtained.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: New Hampshire Department of Labor
**** NH Officers of unincorporated Assc. MAX: 104,000. ***** State requires a signed waiver for officers to be excluded from coverage.
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 26,000 | 213,200 | 26,700 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
New Hampshire
New Jersey
Any business with one or more employees, and any employer not covered by federal programs must carry coverage. Out-of-state employers might need coverage if they enter a contract of employment in New Jersey or if any work is performed in New Jersey.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors with no employees are not required to carry coverage, but may choose to cover themselves.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 32,760 | 130,000 | 130,000 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
New Jersey
New Mexico
All businesses with three or more employees are required to have workers’ compensation insurance. Coverage may be purchased voluntarily if the business has fewer than three employees. Construction businesses must carry coverage regardless of their number of employees.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and are usually excluded from coverage, but can choose to cover themselves. Coverage is not required for domestic servants, real estate salespeople, or farm/ranch laborers. Executives or sole proprietors with a financial interest who are employed by a corporation or LLC can choose not to be covered, but the executive is still counted for determining the number of workers.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or New Mexico’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 166,400 | 41,400 Flat | 1/1/2017 |
New Mexico
New York
Virtually every employer is required to provide workers’ compensation insurance for all employees (including family members, part- and full-time workers, and leased employees).
Details/Exceptions:
Coverage isn’t required for sole proprietors or partners without employees, but they can purchase it for themselves.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or New York’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Vist: New York State Workers’ Compensation Board
* NY Construction codes MAX: 67,908;
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 35,100 | 106,600 | 106,600 Flat | 10/1/2016 |
New York
North Carolina
All employers with three or more employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance for all employees (including minors and undocumented workers). Any business in which one or more employees’ work involves the use or presence of radiation must have compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Employers with less than three employees. Corporate officers may choose to be excluded from insurance coverage, but are still counted in the employee count. Sole proprietors, LLC members, and partners are not automatically counted as an employee and may choose to be included. Agricultural employers are not required to carry workers’ compensation unless they have 10 or more non-seasonal agricultural workers. Domestic/household servants are exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: North Carolina Industrial Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 88,400 | 44,600 Flat | 4/1/2017 |
North Carolina
North Dakota
All employers must have workers’ compensation insurance for all employees (part-time, full-time, or seasonal) before hiring.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers have the option to cover themselves, but can choose not to. Farm and ranch labor, household/domestic workers, verified independent contractors and children (under age 22) of the employer are exempt.
Options:
The only workers’ compensation insurance available in North Dakota is through the state-administered fund. Self-insurance and private insurance are not permitted.
North Dakota
Ohio
All employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Coverage is optional for sole proprietors, partners, family farm corporate officers, LLCs acting as partnerships, an LLC acting as sole proprietor, and individuals incorporated as a corporation (with no employees).
Options:
The only workers’ compensation insurance option in Ohio is through the state-administered fund. Self-insurance and private insurance are not permitted.
Ohio
Oklahoma
All employers, even those with one part-time employee, must carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, LLCs, partners, and corporate officers can choose to cover themselves or be excluded. There is also a “family of five or fewer exemption,” where an employer with five or fewer total employees (all of whom are related by blood or marriage to the employer), are exempt. Some workers in agricultural/horticultural businesses, licensed real estate brokers, and most household/domestic workers are exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Oklahoma’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 176,800 | 43,900 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Oklahoma
Oregon
Employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors can purchase coverage for themselves, but are not required to.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Oregon’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 49,400 | 202,800 | 50,100 Flat | 1/1/2018 |
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Workers’ compensation insurance coverage is mandatory for all employers with one or more employees (regardless of employee status, number of hours worked per week or whether the employee is a spouse or child).
Details/Exceptions:
Coverage for sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers is optional. Licensed real estate salespeople or brokers, licensed insurance agents who work on a commission-only basis, domestic or casual laborers, outworkers, farmers with one employee who works less than 30 days a year or earns less than $1,200 a year, and a spouse or child of the farmer employer under eighteen years of age are exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Pennsylvania’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 50,856 | 127,400 | 127,400 Flat | 4/1/2017 |
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Employers with four or more employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Employers with three or fewer employees, sole proprietors, partners, and independent contractors. Some real estate, agricultural and domestic/household employees may be exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Rhode Island’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 49,400 | 197,600 | Not Covered | 4/1/2017 |
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Employers that employ four or more regular full-time or part-time employees are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Employees include adults, minors, and seasonal workers.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members aren’t automatically included in coverage, but may choose to include themselves in their policy. Agricultural employees, railroad/railway companies and their employees, and employers with a total annual payroll during the previous year below $3,000 (regardless of the number of employees) are exempt, as are textile hall corporations and some commission-paid real estate salespeople. If a subcontractor lacks coverage, their injured employees would be covered under the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 20,800 | 161,200 | 40,800 Flat | 9/1/2016 |
South Carolina
South Dakota
All employers must carry insurance, regardless of the number of employees.
Details/Exceptions:
Corporate officers and members of LLCs are included, but may choose to be excluded. Sole proprietors and partners are excluded, but may choose to be included. Domestic servants working under 20 hours per week and less than six weeks in any 13-week period, farm/agricultural laborers, independent contractors, real estate agents, and owner-operators of trucks certified as independent contractors are exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 39,000 | 156,000 | 39,600 Flat | 7/1/2017 |
South Dakota
Tennessee
Every employer in the construction or coal mining business or trades (regardless of the number of employees, including subcontractors), and every employer with five or more employees must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Family members and part-time employees are included when determining the number of employees. Corporate officers are also included in the count (even if excluded from coverage). Sole proprietors, LLC members, and partners are excluded but may choose to be included.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 46,800 | 187,200 | 46,200 Flat | 3/1/2017 |
Tennessee
Texas
Workers’ compensation insurance is optional for employers in Texas. Construction companies on contract for governmental entities, however, must have coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, and LLC members in are included under state coverage, but can choose to opt out. Employers not carrying insurance are non-subscribers and must notify employees, but could be liable in a civil suit. Workers have the legal right to file compensation claims if they think they have a genuine case and their employer refuses to pay benefits.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Texas’ state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Texas Department of Insurance
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 7,800 | 62,400 | 59,400 | 10/1/2017 |
Texas
Utah
All employers are required to carry coverage for employees. Directors, officers, and LLC members are considered employees. To exclude themselves from mandatory coverage, they must do so through an insurance company.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners and LLCs are not required to have coverage but may choose to be covered. General contractors must ensure their subcontractors (including sole proprietors, partners, and corporate officers) carry coverage. Businesses excluded from mandatory coverage include employers of agricultural laborers, casual or domestic workers, and real estate brokers.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or Utah’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 176,800 | 44,500 Flat | 12/1/2017 |
Utah
Vermont
All employers with one or more employees (full- or part-time) must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and partners may purchase coverage, but are not required to. Corporate officers and LLC members are included in coverage requirements, but may choose to be exempt. Businesses that work with independent contractors must determine in writing who’s responsible for insurance. If the independent contractor lacks coverage, your business will be responsible. Casual employees whose work is not for the purpose of the employer’s trade or business, and employees in agriculture/farming for an employer whose payroll is less than $10,000 in a calendar year are exempt.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Vermont Department of Labor
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 44,200 | 171,800 | 43,600 Flat | 4/1/2017 |
Vermont
Virginia
Employers who regularly employ two or more employees are required to carry coverage. Employees include part-time, seasonal and temporary workers, minors, trainees, immigrants, and working family members. Coverage is optional for businesses with fewer than two employees.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, and LLC members are excluded from mandatory coverage, but may choose to cover themselves with their policy. Independent contractors are not automatically eligible for workers’ compensation coverage, but if the independent contractor employs two or more full- or part-time employees, those workers are eligible.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Vist: Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 26,000 | 104,000 | 51,800 Flat | 4/1/2017 |
Virginia
Washington
All employers with one or more employees must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, and LLC members are excluded from mandatory coverage, but may choose to be included in their policy. Exemptions include domestic servants (but two or more employed regularly for over 40 hours/week must be covered), private residential gardeners and maintenance/repair workers, family farm laborers who are minors, musicians/entertainers at specific events, and cosmetologists/barbers who rent or lease their space.
Options:
Available through Washington’s state-administered fund and cannot be purchased from a private provider. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Washington
West Virginia
All employers must carry coverage, with some exceptions.
Details/Exceptions:
Independent contractors, agricultural employers with less than five employees, and casual employers with less than three workers are exempt. Sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, and corporate officers are all included in coverage, but can choose to be excluded. Other exemptions include domestic service employers, federally-covered employees, employers who are churches, and employers in organized professional sports (but coverage must be provided for employees who help run the business but do not participate in sporting activities).
Options:
Purchased from a commercial provider or West Virginia’s state-administered fund. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 41,600 | 161,200 | 40,800 Flat | 11/1/2017 |
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Employers with three or more full- or part-time employees must carry coverage.
Details/Exceptions:
Employers with fewer than three employees are exempt. Sole proprietors with no employees are not required to carry coverage, but may choose to cover themselves. Sole proprietors, LLC members, and partners don’t count toward the number of employees a business has, but corporate officers do (unless there are only two of them and the company has no other employees). Farmers who employ six or more workers on the same day for any 20 days during the calendar year must purchase insurance no later than ten days after the 20th day of employment. Out-of-state employers who have employees working in Wisconsin must have coverage, and the policy must be through an insurance company licensed in Wisconsin. Employers with one or more full- or part-time employees that have been paid combined gross wages of $500 or more in any calendar quarter for work done at one or more Wisconsin locations must have insurance by the 10th day of the first month of the next calendar quarter.
Options:
Purchased from a commercial carrier. Approved businesses may self-insure.
Visit: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
| Officer Min | Officer Max | Partner Max | Policy Eff. After |
| 14,975 | 74,984 | 49,972 | 10/1/2017 |
Wisconsin
Wyoming
All employers must have coverage for all employees. Employees include workers under any contract of hire (express or implied, oral or written) and also include minors, aliens authorized to work, and aliens the employer reasonably believes to be authorized to work.
Details/Exceptions:
Sole proprietors and partners are excluded from coverage for themselves. Corporate officers and LLC members may choose to be covered. Exemptions also include the following, who are not considered employees: casual laborers, independent contractors, spouses/dependents of an employer living in the employer’s household, individual child caregivers or babysitters whose wages are subsidized/paid by Wyoming’s department of family services, and private household/domestic employees, among others.
Options:
The only workers’ compensation insurance option in Wyoming is through the state-administered fund. Self-insurance and private insurance are not permitted.