| Spring 2009
Control Your Workers’ Comp Costs
You probably don’t think much about your workers’ compensation policy until you file a claim or pay your premium.
You may be surprised to learn that you can take small steps during the year to help control your workers’ comp costs. Visit www.texasmutual.com for more information on these topics.
Get premium discounts
Employers in similar industries can buy their coverage as a group. Group members get a premium discount, an industry-specific safety plan and potential
dividends.*
Texas Mutual offers 27 group discount programs representing a range of industries.
Group members can earn up to 12 percent more off their annual premium by choosing our workers’ comp health care network. They also benefit from the network’s focus on getting injured workers well and back on the job. See “Focus on return-to-work” below to learn why this is important.
Earn dividends
A dividend is a monetary reward for policyholders who help Texas Mutual control costs. Employers who prevent accidents improve their chances of
qualifying.
Texas Mutual has paid more than $595 million in dividends since 1999.* Many policyholders use their dividends to offset their premium.
Prevent workplace accidents
The best way to manage claims is to prevent accidents. Texas Mutual® safety services help employers keep their employees safe and on the job.
You can use the free safety resource center to find the root causes of accidents, download safety programs, compare your accident rate with others in your industry, and get training resources from our multimedia library. You can also visit www.texasmutualsafetyfirst.com for three steps to a better safety program.
If you are more comfortable face to face than in cyberspace, go to a free workers’ comp workshop. Each workshop includes a presentation by a Texas Mutual safety professional.
Focus on return-to-work
The longer injured employees are off work, the higher the costs for their employers in terms of workers’ comp benefits and lost productivity. Meanwhile, injured employees tend to get bored, stressed and depressed. Their job skills often suffer, along with their income.
A return-to-work process helps injured workers return to productive employment. If they are unable to perform all of their normal job duties, the process provides alternative productive work they can do while they recover.
Help us fight fraud
Life was good for Richard Brooks of Buna. He was earning $10,000 a week as a contractor in Iraq and collecting workers’ comp benefits.
Unfortunately for Brooks, the law frowns on claimants who double-dip, or collect benefits for being too injured to work when they are, in fact, gainfully employed.
Brooks pled guilty to workers’ compensation fraud-related charges. In 2008, a court ordered him to repay nearly $20,000 in workers’ comp benefits to Texas Mutual.
Workers’ comp fraud affects everyone in the form of higher premiums. That is why Texas Mutual Insurance Company maintains three teams of fulltime investigators.
In 2008, they saved or recovered $4.1 million through their zero tolerance for fraud program, but they can always use your help.
If you suspect a claimant, health care provider or another employer is cheating the system, call our FraudStoppersSM line at (800) 488-4488, or email fraudstoppers@texasmutual.com. You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for tips that lead to arrests or indictments.
*Past dividends are not a guarantee of future dividends. The Texas Department of Insurance must approve all dividends.
COMPNEWS - Spring 2009
Embracing Our Responsibility to You
Tips for Launching a CSR Program
Control Your Workers’ Comp Costs
Prepare for Weather-Related Emergencies
President's Message:
Hiring Teens This Summer?
You Need to Know
Fraud-Fighting Corner
Announcements
Learn More About the Workers' Comp System