How Do I Get a Workman’s Comp Exemption in Florida?

Almost all businesses in Florida are required to get worker’s compensation policies for their employees. Businesses that are in the agriculture industry must get worker’s compensation insurance if they have at least six full-time employees. Businesses that work in the construction industry or a construction-related field must get worker’s compensation insurance if they have at least one employee, and all other businesses must get worker’s compensation insurance for all employees if they employ at least four people. There are no exceptions to these laws. If businesses choose to not get worker’s compensation for their employees, they are susceptible to severe penalties.

If you have a business in any industry in Florida and you are interested in getting a quote on a worker’s compensation policy, get in touch with NPN Brokers today. You can visit our website and receive a quote quickly and easily if you enter some basic information about your business and employees. For more information about workman’s comp. exemptions and Florida requirements for workers’ compensation insurance, keep reading.

Can My Company Be Exempt from Workman’s Comp in Florida?

Florida’s worker’s compensation laws are outlined in Rule 69L-6.021 of the Florida Administrative Code. According to this statute, all businesses that employ a certain number of people are required to get worker’s compensation policies for employees. Companies that do work in the agricultural industry must get worker’s compensation policies for all employees if they employ at least six full-time employees or 12 seasonal/part-time employees. Companies that do work in the construction industry or a construction-related field must get worker’s compensation policies if they employ even one person. Companies that operate in all other industries in Florida must get worker’s compensation policies if they employ four or more people.

Employees, according to Florida’s Administrative Code, are considered to be any person that does work for the company, which means that contractors, subcontractors, and independent contractors are included. Most companies are required to have worker’s compensation policies for employees because worker’s compensation policies protect both employers and employees; employees can be sure that they will have medical costs associated with their injuries covered while employers can be sure that they are protected against lawsuits filed by employees.

Employers that don’t get worker’s compensation policies for their employees may face heavy penalties. One of the most severe penalties for not having worker’s comp insurance in Florida is a stop-work order. Under this order, they will have to cease all work until they get policies for employees. Other penalties include large fines (up to $1,000) or loss of the right to conduct business in Florida. They may also be susceptible to lawsuits from injured employees if they do not carry worker’s compensation policies.

How Worker’s Compensation Policies are Priced

The associated risks are a major factor in calculating the price of a worker’s compensation policy for the employee that performs that job. The riskiness of jobs is determined by the NCCI (the National Council on Compensation Insurance). They assess and classify the level of danger involved in every profession, and then they use it to calculate the price of a policy. Other factors that determine the price of worker’s compensation policies include the company’s claims history, which is known as “the experience modification factor”—companies that have made worker’s compensation claims in the past can expect to pay more for their policies. Companies in Florida can also expect to pay for their worker’s compensation policies if they have been in business for less than three years.

What Worker’s Compensation Policies Cover

Worker’s compensation policies cover the cost of medical bills associated with the injury that the employee suffers and the wages that the employee lost due to their inability to work while recovering from the injury. The medical costs that can be covered by worker’s compensation policies include hospital stays and physician visits, as well as medications, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and ambulance rides. The wages that an employee can recover from their worker’s compensation policy will be only a partial amount of the wages that they couldn’t make because of their injury.

The families of employees that die while they are working are entitled to death benefits through worker’s compensation policies. These benefits include a maximum of $7,500 for the cost of a funeral, as well as payment to dependents.

If the employee’s injury happens under certain circumstances, they may be ineligible to receive worker’s compensation benefits. If the employee had been consuming alcohol or other substances that affect their ability to work safely, it is likely that they will not be able to receive benefits. Employees will also be unable to claim worker’s compensation benefits if their injury was self-inflicted or if they were not abiding by commonly accepted safety rules at the time of the injury.

Worker’s compensation policies are subject to a statute of limitations of two years. However, there are exceptions. If the injured worker was a minor at the time of the injury or if they were mentally incompetent, their statute of limitations is longer. Workers that were misled about their policies by their employees can also benefit from a longer statute of limitations for filing their worker’s compensation policies.

Contact NPN Brokers Today for a Free Workman’s Comp Policy Quote

Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to get in touch with NPN Brokers to learn more about how they can get comprehensive and affordable worker’s compensation policies. Call the Florida workers’ compensation insurance brokers at NPN at (561) 990-3022 to discuss your options regarding worker’s compensation policies for your employees or visit us online to get a quote.