The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is proposing a 4.9 percent increase in the average hourly rate employers and workers pay for workers' compensation insurance in 2027. If adopted, the increase would raise the cost of coverage by about $1.44 a week per full-time employee, on average.
The increase is needed because of rising wage and medical costs for wage replacement and medical care benefits. "The cost of providing workers' compensation coverage continues to go up as wages and medical costs increase," said L&I Director Joel Sacks. The agency is not passing along the full projected cost increase; instead, the workers' compensation contingency reserve would cover the difference between rate increase revenue and projected costs.
Employers pay about 75 percent of the premium and workers about 25 percent.
Public hearings on the proposal are scheduled for Oct. 27, 28, and 29. The agency is accepting written comments through Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.