CA Workers' comp costs continue downward trend - Sacramento Business Journal:

Workers' comp costs continue downward trend - Sacramento Business Journal:: "Sacramento Business Journal - December 19, 2006
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Business News - Local News

Workers' comp costs continue downward trend
Sacramento Business Journal - 2:27 PM PST Tuesday
by Kelly Johnson
Staff writer

California's workers' compensation system is continuing to make strides, an industry trade group said Monday.

California written premium reported for the first nine months of 2006 is estimated to be $12.8 billion, 21 percent below the same period in 2005, according to the Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. The industry group tracks trends in the mandatory insurance program to assist workers injured on the job and advises the state.

On average, employers paid $3.21 per $100 of payroll for workers' comp coverage in the third quarter, 29 percent below the average rate charged for the second six months of 2005 and 50 percent below the average rate charged in the second six months of 2003, the Rating Bureau found. July 1, 2003 is considered to be the high point for workers' comp system costs, before system reforms began taking effect.

Insurers spent 43 cents on claims for every doll"