About Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers compensation insurance protects the domestic employee and the employer from the expenses and liabilities associated with a work-related accident. A single accident can leave the employer liable for thousands of dollars in medical bills. Don't assume that this liability is covered under your Homeowner's Insurance Policy!

Many states require household employer to carry Workers Compensation insurance for their employees. The legal requirements for obtaining this insurance vary widely from state to state, with wages paid or hours worked usually the defining item, not job description.

Typically this insurance is available through commercial insurers. State insurance pools exist for those employers unable to obtain commercial coverage. These state pools are generally very expensive due to the higher risk levels present in the pool.

Domestic employers should discuss their requirement for this insurance with their Property/Casualty agent. You may also need to update your automobile insurance if your domestic drives your personal vehicle.

Obtaining Workers' Compensation Insurance: Commercial insurers such as State Farm or Allstate are a good place to start. Bear in mind that they will generally require you to have other insurance such as homeowners, renters or automobile insurance with them to issue the workers' compensation policy. Where the insurance is legally mandated, a state fund exists as the provider of last resort. This is typically the most expensive method of obtaining coverage, as the fund must insure all applicants, regardless of risk.

Where You Need Workers' Compensation Insurance

Source: USA Today YOUR MONEY by Christine Dugas, July 23, 1997

"If you hire someone to work in your home or in your yard, you may be required by your state to buy workers' compensation insurance:

WORKERS' COMPENSATION REQUIRED FOR FULL-TIME DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES: Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Washington

WORKERS' COMPENSATION REQUIRED FOR FULL- AND PART-TIME DOMESTIC EMPLOYEES: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota.

In other states, workers' compensation is not required for people who work in and around the home."

NaniTax Tip: We strongly recommend that you discuss your state insurance regulations with a licensed insurance agent. NaniTax client service representatives are not qualified to discuss specific insurance issues.

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 4nannytaxes.com Blog: Real Life Example
 Click Here to see the US Department of Labor Survey of Worker's Compensation rules as they apply to domestic service.
 Insurance Information Institute maintains a list of the state agencies responsible for administering state worker's compensation sytems.