Employers Holdings in California
Employers Holdings writes workers compensation insurance in California, with A AM Best rating and a $250 minimum premium. California carriers operate under WCIRB rate filings, with a max weekly benefit of $1,764 and a statute of limitations of 1 year. Verified 2026-05-09.
Employers Holdings in California
WC-only carrier. Cerity is their direct/digital subsidiary. The carrier's industry focus is small business specialist (under 50 employees), and the AM Best rating is A with a Stable outlook. Online quoting is available through the carrier portal. Pay-as-you-go billing is available, which reconciles premium each pay period instead of at the annual audit. Self-service audit is available, employers can upload payroll records through a portal instead of waiting for an auditor visit.
California workers comp rules that apply to every carrier
California workers comp benefits are set by statute, not by the carrier. The maximum weekly indemnity benefit is $1,764 at 66.67% of the average weekly wage. The statute of limitations to file a claim is 1 year from the date of injury. Coverage threshold: Employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. On 1099 contractors: California's AB 5 (ABC test) makes it difficult to classify workers as independent contractors (1099); misclassification can lead to significant penalties and workers' compensation liability.
How to get a Employers Holdings quote in California
Have your FEIN, NCCI class code (or job description if you do not know the code yet), estimated annual payroll by class code, three years of loss runs from prior carriers, your published EMR (experience modifier) if you have one, and certificates of insurance for any subcontractors. Employers Holdings can quote faster with complete information; missing payroll detail or loss runs typically delays underwriting by 5 to 10 business days. For accounts under the carrier-set premium ceiling, the online portal can issue a quote in under an hour.
Related
FAQs
Does Employers Holdings write workers comp in California?
Yes. Employers Holdings writes workers compensation in 46 states, including California. AM Best rates the carrier A (Stable outlook), and the minimum premium is $250. Online quoting is available.
What kind of California businesses does Employers Holdings target?
Employers Holdings focuses on small business specialist (under 50 employees). WC-only carrier. Cerity is their direct/digital subsidiary.
What is the max weekly workers comp benefit in California on a Employers Holdings policy?
Statutory benefits are set by state law, not by the carrier. California caps weekly indemnity at $1,764 (effective 2026-01-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Employers Holdings pays the same statutory benefit as any other California carrier.
How does Employers Holdings handle 1099 contractors in California?
California's AB 5 (ABC test) makes it difficult to classify workers as independent contractors (1099); misclassification can lead to significant penalties and workers' compensation liability. Employers Holdings audits 1099 status against the same standard at policy audit; missing certificates of insurance for subcontractors typically lead to the sub payroll being added to the rated base.
Does Employers Holdings offer pay-as-you-go workers comp in California?
Yes. Employers Holdings offers pay-as-you-go workers comp, where premium is calculated each pay period based on actual payroll instead of estimated annual payroll. Pay-as-you-go reduces audit surprises and is available in California through Employers Holdings.
When does Employers Holdings audit my payroll in California?
California carriers including Employers Holdings audit within 90 days of policy expiration. Have payroll segregated by class code, certificates of insurance for every subcontractor, and overtime documented separately.