Who is exempt from workers' compensation insurance?

A business that is exempt from state workers’ compensation laws does not need to provide this coverage to its employees. However, these exemptions are rare.

Most states require businesses to carry workers’ compensation for their employees. Only a few worker categories are sometimes exempt, such as agricultural workers and real estate agents. This exemption can also apply to certain types of business owners – sole proprietors, independent contractors, and members of limited liability companies (LLCs).

Even when workers’ compensation coverage is not required, it’s often in the employer’s best interest to provide coverage. If an employee is injured on the job, the employer could be held liable to pay for expenses associated with medical treatment, ongoing therapy, and lost wages.

In addition, if you get injured on the job, a workers' comp policy can help pay your medical expenses and provide part of the wages you lose during your temporary disability. Your personal health insurance provider might deny your claim if your injury is related to your work, which would leave you paying these bills on your own.

States often offer workers’ comp exemptions to businesses that employ few or no workers. Or they may waive employees who work minimal days a year or earn relatively little. For example:

• Agricultural workers
• Volunteers
• Government workers
• Real estate agents

Beyond exempt employees, there are a few exemptions for business owners. States often allow the following types of owners to opt out of their company’s workers’ comp coverage:

• Sole proprietors
• Partners
• Members of LLCs
• Corporate officers who own more than a certain percentage of company stock

Additionally, independent contractors, who are often hired to provide expertise or complete a project, are usually exempt from coverage if they do not classify as an employee.

By default, non-employees are often considered exempt from workers’ comp. However, some states may require paperwork to be filed for an exemption, so make sure to check your local laws. Additionally, an exemption cannot be filed for an employee who’s required to have workers’ compensation by law.

For example, assume you’re the owner of a real estate agency, operating as a sole proprietor. You employ 40 commissioned real estate agents and eight office clerical employees. In most states, your workers’ compensation obligations would be:

• You can apply for a sole proprietor exemption for yourself
• Your commissioned agents would be exempt because they’re independent contractors
• You must buy workers’ comp insurance for your eight clerical employees

Upon approval of your exemption, you’ll receive a certificate of election to be exempt.

One of the easiest ways to save money on your workers' compensation cost is to make sure that you are classifying your employees correctly. Not only will this help you avoid misclassifying fines, but employees who have a low risk of injury, such as those with desk jobs, generally cost less to insure.

In some cases, small business owners can secure workers’ compensation without paying hefty premiums. For example, a pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation policy provides the same type of workers’ comp coverage as a traditional plan, but with flexible premiums that change throughout the year.

Similarly, a minimum premium workers’ comp policy offers the lowest premium amount an insurance carrier will sell a policy in order to cover its costs. This is ideal for businesses that are considered a low risk for workers’ comp claims and have very few employees.

For business owners exempt from workers’ comp requirements in their state, some may qualify for a workers' comp ghost policy. This type of policy can help self-employed individuals provide a COI without paying for a full workers’ comp policy.

Across all types of business structures, having an updated workplace safety program can also help to keep costs down. A safer work environment often results in less accidents, which can keep your premiums low.

As laws vary across states, so do exemptions. This is why getting workers' comp can be complicated since each state has its own rules. Be sure to work with an insurance provider that’s well-informed about your state’s laws – like Insureon’s insurance experts.

Below are some variations of workers’ compensation laws and exemptions in different states:

Generally, workers’ compensation is mandatory for all employers. California law presumes anyone who works for an employer to be an employee, but coverage is not required for independent contractors.

According to Florida state law, when a business has four or more employees—either full or part time—workers’ comp is required. There are some exceptions, such as sole proprietors and partners. Additionally, construction businesses can exempt up to three corporate officers with at least 10% ownership of the company.

In Arkansas, farm laborers, real estate agents, and domestic workers or employees of religious, nonprofit, or charitable organizations are exempt from coverage. But most businesses with three or more employees are required to carry workers’ comp, as well as those in risky industries (i.e., construction) with fewer employees.

According to New York law, there are very limited instances when an employer would not be required to provide coverage. For example, it’s not required if the business is solely owned, a partnership, or a corporation and they own all stock and offices with no employees.

Every firm with five or more employees, and construction businesses or trades with one or more employees must have workers’ comp in Tennessee. However, sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, and independent contractors are waived from carrying workers’ compensation insurance.

Get started by completing Insureon’s easy online application today to compare quotes from top-rated U.S. insurance carriers. A licensed insurance agent will help you choose coverage that matches your needs. Once you find the right policy for your small business, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.