Texas Sees Widespread Cost Improvements

A new report from the Texas Department of Insurance’s Workers’ Compensation Research and Evaluation Group shows across-the-board cost and utilization improvements in the state’s system between 2018 and 2023.
Overall healthcare costs decreased 14% from $997 million for services in 2018 to $857 million for services in 2023.
While the total number of claims in the period decreased 11%, from 296,000 to 264,000,the average cost per claim also declined, 4%, from $3,367 to $3,245.
Total hospital/institutional costs decreased 23%, from $367 million in 2018 to $281 million in 2023.
The number of claims receiving hospital/institutional services decreased 25%, from 84,000 to 63,000.
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The May 2025 results of the Ivans Index showed that average premium renewal rates increased year over year across all major commercial lines of business except Workers’ Compensation.
Workers’ compensation saw renewal rates fall 1.87%, furthering April’s 1.78% decline.
Rate movements in May continued the April trend, a month which also saw all lines but Workers’ Comp record year on year rate increases.
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Markel Insurance is moving into the middle-market workers’ compensation sector in a collaboration with Insurate.
The insurtech’s platform utilizes AI algorithms to analyse large datasets, providing insights into workplace safety performance, allowing for accurate risk assessment and pricing, particularly for complex industrial and service operations.
Markel, a specialty insurer unit of Markel Group, earlier this year, outlined its focus on U.S. middle-market companies.
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