NCCI Recommends 1% Florida 2025 Rate Cut as New Law Tempers Reduction

• Florida workers’ compensation insurance rates could be set for a 1% decrease in 2025, continuing a series of years of lower rates.
• The National Council on Compensation Insurance submitted a proposal to regulators last Friday for an overall decrease, effective Jan. 1. 
• A new state law that increased maximum workers’ compensation reimbursements for physicians tempered the proposal, which otherwise would have recommended an overall 6.4% cut.
• Lost‐time claim frequency has continued to decrease in Florida, driving the improved experience despite increases in average claim costs observed in both Policy Year 2021 and 2022.
• The proposed rate level change includes a lower profit and contingency factor—which reflects the higher investment returns expected in today’s interest rate environment.
• A combination of continued claims “frequency declines and moderate benefit costs at or below the level of wage growth, have continued to put downward pressure on overall WC (workers’ compensation) system costs relative to collected premiums.”
• The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation previously cut rates for this year by 15.1% and effected an 8.4% decrease for 2023.
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Connecticut Sees ‘Significant’ Rise in Occupational Illnesses

• Connecticut saw a 21% increase in reported occupational disease cases in 2022, with a total of 8,418 unique cases, including 3,430 COVID-19 cases.
• That’s a key finding in the state’s 2024 Occupational Disease Report issues this week by the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission, in collaboration with UConn Health and other state agencies.
• Musculoskeletal disorders were the most commonly reported occupational condition, comprising 36% of unique reports.
• Women were disproportionately affected by occupational diseases, accounting for 53% of the reported cases.
• The report suggests targeted interventions in high-risk industries, enhanced safety protocols, and improved reporting systems to ensure timely and accurate data collection.
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Oregon Worker Ombuds Hit the Road With September Briefings

• Representatives from the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers will travel the state in September for sessions with workers.
• The Ombuds Office serves as an independent advocate for workers by helping them with the workers’ compensation system and workplace safety and health laws and rules.
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