Liberty Mutual Gets Dismissal of Widow’s Claim in WC-Medicare Dispute

• Liberty Mutual cannot be sued by the widow of a North Carolina UPS worker who sought to hold the workers’ compensation insurer liable in a Medicare recovery matter.
• Stemming from a 2013 WC claim, the widow claimed Liberty Mutual had not properly reimbursed Medicare for her husband’s medical care.
• Liberty challenged that, arguing that it had fully paid Medicare on an outstanding lien, also arguing that the widow, Carra Penegar lacked standing and was uninjured, per the settlement agreements.
• The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed and in its Aug. 19 ruling, dismissed the class action.
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Workers’ Compensation Premiums Drop More Than 2% in Q2

• Workers’ compensation premium rates fell 2.2% in the second quarter of 2024, according to the latest pricing report from the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.
• In the first quarter, the rates were 1.8% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• This was the fifth consecutive quarter of declines, and the biggest since second quarter of 2023. 
• That contrasted with the 5.2% on average increase in general commercial insurance premiums.
• The report noted that respondents were not specific about what may have contributed to this decrease.
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