| WAC 296-17-90401 |  | |
Introduction
To implement retrospective rating (retro) provided for in RCW 51.18.010 (www.leg.wa.gov), Labor & Industries (L&I) has developed a series of rules that can be found in Chapter 296-17 (www.leg.wa.gov) of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). As required by law (Chapter 51.18 RCW (www.leg.wa.gov)), the retrospective rating plan is based on recognized principles of insurance.
| Note: WAC 296-17-90401 (www.leg.wa.gov) through 296-17-90497 (www.leg.wa.gov) contain the general and special rules applicable to retro and the retrospective rating plan. |
What is retrospective rating?
Retro is a voluntary financial incentive workers' compensation insurance program offered by L&I. Retro is designed to reward employers participating in the program that are able to keep their claim costs below the preselected level they have chosen. Reductions in claim costs are the result of improvements in workplace safety and injured worker outcomes.
| Note: L&I received legislative authority to offer retro in 1980 (SSB 3169, chapter 129, Laws of 1980) and has offered retro options since 1981. In 1999, the legislature formalized the program in its own section of law (Chapter 51.18 RCW (www.leg.wa.gov)) and made retrospective rating a mandatory offering of L&I. (SB 6048, chapter 7, Laws of 1999.) |
What is the reward?
Participating employers who are successful may be refunded a portion of the premiums they paid to L&I.
| Note: Retro is not for everyone. An employer may be assessed additional premium if they are not committed to improving workplace safety and accident prevention and/or do not take appropriate action to reduce the frequency and severity of accidents to their employees. |
Are there any fees involved?
L&I does not charge fees for this program.
| Note: Organizations that sponsor retro groups can and often do charge their members fees for their services. These fees are not a requirement of L&I nor are they regulated by L&I. |
Who can participate?
Any employer that insures their workers' compensation insurance obligations with L&I and meets the requirements contained in the retro rules can participate in retro.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.18.010(1) (www.leg.wa.gov). 02‑23‑089, § 296‑17‑90401, filed 11/20/02, effective 1/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.18.010 (www.leg.wa.gov). 00‑11‑060, § 296‑17‑90401, filed 5/12/00, effective 7/1/00.]
The courts can take judicial notice of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) only as published by the Office of the Code Reviser (www.LEG.wa.gov). The text contained in this web page may reflect minor changes when compared with the WAC.
Previous Rule | Index | Next Rule
