Assigned Risk Plan

Oregon's Assigned Risk Plan is administered by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) at the direction of the Oregon Department of Business and Consumer Services (DCBS).

The Assigned Risk Plan (ARP) provides a guaranteed workers' comp insurance market for employers unable to secure coverage in the voluntary market.

Some reasons employers get coverage in ARP include: 

• High claim frequency and/or severity 
• Credit difficulties 
• Hazardous exposure or excessive subcontractor exposure 
• New in business 

ARP eligibility requirements

To be eligible for coverage through the Assigned Risk Plan an employer must meet these minimum requirements: 

• Have been declined by at least one carrier within the last 60 days or have not received any reasonable offer of coverage 
• Not owe money to any workers' comp insurance carrier, unless a legitimate dispute exists. Also, any other enterprises in which an employer has a common managing interest cannot have outstanding workers' comp obligations 30 days past due. 
• Submit the application with required payment

Applying for ARP

An eligible employer may request an application or submit a completed application for assigned risk coverage, directly or through an agent, in one of three ways: 

• Online through NCCI.com. Contact the NCCI customer service center at 800.622.4123 to get online access. 
• By phoning the NCCI plan administrator at 800.622.4123 
• By mail using the appropriate address listed below:

Regular mail:
NCCI, Inc.
Attention: Treasury Department
PO Box 3045
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Overnight street address:
NCCI, Inc.
Attention: Treasury Department
901 Peninsula Corporate Circle
Boca Raton, FL 33487-1362

If the application is complete, NCCI establishes the effective date, issues a 30-day binder, forwards the application (with applicable classification and rate information), and wires the deposit premium to the assigned servicing carrier. NCCI randomly assigns applications to servicing carriers.

Note: Coverage will not be bound until eligibility is determined and the required payments and forms are received. For assistance with this process, contact the NCCI plan administrator or your agent.

ARP rates and programs

NCCI rules, rates, and classifications apply to ARP policies. These additional rating programs may apply to your business:

New Small Employer Credit

The New Small Employer Credit applies to businesses entering the Assigned Risk Plan with no prior record as a subject employer. The credit of 15 percent applies to the employer's policy for the first two years of plan coverage. Employers must generate at least minimum premium, but less than, $2,500 premium for the credit to apply. If the premium exceeds $2,500 during the policy period, the entire credit will be billed back.

Nonexperience-Rated Premium Credit

For employers who are not experience-rated, the Nonexperience-Rated Premium Credit applies. This is a premium credit of 11 percent, subject to a maximum of $500. Minimum premium policies are not eligible for this credit.

Merit Rating Plan

Nonexperience-rated employers also may be subject to the Merit Rating Plan. Qualified employers having no indemnity (time-loss) claims in the rating period will receive a 10 percent credit. Employers with two or more indemnity claims will be surcharged 10 percent. The maximum merit rating credit or debit is $500. Minimum premium policies are not eligible for merit rating.

Experience Rating Program

Experience rating modifications apply to ARP employer policies provided they meet the minimum time and premium thresholds to qualify.

Assigned Risk Adjustment Program

The Assigned Risk Adjustment Program (ARAP) also applies to experience-rated policies. This program applies a calculated adjustment factor of 1.00 to 1.49 percent of experience-rated premium to employers who experience losses greater than expected.

Nondisabling Claims Reimbursement Program

Assigned Risk Plan employers may participate in the Nondisabling Claims Reimbursement Program, which allows participating employers to reimburse SAIF for medical expenses up to an amount determined by DCBS for each accepted, nondisabling claim.

Renewals

NCCI requires servicing carriers to issue a renewal quote to employers, and copy their agents, 45 days prior to policy expiration. This allows employers time to seek coverage in the voluntary market if they wish. The renewal quote will identify the payment necessary.

Renewal quotes contain information that explain the computation of the deposit, including classifications, rates and payroll used, and any other rating factors.

Policies are cancelled for employers failing to pay additional deposit or premium when due.

Loss prevention standard

Workplace safety is essential to retaining your valuable employees, and it could lower your premium. So one of the most important things you can do for your business is prevent injuries.

According to NCCI's performance standards for loss prevention, when a policy is new or renewed, the assigned insurance company (such as SAIF) has to notify the employer about the carrier's safety management services and resources, and how to get them.

In addition, if the carrier believes there has been a violation of "good faith" provisions of WCIP or Oregon safety regulations, it must refer the company to OR-OSHA under NCCI rules.

Learn more about improving safety in your workplace.