26
Fall 2014 Issue
Safety & Workers’ Compensation
]
What’s New This Year?
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) is changing
the way it bills for workers’ compensation coverage to better
serve Ohio employers.
For decades, the agency has billed for employer premiums
after-the-fact. It will begin billing in advance of coverage
starting Jul. 1, 2015 for private employers. This change will
align the BWC with standard industry billing practices.
Due to the switch to prospective billing, a number of deadlines
for plan and program sign-ups have changed. To help you
understand all the changes, the ORA has developed a calendar
of important dates for you to reference; the calendar can be
found on the next two pages.
Here’s a breakdown of key date changes in coming months:
• Group experience rating: Nov. 24, 2014 for private employers;
• Group-retrospective rating, Deductible Program, Individual-
retrospective rating, One Claim Program: Jan. 30, 2015
for private employers;
• Destination: Excellence: May 29, 2015
for private employers.
If you have questions about topics from this article,
call (866) 331-6424. For questions related to general
workers’ compensation issues, savings programs or
services available through CareWorks Consultants,
contact Theresa Passwater at (614) 526-7248 or via
e-mail:
Workers’ Compensation 2015/2016 Calendar
Failing to have a strong employment brand can result in higher rates of attrition
Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Important Dates
APPLY NOW for the
Jul. 1, 2015 to Jun. 30,
2016 group rating year.
The filing time for group rating and/or group retro plans has moved up, as mandated by the Ohio BWC. ORA’s deadline to return
enrollment packets for Group RATING is Nov. 19. ORA’s deadline to return enrollment packets for Group RETRO is Jan. 29.
March to
November 2014
Obtain a workers’ compensation group rating application (AC3) by going to
r
by contacting Laura Morrison at (866) 331-6424.
Nov. 5, 2014
– Deadline to return your group rating application (AC-3) to CareWorks Consultants, Inc.
What this means for your business:
Stability. ORA’s foodservice-specific group plans are less vulnerable to projection fluctuations due to their size,
which means return on investment for YOU!
June to
November 2014
Qualified applicants receive an enrollment packet and savings projection.
Nov. 19, 2014
–
Deadline to return enrollment packet to CareWorks Consultants, Inc. for timely filing.
Jan. 29, 2015
–
Deadline to return GROUP RETRO enrollment packet to CareWorks Consultants, Inc. for timely filing.
What this means for your business:
ORA’s group plans are projected to save you $4.75 million this year.
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Billing Cycles – When to Pay Premiums to the Ohio BWC
June 2015
First prospective billing invoice will be sent from the Ohio BWC. Group savings will be reflected in premium rates. This first install-
ment paid with transition credit by the BWC. The BWC will require employers to be on a bi-monthly (six installment) payment
schedule for the
2015/2016
policy year.
August 2015
Second installment invoice will be sent from the Ohio BWC. This will be due on
Aug. 31, 2015.
Payment Dates
2015/2016
In June, August, October, December, February and April, employers will receive a bill for premium
installments the first of the month; payment will be due at the end of that same month.
Aug. 15, 2016
The true-up statement will calculate any variance from estimated payroll to actual payroll
for the period
Jul. 1, 2015 - Jun. 30, 2016.
What this means for your business:
Paying your BWC premiums allows you to be group-rated, and helps you to save significantly on your premiums.
