Beach & O'Neill Insurance Associates is one of the largest workers' compensation brokerage firms in Northern California. We represent leading workers' compensation carriers in CA and NV including many of the most preferred markets in the industry. In addition to our standard market offerings, we also represent State Fund, and alternative markets like Professional Employer Organizations (PEO's). We can assist you in understanding the differences between standard carrier workers' compensation offerings and products marketed regionally and nationally by PEO's. A PEO is generally a provider that bundles workers' compensation, employment taxes, payroll and human resources together on a "pay as you go" basis, whereas the traditional guaranteed cost market includes carriers that offer workers' compensation insurance, but allow you to use your own in house payroll providers, pay your own payroll taxes and handle your own human resource functions.
How Workers' Compensation Works
As an employer, your workers' compensation premiums are paid on an annual basis. Premium is often paid either as a set amount each month, or can be reported on a monthy reporting system over the course of the year. Monthly payroll reporting is highly desirable and it allows flexibility so you pay your higher premiums at peak times and you pay less when business is slow. If one of your employees gets hurt, they are eligible to receive benefits from your workers' compensation carrier. Your employee is eligible for medical treatment for their injury and they are paid for time off in order to recover from their injury or illness. If the employee is permanently injured, workers' compensation can pay lifetime benefits for either permanent disability or for future medical costs needed to treat a work related injury. Workers' Compensation is required by law and acts as the "sole remedy" for all work related injuries to employees. This protects the employer by guaranteeing that any litigation resulting from a workers' compensation related loss will be covered by the statutory workers' compensation policy and not by the employer directly.
When one of your employees is injured, workers' compensation insurance benefits kick in to cover:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation and ongoing care
- Wages missed during recovery
- Death benefits and funeral expenses in the event of a fatality
Special Workers' Compensation Service Considerations
Beach & O’Neill Insurance Associates understands the workers' compensation market. While premium and rates are a primary focus when evaluating workers' compensation insurance, our service goes well beyond the initial sale. Our company offers valuable workers' compensation support services which will help keep your workers' compensation costs down including: Experience modification (EMR) review, claims tracking to make sure claims move towards closure, reserve analysis to avoid costly effects on your EMR, review of claims prior to unit statistical reporting deadlines, assistance with locating medical providers for injured workers, and review, analysis and assistance with first aid programs and return to work programs. These are only a few examples of the services we provide our clients. Contact us to see why so many California and Nevada employers choose to place their workers' compensation insurance through Beach & O'Neill Insurance Associates.