Florida urged to raise comp rates 18.6%

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—NCCI Holdings Inc. requested an 18.6% workers compensation rate increase during a hearing on Tuesday before Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation.

The request resulted from a projected impact of an Oct. 23, Florida Supreme Court decision in Emma Murray vs. Mariner Health Inc., according to the Office of Insurance Regulation. The ruling eliminated caps on attorney fees that were part of workers comp reforms adopted in 2003. As a result, workers comp costs in Florida are expected to rise.

Boca Raton, Fla.-based NCCI's request for an 18.6% increase would be spread over two years if approved and would include an 8.9% increase effective March 1.