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BULLETIN - CONSUMER ADVISORY FROM
OHIO BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Guidance for Ohio Employers Regarding
Selection of a Group-Experience-Rating Program
for the July 1, 2010 Policy Year
Effective Nov. 16, 2009
We are
providing this bulletin to provide guidance to all
private-sector Ohio employers who may consider participating
in a group-experience-rating program for the policy year
beginning July 1, 2010. This is part of our efforts to
preserve the group-experience-rating program and improve its
performance.
When evaluating offers to
participate in a group-experience-rated program, please make
sure all marketing material offering a group discount
includes the sponsor name and does not offer a maximum
discount exceeding 51 percent.
Group discount
The maximum possible discount an employer in the
group-experience-rating program may receive for the July 1,
2010, policy year is 51 percent. You may see marketing
materials that reference a higher discount, such as 65
percent. Discounts this large are not possible in the
group-rating program.
Not only
is this discount unattainable, but marketing this discount
is a violation of Ohio law. BWC may take action against a
sponsoring association that provides inaccurate quotes. The
action can include de-certifying a sponsoring association,
which means it will not be able to sponsor a
group-experience rating program for the July 1, 2010 policy
year.
Should
you receive any copies of materials that provide discounts
exceeding 51 percent, please fax them to 614-621-5799.
Group sponsorship
You can find a comprehensive, updated list of BWC-certified
sponsors for group-experience rating and group-retrospective
rating for the July 1, 2010, policy year
here.
Make sure the sponsoring organization lists its name on any
advertising or promotional material. Please be cautious of
any marketing material that does not contain the name of the
soliciting sponsor. Also, remember that while many
third-party administrators (TPAs) provide risk management
and safety services to groups, they are ineligible to form a
group that does not include an approved sponsor.
If you
accept an invitation to join a group program from an
organization that the above Web site does not list, we will
deny your application. Please make sure to accept offers to
join either group-experience rating or group-retrospective
rating only from certified sponsoring associations.
Should
you receive any copies of materials from organizations that
are not certified, please fax them to (614) 621-5799.
To obtain updates regarding further developments of the
group-experience rating or group-retrospective rating
programs, please visit
www.ohiobwc.com.
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