Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the California WCIRB’s release of a new report that examines the characteristics of COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims in California and their impact on the state’s workers’ comp system.
Key findings included that as the economy has reopened, and following the Omicron surge, COVID-19 claims continue to be a modest share of all indemnity claims ; over one-half of all reported COVID-19 indemnity claims continue to arise from workers in the healthcare sector.; and Accident Year 2021 COVID-19 claims are emerging as less severe than those from Accident Year 2020, partially due to a higher share of claims with incurred indemnity but no incurred medical loss. The WCIRB will also be hosting a free webinar next week to discuss the study’s findings, including the characteristics of COVID-19 claims and how they compare to the non-COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims in the state.