Pulaski County will be paying more for workers’ compensation insurance next year, but will no longer have to use an assigned risk pool.
The county was dropped by the Indiana Public Employers’ Plan a year ago, since it racked up almost $1 million in claims over three years, according to a workers comp attorney. At the time, no other comparable providers wanted to submit a quote, but this year, the county got a quote from BITCO.
The quote to stay with the pool next year went up by $12,000 to almost $176,000, while BITCO’s quote was significantly higher, at almost $197,000. But Conrad told the county commissioners Monday that BITCO is prepared to offer employee training, to help minimize the workers’ comp losses and, hopefully, reduce the premium in the future. It was noted that while training has been offered to the county’s highway and sheriff’s departments, the biggest concern with workers’ comp remains the EMS Department.
After discussing the options with the incoming commissioners, the board voted to switch the worker’s comp to BITCO. Meanwhile, the cost of property and casualty insurance will once again go down next year, and the commissioners agreed to renew the policy with Bliss McKnight.
