Study shows geographic variance in COVID-19 claims

There are “significant regional differences” in the share of total reported claims arising from COVID-19, with Southern California showing higher incidents of workplace illnesses, according to a study released Thursday by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California.

 

The Oakland, California-based ratings agency, which annually studies variances in claim frequency in all geographic areas of the state, found that San Diego County in particular saw between 22.5% and 25% of claims filed between April 1 and Sept. 30 falling in the category of a COVID-19 infection.

 

This compares to neighboring and less-populated Imperial and Riverside counties, which saw between 5% and 7.5% of claims filed during that period as COVID-19 infections, according to the report.

 

Los Angeles and Orange counties also saw higher COVID-19 claims, at between 15% and 20% of claims filed under COVID-19 infection.

 

The study of claims also found that workers in health care and public administration “have higher shares of injuries arising from COVID-19,” according to the report, which added that reported claims do not appear to be highly correlated with infection rates in the region.

 

As with years prior, the WCIRB also found that overall, even after controlling for regional differences in wages and industry mix, indemnity claim frequency is “significantly higher” in the Los Angeles area and “significantly lower” in the San Francisco Bay area.

 

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.