Montana, Illinois fare better in states' rate ranking

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services' latest report shows where each state and the District of Columbia place on the national listing.

Alaska is number one while Connecticut is number two on the latest ranking of jurisdictions by workers' comp rates. Overall, the median state value for 2012 is $1.88 per $100 of payroll -- down 8 percent from the $2.04 median in the 2010 study. The index rate includes one jurisdiction in the $3-$3.49 range; seven in the $2.50-$2.99 grouping; 11 between $2 and $2.49; 22 in the $1.59-$1.99 category; and 10 below $1.50.North Dakota and Indiana once again had the least expensive rates in the nation.

The 2010 report prompted calls for workers' comp reform in several states, including Illinois and Montana. Montana, which ranked as the most expensive state in the last study, moved to the number 8 position on the latest list. Illinois moved from third to fourth most expensive.

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Connecticut went from sixth to second on the list; California moved from fifth to third place, and New York went from 13th most expensive to fifth.

Several other jurisdictions were notable for their movements on the list. Washington moved from 26th to 13th most expensive; Louisiana went from 25th to 15th on the list; and Florida moved from 40th to 29th most expensive. On the other hand, Alabama moved from 10th to 21st, Ohio moved from 17th to 28th, Texas moved from 12th to 38th, and Nevada moved from 21st to 46th.

Oregon has conducted the study every other year since 1986. It is based on surveys of insurance regulators and workers' comp rating bureaus in the 51 jurisdictions.

"You're beginning to see rankings tighten as states adopt the types of reforms that Oregon pioneered years ago," said DCBS Director Patrick Allen. Oregon, which had among the highest rates in the nation when the first study was conducted, is now ranked 39th.

Read more at the WorkersComp Forum homepage.

November 12, 2012

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