Wyoming workers' compensation insurance

Wyoming state law mandates strict workers’ compensation insurance coverage for employers. Employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance for all employees working in Wyoming, with few exceptions.

The following occupations are among those excluded from coverage:

• Casual laborers
• Most professional athletes
• Employees of private households
• Private duty nurses working for a private party
• Federal government employees
• Volunteers working for certain organizations

Every business in Wyoming – even those that are likely exempt – must register with the Division of Workers' Compensation and Unemployment Insurance to have their coverage determined.

Under the Wyoming Workers' Compensation Act, the following business owners are exempt from workers’ comp insurance requirements:

• Sole proprietors and independent contractors
• Partners
• Members of a limited liability company (LLC)
• Corporate officers

However, the above owners may opt to purchase a workers' comp insurance policy. It's a smart financial decision, as your health insurance provider might deny an injury claim if it's related to your work.

Check with the Wyoming Workers’ Compensation Division for forms, fees, and further details.

Additionally, here's what your Wyoming workers' comp policy won't cover:

• Work injuries caused by intoxication, drugs, or company policy violations
• Injuries claimed after a firing or layoff
• Wages for a replacement worker
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines

Wyoming is a monopolistic state when it comes to insuring employees against job-related injuries and illnesses. This means you can’t buy coverage from a private insurance company. Instead, you must buy it from a state-run workers’ compensation program.

Wyoming employers with excessive workers’ comp insurance claims may not be able to qualify for the Wyoming public workers’ comp program. However, since they are required to maintain coverage, they can contact the state’s assigned risk pool for “last-resort” coverage.

Unlike in most other states, Wyoming's workers' compensation laws do not allow employers to self-insure their claims. All state employers must purchase workers’ comp insurance from the state plan.

Policies purchased through the state workers' compensation fund do not include employer's liability insurance, which protects employers from employee injury lawsuits. Wyoming employers who want this coverage must purchase it as stop-gap coverage. They can usually add it to their general liability policy purchased through a private insurer.

Insurance providers use a specific formula for calculating workers' comp premiums:

To save money on workers' comp insurance, it's important to make sure you classify your employees correctly. Employees with desk jobs or other jobs with a low risk of workplace injuries cost less to insure. This also helps you avoid misclassification fines.

In some cases, Wyoming employers can choose to buy pay-as-you-go workers' compensation. Pay-as-you-go workers' comp coverage has a low upfront premium, and lets you make payments based on your actual payroll instead of an estimated payroll. It can be useful for businesses that hire seasonal help or have fluctuating numbers of employees.

A ghost policy is a cheap option in some states, but this is not allowed in Wyoming. A ghost policy is a workers' comp policy in name only. It provides no protection or medical benefits, but can fulfill contractual requirements for a workers' comp certificate at a reduced price.

Finally, a documented safety program can help lower workers' comp costs. A workplace with risk management strategies implemented often results in fewer accidents, which helps keep your premium low.

The goal of workers' compensation insurance is to help employees recover from a work injury and return to their job.

It covers the cost of medical bills related to a workplace injury or occupational disease, and also covers part of their lost wages. Employees receive two-thirds of their gross monthly wage at the time of injury during their recovery, if unable to work.

Workers' compensation benefits for injured workers in Wyoming include:

• Medical benefits that cover related medical treatment
• Travel reimbursement
• Temporary total disability benefits
• Permanent partial impairment benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Permanent partial disability benefits
• Permanent total disability benefits
• Death benefits for fatal incidents

Employees can choose their primary health care provider, but cannot change providers without a referral. For details, visit the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services (DWS).

Wyoming’s workers’ compensation system provides death benefits to the survivors of an employee who died from a job-related injury or illness. The surviving spouse, minor children, and other dependents may qualify for monthly benefits lasting for as long as 100 months.

The minimum benefit that can be paid is 80% of the state’s average monthly wage. The maximum is twice the state’s average monthly wage. Both amounts depend on how much money the worker was making before getting hurt or sick.

Wyoming law also provides for a burial benefit of up to $5,000, along with $5,000 for other death-related expenses.

A workers’ compensation settlement is an agreement between the injured employee, employer, and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services that will close out a workers’ compensation claim in return for the worker or family survivors receiving a lump-sum payment. This benefits both the employee, the employee’s family members, and the employer.

Unlike in other states where private insurers provide all or most of the workers’ comp insurance coverage, Wyoming’s only workers’ comp insurer is the state itself. For this reason, settling a claim will involve negotiations with the state.

In the state of Wyoming, employees with injuries must file a workers’ comp claim by the latest date listed below:

• Within one year from the date of injury
• Within one year after an employee receives a medical diagnosis for their work-related injury or illness
• Within three years from the date of last exposure to the hazard

Workers must notify their employee of injuries within 72 hours, and state statute requires the employer to submit a report of injury within 10 days.

Insureon helps small business owners compare insurance quotes from leading providers for a variety of different insurance types, including general liability insurance, cyber insurance, commercial property insurance, and commercial auto insurance.

If you are ready to explore insurance options for your Wyoming business, start a free application with Insureon to compare quotes from top-rated insurance carriers. A licensed insurance agent will help answer your questions and explain your coverage options.

Once you find the right policy, you can usually begin coverage and get your certificate of insurance in less than 24 hours.