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Comp rate decreases recommended for two southern states

Posted On: Aug. 31, 2015 12:00 AM CST

The National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. has filed for workers compensation rate decreases in Kentucky and West Virginia.

At its West Virginia Advisory Forum presentation on Tuesday, NCCI proposed an overall workers compensation loss cost decrease of 12.1% for the voluntary market beginning Nov. 1.

The recommended decrease is the greatest among NCCI states so far this year. The next largest decreases proposed by NCCI were for Texas, with a 10.9% decrease, and Kansas at 10.4%.

Indemnity benefits in West Virginia make up 41% of total benefit costs, and medical benefits make up 59%, which mirrors the countrywide breakdown, according to Boca Raton, Florida-based NCCI.

In 2014, the state's combined ratio also improved 5 percentage points to 78%, NCCI said.

NCCI also is recommending a 3.4% overall workers comp loss cost decrease for Kentucky, effective Oct. 1.

The proposed overall 3.4% decrease is partly due to a decline in frequency and slowed severity growth, NCCI said at its Kentucky Advisory Forum presentation on Aug. 20.

The state has an average lost-time claim frequency of 779 claims per 100,000 workers, which is lower than the nationwide average of 845 claims per 100,000 workers, according to NCCI.

Meanwhile, after improving in 2013, insurers reported that the combined ratio in the state climbed 4 percentage points to 110% in 2014, according to NCCI. The combined ratio was also 110% in 2012.

Like in West Virginia, indemnity benefits in Kentucky make up 41% of total benefit costs, and medical benefits make up 59%, according to NCCI.

In 2014, the state's combined ratio also improved five percentage points to 78%, NCCI said.