News and Updates
Category: Group Rating
Choosing the Best Workers' Comp Partner for Your Business
Even though the 2023 BWC policy year just started, we’re already looking ahead to 2024 Group Rating and Group Retro programs. It can be hard to feel like a savvy buyer when it comes to workers’ comp in Ohio, but Spooner would like to share some pointers for how to understand the timeline and choose the best partner. If you’re thinking of changing your partner for Group Rating or Group Retro, be sure not to complete the renewal that your current TPA sends this summer. Most employers don’t realize that cutting a check for a renewal in summer of 2023 will obligate them to their current TPA through June of 2025. Make sure your accounting team is aware of this, too. We’ve seen too many unhappy customers of other TPAs get trapped this way. Are you under the impression that because you’re a member of XYZ Chamber of Commerce, you have to utilize their partner for workers’ comp programs? Not the case. The sponsoring organization frames it that way because there’s money on the table. For example, if you are an XYZ Chamber member (who happens to be partnered with a specific TPA) and you want to leave that TPA, XYZ Chamber makes less money. Naturally, they want you to stay with their TPA and may even advise you can’t get that discount outside of their partnership. This is patently false. Most TPAs have access to all of the same Group Rating and Group Retro programs for all industries, and the sponsoring orga
Mergers & Acquisitions and How They Impact Your Ohio BWC Policy
Thinking of Buying a Business in 2023? Congratulations! You’ve probably spoken to your banking partner, CPA and maybe a business advisor. What about your workers’ comp TPA? It’s typically the last thing on anyone’s mind while progressing through a merger or acquisition, but reviewing the workers’ comp policy should be part of the due diligence process. With a home purchase, you have a thorough inspection done by experts that know what to look for, and they provide a report on anything that could become costly down the road. If it that analysis makes it seem like a money pit, you may choose not to move forward. Shouldn’t a buyer also investigate every angle of a business purchase the same way? Even if the purchase is “in name only,” Ohio BWC has other ideas about how much of the previous owner’s problems you’ll inherit. Let’s say you already own one business, and you’re interested in purchasing another. Your existing business is enrolled in BWC’s Group Rating program, with a 40% discount on premiums. You cover all of the usual bases during the due diligence process – examine the seller’s overall financial health, debts, leases, contracts, and any other obligations. Everything appears to be in good shape. The transaction is complete, and you now own another business. You contact your workers’ comp TPA to let them know you have a new entity to cover for workers’ co
Under 30 Days to Enroll in Group Rating!
We understand that the businesses we serve are dealing with a lot right now - recruiting, attrition, staffing shortages, shipping delays and increasing costs on everything from benefits to raw materials. We can’t fix all of those problems for you, but we can make the process of saving money on BWC premiums a lot easier than it’s been in the past. Instead of completing hardcopies and mailing or emailing them to us, Spooner clients that completed Group Rating forms with us last year (and would like to remain in that program) can now complete their Group Rating renewal on our website. If we have any questions or concerns about your answers, we’ll reach out to the person that completed the form. Enrollment ends on 11/11! If you're not a Spooner client and would like us to provide your comany a quote on Group Rating, click the "Free Quote" link at the top of our page, and complete the form by
Group Rating Renewal is Now Even Easier for Spooner Clients!
We understand that the businesses we serve are dealing with a lot right now - recruiting, attrition, staffing shortages, shipping delays and increasing costs on everything from benefits to raw materials. We can’t fix all of those problem for you, but we can make the process of saving money on BWC premiums a lot easier than it’s been in the past. Instead of completing hardcopies and mailing or emailing them to us, Spooner clients that completed Group Rating forms with us last year (and would like to remain in that program) can now complete their Group Rating renewal on our website. If we have any questions or concerns about your answers, we’ll reach out to the person that completed
2023 Program Enrollment is Live!
It seems far away (and it is), but enrollment for 2023-2024 Ohio BWC savings programs has already started. We’ve had some other blogs that helped educate employers on how to choose the right TPA, but here are some additional things to be on the lookout for during “open season.” • Your current TPA will send your renewal for 2023-24 very soon, if they haven’t already. This is usually done in the hopes that you’ll go ahead and process it just to get it off your desk. There’s nothing wrong with taking your time and doing your research. If you send the renewal back to them in July 2022, you’re stuck with them through June 30, 2024. • There are some sneaky marketing pieces out there from our competitors. We’ve seen mailers that say, “We value your continued business – your renewal is enclosed!” This would be great if you were actually their client. If there’s a new decision maker, or this ends up going straight to Accounts Payable, now you have a new TPA that you didn’t ask for. • Are you being provided with program options - or being re-enrolled in Group Rating every year, with the assumption that your TPA would tell you if it wasn’t the most advantageous? Would Group Retro save you more money, or even an option outside of BWC? What other discount programs can you stack with the program you plan on
