Minnesota Total Claims Track Downward

Chart showing trend in claims paid by Minnesota's workers compensation agency

Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry said the total paid claim rate reached its lowest level in 2023 as WC claim rates and benefits paid in the state continue to be stable or follow long-term downward trajectories.
The agency’s 2025 Minnesota Workers’ Compensation System Report tracks trend data from 2003 to 2023.
Relative to the number of full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers, the total number of paid claims dropped by 45%, indemnity claims by 28% and medical-only claims by 50% from 2003 to 2023.
The estimated total cost of Minnesota’s workers’ compensation system was $1.80 billion for 2023, or $0.91 per $100 of payroll, a decrease of 45% over 20 years.
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New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang racked up two workers compensation fraud wins last week with the sentencing of a former UPS worker and utility worker-turned-food truck cook.
In the former case, a Workers’ Compensation Fraud Inspector General (WCFIG) investigation revealed Nicholas Gallagher worked as a boys’ varsity soccer coach and as a sports sales rep on Long Island while collecting more than $13,000 in workers’ compensation benefits.
In the food-truck case, a former logistics employee at National Grid pleaded guilty to petit larceny charge for fraudulently collecting workers’ compensation benefits while operating a mobile food truck business.
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Fairfax Financial said last week that it is beginning to see workers’ compensation pricing starting to stablize, as it reviewed the company’s second-quarter 2025 results.
Management told analysts on an Aug. 1 call that its Zenith premium was up 7.3% in the quarter, reflecting new workers’ comp business and price increases in its agribusiness book.
“Zenith, our workers’ compensation specialist, had an elevated combined ratio of 103.3, representing an underwriting loss of $6,000,000” said Peter Clark, President and COO.
He added that “Zenith has been dealing with multiple years of rate decreases in the workers’ compensation space, but we are happy to say rates have now begun to stabilize and Zenith are pleased to see some premium increases coming its way.”
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