Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Employers
Workers’ compensation is one of the largest — and most misunderstood — expenses most employers face.
Premiums don’t rise “just because the market went up.” They increase because of claims history, experience mod issues, classification errors, payroll reporting problems, and poor market placement.
At Alternative Options, we help employers find better workers’ comp pricing now while building a strategy that keeps costs under control year after year. We combine broad market access with disciplined analysis so you’re not guessing — or overpaying.
Can you actually get cheaper workers’ comp rates?
Yes — in many cases, you can.
Why shopping alone doesn’t fix workers’ comp long term
While market shopping can lower costs initially, pricing usually creeps back up if the underlying drivers aren’t addressed.
Claims trends, experience mod factors, class-code accuracy, payroll reporting, and risk controls all influence how carriers price your account over time. Without a strategy to manage those elements, many employers end up re-shopping every year without real improvement.
Our role is to:
- Find the best pricing now
- Then build a strategy that keeps pricing competitive long term
Review My Workers’ Comp Options
Why workers’ comp premiums get expensive
Common cost drivers we see:
- Claims frequency and severity trends
- Experience modification (mod) factor issues
- Misclassification and class-code leakage
- Payroll reporting and audit problems
- Weak claims handling or return-to-work practices
- Safety programs that look good on paper but don’t work in the field
These issues compound quietly over time — and most brokers never explain which ones are actually driving your premium.
What we review before placing coverage
We don’t just quote and hope. Before recommending a market, we review:
- Loss runs and claim drivers
- Experience mod worksheets and trend patterns
- Class codes, job duties, and payroll splits
- Prior audit results and reporting issues
- Carrier appetite and underwriting positioning
- Operational risk controls that actually exist (not just policies)
This allows us to place coverage with the right carrier, at the right time, with the right story.
How we reduce workers’ comp costs over time
Our approach is built for stability, not one-off savings:
- Identify what’s truly driving cost (claims, mod, class, payroll leakage)
- Place coverage in the most appropriate market (standard or alternative)
- Align safety , compliance, and claims management with your insurance strategy
- Eliminate preventable premium leakage before audits and renewals
- Use renewal leverage strategically — not reactively
The goal is predictable pricing and fewer surprises, not annual fire drills.
Who this is a good fit for
This approach works best if you:
- Want lower premiums without coverage gaps or shortcuts
- Have a high mod or challenging loss history
- Suspect class codes or payroll reporting are hurting you
- Want an explanation of why pricing looks the way it does
- Value strategy over commodity quoting
FAQs
Q: How do I lower workers’ comp premiums?
A: By reducing claim frequency and severity, improving mod drivers, correcting classification and payroll issues, and placing coverage with a market aligned to your risk profile.
Q: Does my experience mod really matter?
A: Yes. The mod is a direct multiplier on premium. Small improvements can create significant savings.
Q: Can class-code errors increase my premium?
A: Absolutely. Misclassification and poor payroll splits are major sources of premium leakage.
Q: Should I change carriers every year to save money?
A: Sometimes — but long-term savings usually come from fixing underlying drivers so pricing improves over time.
Q: What if I have a high mod or bad loss history?
Q: What do you need to get started?
Ready to talk?
If you want clarity on whether your workers’ comp pricing actually makes sense — and what your real options are — let’s walk through it.