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Residual Market Carrier Resources

The Residual Market Carrier Resource page is being provided to assist both the Servicing Carriers and Voluntary Direct Assignment Carriers in carrying out their responsibilities for policies issued through the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Assigned Risk Pool.

Important Changes:

  • Effective October 1, 2023 the executive officer weekly min/max changed to $290/$1,430 (annual $15,080/$74,360). Refer to Circular Letter 2420 dated October 3, 2023.

  • Effective October 1, 2023 the premium determination to be used for sole proprietors, partners, and members of an LLC who elect to be covered as employees is $65,400. Refer to Circular Letter 2421 dated October 3, 2023.

  • Effective April 1, 2021 WCRIBMA adopted the national classification phraseology and scope drafted by NCCI for Code 5606 – Contractor —Project Manager, Construction Executive, Construction Manager, or Construction Superintendent. Refer to Circular Letter 2384 dated April 12, 2021.

  • Effective January 1, 2021 the TRIPRA 2019 Endorsement WC000422C is mandatory for all policies. Endorsement WC000115 has been withdrawn. Refer to Circular Letter #2369 dated May 27, 2020 for details.

  • Circular Letter #2367 was issued on May 14, 2020 to update Circular Letter #2338 in light of the new laws and rules applicable to Professional Employer Organizations that were announced in Circular Letter #2360 dated February 25, 2020.

  • As a result of the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency and at the direction of the Division of Insurance (DOI), the WCRIBMA is relaxing the Performance Standards for Assigned Carriers and related Pool Procedures in order to give all Pool carriers the flexibility to address the concerns of their policyholders who can demonstrate that they have been materially impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. This flexibility is effectively immediately and will continue until the current situation improves and the state of emergency is lifted.  Refer to Circular Letter #2361 dated March 24, 2020 for details.

  • Effective April 1, 2020 the Division approved changes to the rules and endorsements for Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). Refer to Circluar Letter #2360 dated February 25, 2020 for details.

  • Effective January 2020 the WCRIBMA introduced our Manage Ownership tool.  For additional information on this tool, refer to Circular Letter #2359 dated January 10, 2020 for details.

  • Effective January 1, 2020 endorsement WC000115 Notification Endorsement of Pending Law Change to Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 is mandatory for all new and renewal assigned risk policies. Refer to Circular Letter 2344 dated October 25, 2018.

  • Circular letter 2338 was issued on September 28, 2018 to provide clarification to the Massachusetts workers’ compensation industry with regard to both the issuance and the reporting of policies issued to employee leasing companies, professional employer organizations, staffing firms, and temporary employment agencies.

  • Effective July 1, 2018 the scopes of classification codes 5040, 5059 & 5538 have been clarified with regard to steel erection operations. Rerfer to Circular Letter 2331 dated March 29, 2019.

  • WCRIBMA issued Notice To Pool Carriers No. 18-1 on February 1, 2018 to provide clarification on the use of the Waiver Of Our Right To Recover From Others Endoresment (WC000313) on policies issued through the MA Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Pol. 

  • Effective May 1, 2017 the Commissioner of Insurance approved a filing to merge certain classifications and to eliminate certain low credibility classifications. Refer to Circular Letter 2310 dated March 3, 2017.

  • Effective May 1, 2017 the Anniversary Rate Date was eliminated. Refer to Circular Letter 2294 dated September 20, 2016.

  • Effective January 1, 2017 the existing MWCARP Assigned Risk Pool Application was revised and supplemental applications were revised and/or introduced. Refer to Circular Letter 2300 dated October 28, 2016.

  • Effective July 1, 2016 the Commissioner of Insurance approved changes to MA Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Pool Plan of Operation that restricted the availability of FELA coverage to the voluntary market. Refer to Circular Letter 2278 dated April 1, 2016.

  • Effective July 1, 2016 the Commissioner of Insurance approved changes to rules and rates applicable to risks with Admiralty and FELA classes. Refer to Circular Letter 2277 dated March 30, 2016.

  • Effective July 1, 2016 updates to the Performance Standards were approved by the Division of Insurance. Refer to Special Bulletin No. 04-16 dated March 24, 016.

  • Effective September 2015 the WCRIBMA introduced our Online Certificate of Insurance tool. For additional information on monitoring and retrieving certificates issued through this tool, refer to the Manage Policy User Guide or to Circular Letter #2263 dated September 11, 2015.

  • Effective January 1, 2015 the per passenger seat surcharge, which was applied to policies with Classification Code 7421, was eliminated. Refer to Circular Letter 2232 dated January 31, 2014.

  • Effective December 22, 2014 the WCRIBMA will no longer mail to carriers Notices of Credit or Notices of Ineligibility issued under the Massachusetts Construction Classification Premium Adjustment Program (CPAP). Residual and voluntary market carriers are now required to access their CPAP letters in Manage Policy within the Secured Online Services Account (SOSA) area of the WCRIBMA’s website. Refer to Circular Letter #2249 dated December 22, 2014.

  • The MA Limited Other States Coverage, WC200306A, was changed to the MA Limited Other States Benefit Endorsement, WC200306B, which was approved effective June 1, 2013. Refer to Special Bulletin 06-13 dated March 26, 2013.

  • Updated Audit Guidelines for Sole Proprietor and Partnership Certificates of Insurance. Refer to Circular Letter 2199 dated July 3, 2012, 

  • Non-negotiable payments on new assignments only - when a premium check is returned as non‐negotiable, the policy has not been issued, and the carrier does not receive a replacement check by the specified due date; then the carrier must email a copy of the letter sent to the insured to the WCRIBMA’s mailbox at mwcarp@wcribma.org.

If you are a Massachusetts Residual Market carrier and have a suggestion for an additional resource, please send your comments to website@wcribma.org.

 

 

Resources

Mandatory Endorsements

NCCI's Servicing Carrier Reference Guide

Notices to Pool Carriers

Paid Loss Ratio Incentive Program

Performance Standards

Pool Procedures - Existing Policies

The Workers' Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau of Massachusetts
101 Arch Street, 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02110