Glossary of Retro Terms

See also: Retro Program Rules.

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  • Expand/collapse Accident Fund

    The portion of your workers' compensation premium that pays for time-loss compensation, Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) and pension benefits. Employers pay 100% of the premium for this fund.

  • Expand/collapse Adjustment

    The comparison of calculated retrospective premium to standard premium due (or prior retrospective premium) which may result in either a refund or additional premium assessment. The first of 3 mandatory adjustments occurs approximately 10 months after the end of the retro coverage period. The subsequent 2 adjustments follow in 12-month intervals.

  • Expand/collapse Basic Premium Ratio (BPR)

    The BPR represents the portion of Standard Premium that covers administrative costs (except claims handling) and an insurance charge. BPRs can be found in the Retro Manual. If you need a copy of the manual, please call 360‑902‑4851 or send us an email (Retro@Lni.wa.gov).

  • Expand/collapse Case Reserve

    L&I's estimate of the lifetime cost of an open claim. Case Reserves are established when a claim is approximately 8-10 months old and are updated every 6-12 months as long as the claim remains open.

  • Expand/collapse Composite Claim Report (CCR)

    Monthly reports that track claims in a Retro Coverage Period. During the coverage period, CCRs are mailed monthly to businesses and associations in Retro. After the coverage period ends, CCRs are mailed quarterly until the final adjustment.

  • Expand/collapse Group

    Those members of an association who elect to have group retrospective premium calculated, based on the combined premium and incurred loss data of participants. Members must comply with eligibility requirements.

  • Expand/collapse Loss Conversion Factor (LCF)

    The LCF consists of an expense charge for claims handling and an interest discount for investment returns on employer premiums. The LCF determines the portion of Total Incurred Losses (Developed) used in calculating the Retrospective Premium.

  • Expand/collapse Loss Development Factor (LDF)

    LDFs are actuarially determined factors that are multiplied by Accident and Medical Aid Fund charges to determine Total Incurred Losses (Developed). LDFs are unique to each Retro Coverage Period. They allow for additional claims costs (i.e., re-openings and inadequate reserves) which may occur over time, considering all the claims in a given Retro coverage period. LDFs average nearly double the Total Claim Estimate at the first adjustment and tend to be lower in subsequent adjustments. Current LDFs can be found in the lower left-hand corner of the Summary of Claim Costs Report accompanying the Composite Claim Report.

  • Expand/collapse Loss Ratio

    Incurred Losses (Developed) divided by Standard Premium.

  • Expand/collapse Maximum Premium Ratio

    A factor selected by an individual firm or group which limits the retrospective premium for a given Retro coverage period. There are 14 MPRs ranging from 1.05 (maximum assessment is 5% of Standard Premium) to 2.00 (maximum assessment is 100% of Standard Premium).

  • Expand/collapse Medical Aid Fund

    A portion of the workers' compensation premium shared by the employer and the employee that is set aside for payment of medical costs for any covered injury.

  • Expand/collapse Merit-Rated Distribution

    If the group earns a 10% refund, the share to members may be larger or smaller, depending on their own losses

  • Expand/collapse Minimum Premium Ratio

    In plans A1, A2 and A3, an actuarially determined factor, which, when multiplied by Standard Premium, determines the minimum Retrospective Premium.

  • Expand/collapse Performance Adjustment Factor (PAF)

    An actuarially determined factor unique to each Retro coverage year. The PAF is multiplied by the total claim estimate of Retro pension claims and incorporated into the loss development factors used for non-pension Retro claims to produce total incurred losses (developed). PAFs insure that aggregate refunds for a given Retro coverage year are in proportion to how well the Retro employers outperformed the non-retro employers.

  • Expand/collapse Plan

    L&I offers five Retro Plans (A, A3, A2, A1 and B). The Plan selected will determine (along with MPR and Standard Premium) which Basic Premium Ratio, Loss Conversion Factor and Minimum Premium Ratio will be used to calculate Retrospective Premium.

  • Expand/collapse Retro Coverage Period

    A 12-month period during which a participant is enrolled in Retrospective Rating. Coverage periods are January 1 to December 31; April 1 to March 31; July 1 to June 30; and October 1 to September 30. Claims with a date of injury within the coverage period and Standard Premium due for the coverage period are used to calculate Retrospective Premium.

  • Expand/collapse Retro Manual

    A publication produced by L&I providing definitions and tables relating to Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) 296‑17‑90401 (www.leg.wa.gov) through 296‑17‑90497 (www.leg.wa.gov) as they pertain to Retrospective Rating

  • Expand/collapse Retro Valuation Date

    Date on which paid Retro claim costs and future reserves on open claims are "captured" for adjustment purposes; also know as a "freeze date". Typically, this date is about two weeks prior to the adjustment.

  • Expand/collapse Retrospective Premium

    The revised premium charge for Retro participants after undergoing an adjustment which may result in a refund or additional premium assessment. Retrospective premium is produced by the Retrospective Formula as follows:

    Retrospective Premium =
    (Basic Premium Ratio x Standard Premium)
    +
    (Loss Conversion Factor x Total Incurred Losses Developed)

    The Retrospective Premium is subject (in Plans A1, A2 and A3) to a lower limit according to the appropriate Minimum Premium Ratio and to an upper limit in all plans according to the Maximum Premium Ratio

  • Expand/collapse Retrospective Rating

    An optional financial incentive plan developed to encourage employers to control their Industrial Insurance costs through effective accident prevention and claim management programs. Employers may earn a refund on a portion of their annual standard premium or be required to pay additional premium depending on their performance during their Retrospective Rating enrollment.

  • Expand/collapse Standard Premium

    That portion of total premium due during a Retro Coverage Period, only including Accident and Medical Aid Funds, not the Supplemental Pension Fund.

  • Expand/collapse Straight Pro-Rated Basis

    If the group earns a 10% refund, each member would receive 10% of their own Standard Premium back, regardless of their losses.

  • Expand/collapse Supplemental Pension Fund

    The portion of Workers' Compensation Premium that pays for cost-of-living increases for long-term time-loss claims. It isn't included in Standard Premium used for Retro purposes or subject to experience rating.

  • Expand/collapse Total Claim Estimate

    The total of paid claim costs (plus future reserves, if any).

  • Expand/collapse Total Incurred Losses-Developed or Developed Losses

    A component of the Retrospective Rating Formula. Developed Losses for Retro pension claims are determined by multiplying the Total Claim Estimate by the applicable Performance Adjustment Factor. Developed Losses for Retro non-pension claims are determined by multiplying the Accident and Medical Aid Fund charges by the applicable Loss Development Factors.

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