Your insurance premium is based on a number of factors. This section identifies many of those factors and explains how they work.
General formula
Calculating workers' comp premium can be complex; what you pay depends on several factors. But in general, the formula works like this:
- Multiply your payroll by your class rate and divide by 100
- Multiply that number by your experience rating modifier, if applicable
- Multiply that number by any additional factors, if applicable
- Subtract premium discount, if applicable
Refer to your policy information page for rating factors specific to calculating your premium.
How rates are calculated
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is a national rate-making organization licensed by the state of Oregon. All workers' comp insurance carriers in Oregon must belong to the NCCI. NCCI collects detailed payroll and claim-loss statistics from carriers and uses this information to develop Oregon's pure premium rates.
NCCI develops the pure premium rates to ensure that funds are available to pay injured workers' claim benefits. The pure premium excludes individual carrier administrative expenses and differ by industry classification. These rates are filed annually by NCCI for approval by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS). NCCI also files rates for the Assigned Risk Plan program (ARP).
Each insurance carrier files its own rates with the DCBS. The carrier's rates consist of the NCCI's pure rates plus amounts sufficient to cover expenses and profits. Since SAIF is a not-for-profit, state-chartered company, we are generally able to keep rates lower than private carriers.
Rates are adjusted to reflect an experience rating modification (ER Mod) and any other factors that may apply to a policy. The premium modification factors that apply to your policy are shown on your policy information page.
Experience rating computation and assignment
Each year the NCCI computes the rating for each
eligible employer based upon the employer's individual payroll and loss experience. Your actual losses are measured against expected losses for the amount of payroll in each class reported for a given period of time. The resulting experience rating modification factor (either an increase or decrease in the premium to be paid) is effective on the anniversary date of your insurance policy.
This means that if you reduce your frequency and/or number of claims, the costs of workplace accidents, and accurately report payroll in the proper class, you may be rewarded by a reduction in your premium.
Experience rating eligibility
You may qualify for an experience rating if:
- The payrolls or exposures developed in the last year or last two years of the experience period produced a premium at base rates of at least $5,000, or
- The payrolls or exposures developed during an experience period of more than two years produced an average annual premium at base rates of at least $2,500 per year.
Generally, each experience rating is based on the payroll and loss experience of the first three of the last four years. A new employer may qualify at the beginning of the third policy year if premium was at least $5,000 in the first year of coverage.
- If you are not eligible for experience rating, you may qualify for a premium adjustment under the Claim Rating Plan. Qualified employers without claims in a three-year base period will receive a five percent discount, and employers with two lost-time or three total claims may be surcharged 10 percent, or even nonrenewed if claims are excessive. If you are in the Assigned Risk Plan (ARP), you may be eligible for the Merit Rating Plan. Learn more about ARP
Premium discount
You will be given information about premium discounts when coverage is established. Premium discount applies to premiums due after experience rating, but not to DCBS workers' comp assessments.
Oregon DCBS assessments
SAIF Corporation and all other workers' comp insurance companies are required to collect a 4.6 percent premium assessment on behalf of DCBS. Premium collected under federal laws, like the U.S. Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, is not subject to the DCBS assessment.
Terrorism and catastrophe premium
Terrorism and catastrophe premium are assessed on your policy in addition to your minimum premium, subject to the DCBS assessment, and are not eligible for other premium modifications or discounts.
Learn more about the terrorism premium and catastrophe premium