California comp fund creates virus relief programs for policyholders
Reprints
The State Compensation Insurance Fund has established two new $25 million relief funds to help defray COVID-19-related safety expenses and provide wage replacement assistance for essential workers, the California insurer announced in a statement Monday.
The first fund will provide wage replacement for up to six weeks for policyholders’ essential workers who contract COVID-19 or are ordered to self-isolate. The fund will also be available to help cover medical costs for workers without health coverage who contract the virus.
Workers compensation for employees who contract COVID-19 that is determined to be clearly work-related will not be drawn from this fund. Additional funds may be authorized if necessary, and any payments that are made will not affect the policyholder’s experience modification, the insurer said.
The second fund will aid policyholders operating essential businesses by helping to defray the costs of safety-related expenses for protecting workers from COVID-19. Individual grants can total up to $10,000 or twice a policyholder’s premium, whichever is less, and grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
More insurance and risk management news on the coronavirus crisis here.
