What is Group Rating?

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) allows companies in similar industries to "group" their workers' compensation claims experiences for rating purposes.    By pooling companies with good claims experience, the group can obtain up to a 85% discount on workers' comp premiums - as if the entire group was one large company.  With group rating, coverage is still provided by the BWC. Each member still maintains their own BWC policy number and payments are still made to the BWC. The premium statements that come from the Bureau will reflect the group discounted rate.

Why Do Employers Need Group Rating?

Group Rating is the only guaranteed way companies can save significantly on their workers' compensation premium.  Compensation Consultants Inc. (CCI) group rating programs have saved our participants over $1.1 billion in workers' compensation premiums.  For every $1 spent in fees to participate in CCI group rating programs, the average participant saved $14.58 in workers' comp premiums in 2005 - a 1400 percent return on investment.

Group Savings

CCI represents more than 150 different associations and chambers of commerce, which offer group programs in almost every industry.  Our Buckeye Workers' Compensation Program, an alliance of these associations and chambers, offers several savings levels in each industry ranging from 85%, 80%, 70%, 50%, 40% and even as low as 15% for some companies with high claims costs.

Group Stability

Currently, more than 15,000 companies participate in CCI administered group rating programs.  Therefore, CCI is one of the largest third party administrators in Ohio.  It is important to belong to a large group rating program because the larger the group, the less vulnerable it is to projection fluctuations.  Last year, CCI's projected rates averaged within two percentage points of the actual rates.

Administrative Services

Administrative services are another important aspect to review when choosing a group rating program.  When employers join a CCI group rating program, they are also purchasing our services.  In order to remain in a group rating program, companies must contain claims costs.  Incurring excessive claims may cause an employer to be removed from a group rating program.  Some third party administrators may offer a 85 percent savings, but provide less than adequate claims service.  Therefore, a company may save 85 percent one year, incur a few claims which are not properly managed, then be removed from group rating altogether the next year.

CCI offers claims representation, rating analysis, hearing representation and more to our group rating program members.  We are involved in the everyday account management of your workers' compensation needs.  CCI goes the extra mile to keep our members in our group rating program.  By employing powerful cost control techniques, we help our clients continue to qualify year after year.

It Pays to Compare

All companies should annually review their group rating status. Through CCI, you are entitled to receive a NO COST, NO OBLIGATION, review of your potential workers' compensation premium savings. Even if your company is currently enrolled in a group rating program or did not qualify for group rating last year, we encourage you to take a look at us. Each year the BWC assigns new rates based on an employer's payroll and experience. A company who did not previously qualify due to a penalty rating may qualify this year.

How Do I Enroll?

Complete the Group Rating Application and click the "done" button once complete. You will then have the opportunity to change any information before finally hitting the "Submit Group Application" button. Once your group application is submitted electronically, you will receive a confirmation by mail of receipt of the application. You will also receive an e-mail confirming receipt. Your no-cost, no-obligation analysis of your potential premium savings will then be mailed to you in November/December. For additional information, please see the group rating calendar.