Compared with other states, Pa. workers comp costs down

Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is touting a new national report on insurance compensation costs as evidence of Pennsylvania’s competitive rates for workers.

The study by the Oregon State Department of Consumer and Business Services compares workers comp insurance rates in 50 different employment classes across the country.

A similar report was released in 2014; since then, Pennsylvania’s ranking has moved from 17th highest insurance costs to 26th.

State Insurance department spokesman Ron Ruman put that change down largely to a more competitive insurance market.

“That’s certainly the case in workers compensation insurance,” he said. “We have about 325 companies that are writing that, so any time you have competition, that usually bodes well for the consumer, which in this case is the businesses of Pennsylvania.”

Ruman also said emphasis on workplace safety in recent years probably has something to do with the change.

“Hopefully that is paying off,” he said. “Workers comp insurance costs are decreasing, and typically that reflects a safer environment for employees and we certainly hope that that’s the case, and continues to be the case.”