Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF)
Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) is the competitive state workers compensation fund in Maryland, operating alongside private carriers. State funds typically serve as the carrier of last resort and also write voluntary policies for any qualifying employer. Verified 2026-05-09.
About Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF)
Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) is the competitive state workers compensation fund in Maryland, operating alongside private carriers. State funds typically serve as the carrier of last resort and also write voluntary policies for any qualifying employer.
State funds were originally created to ensure every employer can find workers comp coverage, even employers private carriers refuse to write. Maryland preserved a competitive market, so the state fund competes with private carriers on price and service. Some employers prefer the state fund for stable rates and consistent claims handling; others prefer private carriers for industry specialization or pay-as-you-go billing.
Pricing on a state fund policy in Maryland
State funds use the same NCCI class code rate filings as private carriers; the rate per $100 of payroll is the same. Differences come in at the schedule rating stage (where the underwriter applies discretionary credits or debits, capped at 25% in Maryland) and the dividend programs (some state funds return a portion of premium to policyholders in good loss years).
Claims handling
Statutory benefits are set by Maryland law and apply equally to state fund and private carrier policies. The state fund typically maintains its own in-house claims operation, while private carriers may use third-party administrators (TPAs). Some employers prefer the state fund for the consistency of a single in-state claims team; others prefer private carrier TPAs for specialization in their industry.
Related reading
FAQs
What is Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF)?
Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) is the competitive state workers compensation fund in Maryland, operating alongside private carriers. State funds typically serve as the carrier of last resort and also write voluntary policies for any qualifying employer.
Is Maryland a monopolistic state for workers comp?
No. Maryland is a competitive market where private carriers and Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) both write workers comp. The state fund typically serves as a carrier of last resort plus a voluntary writer for any qualifying employer.
Who is eligible to buy from Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF)?
Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) typically writes any Maryland employer the private market declines, plus voluntary submissions from employers who prefer the state fund for cost or service reasons. Some state funds have specialty programs for high-risk industries.
Who has to carry workers comp in Maryland?
All employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance.
What is the penalty for skipping coverage in Maryland?
Employers failing to carry workers' compensation insurance may face fines, stop-work orders, and personal liability for injured workers' benefits.
What is the max weekly benefit on a Chesapeake Employers Insurance (formerly IWIF) policy?
Statutory benefits are set by Maryland law and apply equally on private and state-fund policies. The max weekly indemnity benefit is $1,493 (effective 2025-01-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage.