Group Rating Program hits highest enrollmentThe number of participants in the Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program for Farm Bureau members jumped 782 in 2001, a 30 percent increase. In 2002 enrolled participants totaled 3,373 with 2,105 in the agriculture group. The Group Rating Program through GatesMcDonald, an affiliate of Nationwide Insurance, enables small employers to combine payroll and claim expenses to take advantage of premium savings currently reserved for large employers. Savings generally range from 60 to 90 percent. The Group Rating Program has produced more than $17 million in savings this year for hundreds of farm, service and transportation businesses in Ohio. The average agriculture employer saved nearly $4,000. More than 3,373 employers currently participate in the program, now in its 13th year. "The Group Rating Program allows everyone in the group to be viewed as one employer with a better-than-average loss experience," said Kathy Redmond, account executive at GatesMcDonald. "So members of the group receive much better rates from the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. By accepting only safety-minded employers into the group, we ensure that group members maintain their savings on premiums." The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation breaks employers down into 10 different industry groups: agriculture, extraction, manufacturing, construction, transportation, utilities, commercial, service, high risk commercial, and office/clerical. "In 2002 we were able to form four new industry groups, manufacturing, construction (level 2), commercial and office, covering eight of the 10 industry groups," Redmond said. The Farm Bureau also has partnerships with some other sponsoring organizations throughout the state that allow their members to enjoy group savings as well. "The Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has been a tremendous benefit for our agriculture member employers," said Dan Rapp, OFBF director of member services. "It is a win-win for both employer and employee." Call 800-336-4733 and ask to speak with Redmond for more information.
| |