Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado
Pinnacol Assurance writes workers compensation insurance in Colorado, with A- AM Best rating and a $250 minimum premium. Colorado carriers operate under NCCI rate filings, with a max weekly benefit of $1,397 and a statute of limitations of 2 years. Verified 2026-05-09.
Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado
Largest CO WC carrier (~55% market share). Political subdivision since 1915. The carrier's industry focus is CO only, quasi-public state fund, 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.
Colorado workers comp rules that apply to every carrier
Colorado workers comp benefits are set by statute, not by the carrier. The maximum weekly indemnity benefit is $1,397 at 66.67% of the average weekly wage. The statute of limitations to file a claim is 2 years from the date of injury. Coverage threshold: All businesses with employees, regardless of number of employees, part-time status, or family relation. On 1099 contractors: Independent contractors (1099) are generally not considered employees for workers' compensation purposes if they meet specific statutory criteria, but misclassification can lead to penalties.
How to get a Pinnacol Assurance quote in Colorado
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. Pinnacol Assurance 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 Pinnacol Assurance write workers comp in Colorado?
Yes. Pinnacol Assurance writes workers compensation in CO only, including Colorado. AM Best rates the carrier A- (Stable outlook), and the minimum premium is $250. Online quoting is available.
What kind of Colorado businesses does Pinnacol Assurance target?
Pinnacol Assurance focuses on CO only, quasi-public state fund. Largest CO WC carrier (~55% market share). Political subdivision since 1915.
What is the max weekly workers comp benefit in Colorado on a Pinnacol Assurance policy?
Statutory benefits are set by state law, not by the carrier. Colorado caps weekly indemnity at $1,397 (effective 2025-07-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Pinnacol Assurance pays the same statutory benefit as any other Colorado carrier.
How does Pinnacol Assurance handle 1099 contractors in Colorado?
Independent contractors (1099) are generally not considered employees for workers' compensation purposes if they meet specific statutory criteria, but misclassification can lead to penalties. Pinnacol Assurance 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 Pinnacol Assurance offer pay-as-you-go workers comp in Colorado?
Yes. Pinnacol Assurance 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 Colorado through Pinnacol Assurance.
When does Pinnacol Assurance audit my payroll in Colorado?
Colorado carriers including Pinnacol Assurance audit within 90 days of policy expiration. Have payroll segregated by class code, certificates of insurance for every subcontractor, and overtime documented separately.