Hospice Care - Professional workers comp rate in California
The filed workers comp rate for class code 8870 (Hospice Care - Professional) in California is $0.940 per $100 of payroll. On $500,000 of payroll, that is roughly $4,700 in base premium.
Workers comp rules in California affecting code 8870
California uses WCIRB for workers comp rate setting. Coverage is mandatory once an employer crosses the threshold of Employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance.. The state uses an independent rating bureau rather than NCCI, so rate filings may diverge in methodology from the national NCCI standard.
Subcontractor coverage in California
General contractors are responsible for ensuring subcontractors carry workers' compensation insurance; otherwise, the general contractor may be liable for injuries to the subcontractor's employees.
Owner-exclusion rules for code 8870
Californiaallows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage. Excluding $80,000 of owner payroll at $0.940 saves $752 per year.
1099 contractor handling
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.
Penalty for failing to carry coverage
Failure to carry workers' compensation insurance can result in stop orders, fines up to $100,000, and potential criminal charges.
Audit window after policy expiration
After your policy expires, California's rating authority allows within 90 days of policy expiration for a premium audit. Code 8870 payroll discovered late can result in additional premium owed. Maintain segregated payroll records for at least the audit window plus one year.
Ways to lower your premium for code 8870 in California
Most employers paying for code 8870 could reduce annual premium by 10-30% by applying one or more of the levers below. Each is grounded in California-specific rules where applicable.
- Experience modifier (EMR): A 0.85 EMR (well-managed) cuts $0.940 to $0.799 per $100, saving roughly $705 on a $500K payroll. A 1.25 EMR (loss-burdened) inflates it to $1.17. Build a lower EMR by reducing claim frequency (every claim hurts the modifier even if dollar cost is small).
- Schedule credits: California permits up to 25% schedule credit at underwriter discretion. At $0.940, a 7% credit lowers your effective rate to $0.874 per $100.
- Deductible plans: Per-claim or aggregate deductibles ($1K-$10K typical) cut premium 5-15%. Best fit when historical claim count is low.
- Reclassify payroll: Code 8870 may be applied too broadly. If a portion of payroll is genuinely clerical and properly segregated, that portion can be reported as code 8810 (clerical) at $0.10-$0.30 per $100.
- PEO or staff leasing: A Professional Employer Organization can pool your code-8870 payroll with similar businesses in California, often securing better blended rates than your standalone EMR can achieve.
- Dividend or retro plans: Some carriers offer participating policies that return a dividend if your loss ratio stays below a target. Best for employers with predictably good loss experience.
- Wrap-up policy for projects: For larger code-8870 operations (especially construction), an OCIP or CCIP wrap can consolidate coverage at lower aggregate cost.
Common claim drivers in healthcare affecting code 8870
Rate filings for code 8870 reflect what actually drives claim cost for this occupation across NCCI's national experience and California's state-specific loss data. The largest drivers behind the $0.940 rate are typically:
- Patient-handling injuries. Lifting and transferring patients drives 35-50% of healthcare worker comp claim cost.
- Sharps and bloodborne exposure. Needlestick injuries trigger long-tail surveillance and treatment claims.
- Workplace violence. Patient and visitor aggression is rising sharply in ER, behavioral health, and long-term care.
Targeting these in your safety program produces the largest EMR improvement. Most claim-frequency reductions come from controls on the top two drivers above; severity reductions require return-to-work programs and aggressive medical management.
FAQ
What is the workers comp rate for code 8870 in California?
The filed workers comp loss cost or rate for NCCI class code 8870 in California is $0.940 per $100 of payroll.
How much would I pay on $500,000 payroll?
At $0.940 per $100, $500,000 yields a base premium of $4,700 before EMR and schedule credits. With an EMR of 0.85, effective rate is $0.799; with 1.25, it is $1.17.
Is California an NCCI state?
No. California uses an independent rating bureau (WCIRB) rather than NCCI, so rate filings may diverge in methodology from the national NCCI standard.
Can I get a schedule credit on code 8870 in California?
California permits up to 25% schedule credit. At $0.940, a 10% credit lowers effective rate to $0.846 per $100.
Can I exclude myself from code 8870 coverage in California?
Yes. California allows business owners to file an election excluding themselves from workers comp coverage on their own payroll.