Washington State Workers’ Compensation Benefits Increase

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Workers’ compensation benefits for Washington workers injured on the job increased by 5.4 percent to $2.3 billion in 2009, according to a study released today by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). The number of covered workers in Washington fell to 2.7 million in 2009 (the most recent year with complete data), a 4.3 percent drop from the previous year, due in large part to the economic downturn.

Workers’ compensation benefits for medical care in Washington increased by 1.1 percent to $0.8 billion and cash benefits increased by 7.9 percent to $1.5 billion in 2009. Spending on medical care in Washington constituted 35 percent of total benefits.

Nationally, workers’ compensation benefits increased 0.4 percent to $58.3 billion. This change included both a 1.1 percent decrease in medical benefits and 1.9 percent increase in cash benefits. Employment of covered workers fell by 4.4 percent, while employer costs declined by 7.6 percent; both numbers represent the biggest percentage declines in over 20 years.

The new report, Workers’ Compensation: Benefits, Coverage and Costs, 2009, is the fourteenth in the series which provides the only comprehensive data on workers’ compensation benefits for the nation, the states, the District of Columbia, and federal programs.

       Workers' Compensation Benefits and Coverage
                          2009
                       WASHINGTON
                                          Change In
      Aggregate Amounts            2009     Percent
      Covered workers (in
       millions)                    2.7        -4.3
      Covered wages (in
       billions)                   $127        -2.5
      Workers' compensation
       benefits paid (in
       billions)                   $2.3         5.4
          Medical benefits          0.8         1.1
          Cash benefits             1.5         7.9
      Medical benefits share         35%          -
                     UNITED STATES
     Covered workers (in
      millions)                   124.9        -4.4
     Covered wages (in
      billions)                  $5,675        -4.7
     Workers' compensation
      benefits paid (in
      billions)                   $58.3         0.4
         Medical benefits          28.9        -1.1
         Cash benefits             29.4         1.9
     Employer costs               $73.9        -7.6

The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of the nation’s leading experts on social insurance. Its mission is to promote understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security and a vibrant economy.

SOURCE The National Academy of Social Insurance