How to Apply for Workers Compensation Insurance in California
Workers' compensation insurance assists employees who get injured or become ill because of their job. For example, falling off of a ladder at a construction job, or losing the ability to hear because of loud noise in a factory.These injuries would be considered eligible for workers' compensation claims. Employers in California are required to provide and pay for workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation pays for rehabilitation, temporary and permanent disability, medical care, and death benefits. All employers must purchase workers' comp insurance from either a licensed insurance company or from the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF). Employers may also be able to self-insure for workers' compensation.
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Instructions
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State Compensation Insurance Fund
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Obtain coverage through the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF), a non-profit division of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Download an application from the State Fund website or request that one be mailed to you. An application is listed below under Resources.
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Fill the application out completely and sign it. Mail or bring to a State Fund regional office. The office locations are on the State Fund website. A link to the regional offices is provided under Resources.
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Have a physical inspection. A field officer from State Fund must physically inspect your work location before an insurance quote can be issued.
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Gain approval and pay for your policy. If you pay your deposit with a cashier's check, you could be issued a certificate of insurance that same day. If you pay with a personal check, you will have to wait until it clears before the fund will issue an insurance certificate.
Licensed Insurers and Self-Insurance
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Compare licensed insurers. A valuable consumer tool is available on the California Department of insurance's (CDI) website which gives an online rate comparison of the top 50 workers' compensation insurers in the state.
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Obtain coverage directly from a licensed insurance company or through a broker. Call Insurance Brokers and Agents of the West (IBA West) at 1-800-772-8998 and they will help you to select a company for your workers' compensation insurance.
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Request self-insurance (very large businesses only). Large businesses may become self-insured by obtaining a certificate from the California Department of Industrial Relations, Office of Self-Insurance Plans. These businesses have to make special arrangements and post security with the state before being granted a certificate of consent to self-insure.
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Tips & Warnings
If you need immediate coverage, bring your completed application to a regional State Fund office by 3 p.m. for expedited service.
References
Resources
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