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What is Group Rating? 

Gain the competitive edge. For 2011 eligible clients will receive up to the maximum allowed discount off their workers' compensation rates, money they can use to grow their business. Baylor Associates provides employers with complete workers’ compensation services.  We are only a phone call away and provide personal attention to your specific needs.  Our goal is to save you time and money. View an example of group savings.

Ohio is a monopolistic state when it comes to workers' compensation coverage. This means that an Ohio employer can only obtain workers' compensation coverage through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.

Employers pay premiums for their job classifications calculated by using basic rates that are determined using a ratio of claim costs to payroll for the particular job classification. This data is a sum for all employers within that classification for a four year period known as the claims "experience".

Larger employers are given an incentive to control claim costs by offering discounts to their rates based upon the amount of claim costs they have compared to average costs for an employer with their amount of payroll. Above average claim costs lead to penalty rates, and below average claim costs give these employers discounted rates and the option of group rating participation.

The state allows associations to sponsor or "group" employers for purposes of combining claim costs and payroll to form one large entity. The lower the group claim costs compared to the group payroll the larger the discount for the group participants. Group participants pay lower rates than they could realize on their own.

As a third party administrator, Baylor Associates forms groups by examining the claim costs and payroll of employer prospects. Groups rosters for the next policy year (July 1 through June 30) must be submitted by February 28, 2011. Authorization to examine policies for inclusion in a group beginning July 1, 2011 are being accepted. Quotes will be provided when the Ohio BWC provides their rates and regulations for group rating for 2011.

Keep in mind that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has been making adjustments to the amount of discount that groups can offer their employer participants. These maximum discounts have changed from 95% in 2005, 85% in 2008, 77% in 2009 with a surcharge that resulted in a discount of 70%, to the current maximum discount of 65% for 2010 with a surcharge that results in a maximum discount of 51%. The maximum discount for policy year 2011 has not been determined by the BWC. Your eligibility to participate in a group for 2011 is determined by comparing your 4-year payroll from 2006-2009 to the claim costs for the same period, and meeting the BWC's eligibility requirements. Though you may not be eligible for the top group discount, we endeavor to place you in a group or other programs to obtain the greatest savings available to you.

How much can you save?

We provide a free no-obligation analysis of your possible savings in group rating. If you are interested in obtaining a projection, a BWC Form AC-3 Temporary Authorization must be completed.  To obtain a quote please click here.