Workers' Compensation Comparisons, 1999
The information presented in this table should be interpreted in light of the explanations for each category. Clicking on the category will take you to the explanation.
STATE
Choice
of
Doctor
a,d
Termination
of Cash
Benefits
Permitted
without
Hearingb
%
Compliance with "19"
Essentials
c
Benefits
for Loss
of
Handa
Maximum
Burial
Benefits
a
Max. Weekly Survivor Benefit
a
Not
Compensated
for
Income Overa
Benefits Cease
Aftera
State Funda
1997
Profits by Commercial Insurerse
Alabama
E
No
68%
$37,400
$3,000
$4934
$38,458
500 weeks
3.3%
Alaska
W
2
70
3
2,500
7004
58,605
520 weeks
11.7
Arizona
W1
Yes
63
70,113
3,000
1705
13,261
6
Yes
15.3
Arkansas
E
Yes
45
44,398
6,000
3754
29,253
$75,000
29.6
California
E
2
63
3
5,000
4484
34,947
160,000
Yes
-0.4
Colorado
E
Yes
70
19,689
4,000
520
40,564
6
Yes
7.4
Connecticut
W1
Yes
74
158,255
4,000
764
59,598
6
30.6
Delaware
W
No
63
90,444
3,500
4115
32,061
6
17.2
District of Columbia
W1
2
83
203,696
5,000
835
65,137
6
18.2
Florida
E
Yes
58
3
5,000
522
40,720
100,000
17.5
Georgia
E
Yes
51
52,000
5,000
3254
25,353
100,000
25
Hawaii
W
No
78
126,636
5,200
5194
40,486
161,928
Yes
24.8
Idaho
E
2
63
3
6,000
2054,5
15,992
136,800
Yes
1.3
Illinois
W
Yes
79
3
4,200
8634
67,321
20 years
16.5
Indiana
E
Yes
61
39,500
6,000
4684
36,508
234,000
12.5
Iowa
E
2
82
165,680
5,000
947
73,873
6
9.7
Kansas
E
Yes
63
54,900
4,300
3664
28,551
200,000
20.4
Kentucky
W1
Yes
75
3
4,000
2445
19,034
6
Yes
30.8
Louisiana
W
Yes
54
55,050
5,000
367
28,629
6
Yes
18.7
Maine W1 Yes 67% $94,915 $4,000 $4414 $34,401 $220,500 Yes 56.3%
Maryland
W1
2
75
150,516
5,000
6024
46,961
45,000
Yes
17.6
Massachusetts
W1
Yes
67
23,797
4,000
7004
54,605
174,978
29.6
Michigan
E
2
51
124,700
6,000
5804
45,245
290,000
23.2
Minnesota
W1
Yes
66
3
7,500
6154
47,975
319,800
Yes
20.6
Mississippi
W
2
38
43,929
2,000
2934
22,856
131,787
14
Missouri
E
Yes
78
51,578
5,000
563
43,918
6
Yes
16.9
Montana
W1
2
67
3
1,400
4114
32,061
205,500
Yes
8.7
Nebraska
W1
Yes
87
81,900
6,000
468
36,508
6
12.9
Nevada
W1
Yes
78
3
5,000
535
41,734
6
---
New Hampshire
W1
No
83
158,760
5,000
840
65,527
6
28.3
New Jersey
E
Yes
55
75,950
3,500
5394
42,046
450 weeks
16
New Mexico
E
2
58
49,006
3,000
3924
30,579
274,435
Yes
35.8
New York
W1
Yes
57
97,600
5,000
400
31,203
6
Yes
9
North Carolina
E
2
72
112,000
3,000
5604
43,684
400 weeks
11.5
North Dakota
W1
Yes
76
83,400
5,000
2104,5
16,382
197,000
Excl
---
Ohio
W1
Yes
76
99,225
3,200
567
44,230
6
Excl
---
Oklahoma
W1
Yes
78
42,600
5,000
213
16,616
6
Yes
1.5
Oregon
W1
Yes
76
68,100
5,770
3865
30,111
6
Yes
22.2
Pennsylvania
E
Yes
72
208,740
3,000
588
45,869
6
Yes
23.2
Rhode Island
W1
2
71
21,960
5,000
5445
42,436
6
Yes
30.5
South Carolina
E
Yes
68
83,442
2,500
4834
37,678
241,735
Yes
19.7
South Dakota
W1
Yes
70
61,200
5,000
4085
31,827
6
29.8
Tennessee
E
2
47
77,250
4,500
5134
40,018
205,200
20.9
Texas
W
Yes
55
54,900
2,500
523
40,798
6
Yes
Utah
E
2
63
54,600
4,000
4144
32,295
129,168
Yes
17.1
Vermont
E
Yes
79
127,225
5,500
727
56,712
age 62
1.5
Virginia
E
2
62
80,100
10,000
5344
41,656
267,000
20.9
Washington
W
Yes
71
3
5,080
711
55,464
6
Excl
---
West Virginia
W
No
78
3
5,000
467
36,430
6
Excl
---
Wisconsin
W
Yes
79
73,600
6,000
5384
41,968
161,400
11.4
Wyoming
W
2
43
37,820
2,500
3104
24,182
71,610
Excl
---
U.S. Average
---
---
67
83,912
4,523
---
---
---
---
14.3

1Worker choice restricted by "managed care" or other policies.
2Information not available at this time.
3Benefits based on percent impairment or other method.
4Benefits limited by total amount or duration.
5Additional allowance for children or dependents.
6Benefits continue for life or until remarriage.
7"For profit" insurers permitted, beginning July 1999.
Sources:
aU.S. Department of Labor, State Workers' Compensation Laws, 1999.
bAFL-CIO Survey.
cU.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, 1998.
dWorkers Compensation Research Institute, Managed Care and Medical Cost Containment in Workers' Compensation: A National Inventory, 1997-1998.
eNational Association of Insurance Commissioners, Report on Profitability By Line By State, 1997.