Montana Chamber Safety Choices Announces Worker Compensation Rate Reductions

Chamber Safety Program Working

Montana Safety Choices, the work comp/safety program of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to report that workers’ compensation rates for Liberty Northwest, its underwriter, are projected to decline an average of 10% for the coming policy year. As the largest private workers’ compensation insurance carrier in the state, Liberty Northwest announced a rate level decrease for their small business accounts effective on or after July 1, 2010. The actual amount of the rate level change will vary by classification and by business.

“This is good news for Montana,” noted Webb Brown, President/CEO of the Montana Chamber of Commerce. “With Montana’s work comp premium costs second-highest in the nation, we are getting squeezed out competitively. This reduction will definitely help.”

Liberty Northwest partnered with the State Chamber July 1, 2009 to offer qualifying members a comprehensive workers’ compensation group program that provides added benefits and services to help Montana businesses with safety programs and better control of losses. Montana Safety Choices is a retrospectively-rated group plan allowing premium returns (maximum 30% allowed), based on overall group performance. Under a retrospectively rated group program, participants’ premium is pooled together, resulting in better pricing and more plan options. The total premium pays the basic insurance charge and loss expenses. Any remaining premium is returned to participants after the plan evaluation. This means that the better the group’s loss experience, the lower an employers’ potential cost.

Besides the premium benefit, Montana Safety Choices focuses heavily on safe practices and return-to-work policies to also control costs. “We’re not going to take our equally dismal safety record in Montana anymore,” said Brown. “We are doing everything we can to keep workers safe and healthy.” Montana Safety Choices members (approximately 100 businesses and nearly 700 employees) enjoy a very good safety record this year.

For information about Montana Safety Choices, check out http://www.MontanaSafetyChoices.com and/or contact Pete Burwell, Membership Director of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, by phone at 406-442-2405 ext 103, or by e-mail at [email protected]

June 9-10 in Helena, Health Care Reform, Montana Style, http://www.MontanaHealthcareForum.com

Webb Scott Brown, CAE, President/CEO

Montana Chamber of Commerce – your business advocate

incl.: MT Chamber Foundation (Governors’ Cup and High School Business Challenge)

MT Justice Coalition, MT Manufacturing Council, and MT Assn. of Chamber Executives

900 Gibbon St. / PO Box 1730

Helena, Montana 59624-1730

888-442-MONT(6668) ext. 101; 406-442-2405 ext.101; 406-431-9508(cell); 406-442-2409(fax)

http://www.MontanaChamber.com / [email protected]

also:

http://www.ChamberChoices.com (health insurance program)

http://www.MontanaMainStreetBlog.typepad.com (blog)

http://www.MontanaSafetyChoices.com (work comp insurance)