NCCI · 17 states

Workers comp rates for code 7402: Ambulance Service

NCCI class code 7402 covers Ambulance Service in the healthcare industry. The median rate across 17 states is $0.092 per $100 payroll. Rates range from $0.030 in Utah to $0.150 in Nevada.

Also known as: Emergency Medical Transport · Paramedic Service

Cheapest 5 states for code 7402

  1. Utah $0.030
  2. Kansas $0.040
  3. Virginia $0.046
  4. Maryland $0.050
  5. Tennessee $0.050

Most expensive 5 states

  1. Nevada $0.150
  2. Alabama $0.130
  3. Rhode Island $0.120
  4. Indiana $0.110
  5. Hawaii $0.110

What does NCCI class code 7402 cover?

Class code 7402 classifies employees performing Ambulance Service, also known as Emergency Medical Transport, Paramedic Service. The NCCI classification system groups occupations by similar workplace exposure, loss-experience patterns, and operational characteristics. Code 7402 falls within the healthcare industry group and is filed in 17 states.

NCCI's governing classification rules state that a single-classification employer with at least 51% of payroll in this occupation generally classifies all employees under code 7402, with two standard exceptions: clerical office work (segregated payroll records required, reported under code 8810) and outside sales / collectors (code 8742). If your operation has multiple distinct activities, ask your underwriter about a multi-class split before accepting a single-code rating.

Why rates for code 7402 vary so widely across states

The rate spread for code 7402 is 5.0× from cheapest to most expensive ($0.030 in Utah to $0.150 in Nevada). This isn't randomness, it reflects each state's claim experience for the occupation over the most-recent 5-year window NCCI uses, medical inflation in that state's hospital/clinic market, indemnity (lost-wage) cost levels driven by state maximum weekly benefit caps, and rating-bureau methodology. Independent-bureau states (California's WCIRB, New York's NYCIRB, Pennsylvania's PCRB, New Jersey's NJCRIB, Massachusetts's WCRIBMA, Delaware's DCRB, Wisconsin's WCRB, North Carolina's NCRB, Texas's TDI) often diverge significantly from NCCI's national pure premium, sometimes by 30% or more on the same occupation. Monopolistic-fund states (Ohio, North Dakota, Washington, Wyoming) don't allow private carrier competition, so the state fund's pricing is the only available option.

How to use this code 7402 rate data

  1. Benchmark your carrier quote. A carrier quoting code 7402 above the $0.110 75th-percentile rate is asking for a premium-rated quote, push back or get a second quote.
  2. Identify the right state filing. Use the table below to find your state's filed rate. If your carrier is quoting at a higher rate, the difference is either schedule debit, EMR, deductible loading, or a state-fund surcharge, ask which.
  3. Calculate your effective rate. Effective rate = base rate × EMR ± schedule credit/debit ± deductible loading. Two carriers quoting code 7402 at the same base can vary 30%+ on effective rate after these adjustments.
  4. Consider lower-rate states if locationally flexible. For code 7402, Utah ($0.030) is 80% cheaper than Nevada ($0.150). Multi-state employers split payroll by state-of-work, not state-of-headquarters, so locating the high-payroll site in a cheaper state directly lowers premium.
  5. Build a 3-year EMR strategy. A 0.85 EMR cuts base rate by 15%; the difference between 0.85 and 1.25 EMR on the same code is a 47% premium difference. Frequency control (preventing every claim, even small ones) drives EMR more than severity control.

Code 7402 rates in all 17 states

State Code Rate per $100 vs peers Source
Utah 7402 $0.030 6% view
Kansas 7402 $0.040 12% view
Virginia 7402 $0.046 18% view
Maryland 7402 $0.050 29% view
Tennessee 7402 $0.050 29% view
Kentucky 7402 $0.060 41% view
Oregon 7402 $0.060 41% view
Alaska 7402 $0.090 47% view
Illinois 7402 $0.092 53% view
Arkansas 7402 $0.100 71% view
Louisiana 7402 $0.100 71% view
Oklahoma 7402 $0.100 71% view
Hawaii 7402 $0.110 82% view
Indiana 7402 $0.110 82% view
Rhode Island 7402 $0.120 88% view
Alabama 7402 $0.130 94% view
Nevada 7402 $0.150 100% view

Bottom quartile (cheap) Mid Top quartile (expensive)

What types of claims drive code 7402 rates?

Workers comp rate filings for code 7402 reflect what's actually happening on the job, not just generic occupation hazard. NCCI publishes loss-cost analyses showing which injury categories account for the bulk of indemnity (lost-wage) and medical claim cost. For Ambulance Service, the top drivers are typically:

  • Patient-handling injuries, lifting and transferring patients, drive 35-50% of healthcare claim cost.
  • Workplace violence, increasingly cited in ER, behavioral health, and long-term care, is the fastest-growing healthcare claim category.
  • Sharps and bloodborne pathogen exposure, including needlestick injuries, produce long-tail surveillance claims.
  • Slips, trips, falls on wet floors are persistent frequency drivers.

Targeting these drivers in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Frequency control (preventing every claim, including small medical-only incidents) drives the modifier more than severity control. A documented written safety program addressing the top two drivers above is typically the highest-ROI intervention for employers paying for code 7402.

FAQs about NCCI 7402

What occupation is NCCI class code 7402?

Class code 7402 is "Ambulance Service" (also known as Emergency Medical Transport, Paramedic Service), in the healthcare industry. The code is filed in 17 states.

What is the average workers comp rate for code 7402?

The median rate across 17 states is $0.092 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.030 (Utah) to $0.150 (Nevada).

Why does code 7402 cost more in some states than others?

Workers comp rates reflect each state's loss experience for that occupation, the rating bureau's methodology (NCCI vs. independent), schedule rating credits, and the state's medical-cost inflation. Some states are monopolistic (only the state fund writes coverage) while others are open competitive markets.