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Experience Modification Rate

(EMR): Explained

An Experience Modification Rate (EMR) has a significant impact on the worker's compensation insurance premium of a business. The EMR is a metric that insurers use to calculate worker's compensation premiums; it takes into account the number of claims/injuries a company has had in the past and their corresponding costs. An EMR of 1.0 is the benchmark average -- if your company's EMR number is lower than average, (e.g. less than 1.0), your worker's compensation premium will be lower than average. An EMR number greater than 1.0 will result in a higher than average premium.

Now that you have a better grasp of the basic definition of an Experience Modification Rate, let's delve a bit deeper into the subject and examine ways in which this number can affect your business.

How Your Experience Modification Rate (EMR) is Calculated

Although the process of figuring out exactly what your company's EMR is (or will be) involves some intensive calculations, the explanation of the formula is relatively simplistic. 

The experience modifier adjusts workers compensation insurance premiums for a particular employer based on a comparison of past losses of that employer to what is calculated to be "average" losses of other employers in that state in the same business, adjusted for size. To do this, experience modifier calculations use loss information reported in by an employer's past insurers. This is compared to a calculation of expected losses for a company in that line of work, in that particular state, and adjusted for the size of the employer. The calculation of expected losses utilizes past audited payroll information for a particular employer, by classification code and state. These payrolls are multiplied by Expected Loss Rates, which are calculated by rating bureaus based on past reported claims costs per classification.¹ 

The EMR for your company is most likely calculated by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) (currently for 39 of the 50 states). If you do business in one of the states that does not adhere to the NCCI standards, an independent agency determines the EMR. 

It is important to note that the NCCI's EMR is "mandatory", which means that if your company meets the basic eligibility premium criteria established for your state, the rate calculated by NCCI will apply to your company. This standard cannot be changed by an individual insurance provider.

What does the EMR mean to your company?

Since your EMR determines your worker's compensation liability premium, this rate directly affects your bottom line: the higher your risk rate, the more money you pay for worker's comp insurance. If your organization has experienced a string of incidents which have resulted in your EMR being significantly higher than the 1.0 average for your industry, you run the risk of being saddled with a hefty worker's comp insurance premium payment. This can put your firm at an extreme disadvantage relative to competitors, with all other things being equal.

For example, if your company has an EMR of 1.4 and your direct competitor has a spotless record (resulting in an EMR of .85), that puts you at a 55% disadvantage from the start. Depending on the industry that you are in and how large your operations are, this can result in an exorbitant premium. Using a round number of $100,000 for ease of calculations, your firm would pay $140,000 for the same insurance that your competitor would get for $85,000! 

How to improve the EMR 

As is the case with any form of insurance, the more you use, the higher your premium. So, the quick and easy answer is to reduce the number of accidents that result in claims and losses. Of course, this is far easier said then done.

Safety resources like Safety Audit and Inspection Software, Incident Management Software (e.g. near miss, hazardous conditions, property damage, first aid, injury and illness), Corrective Action Software and Online Safety Compliance Training are available to companies willing to invest the time to improve their track record and lower their EMR. 

Another facet to consider with regard to your EMR is timeliness in closing claims. The rationale for this is the following: once a claim becomes open, the insurance company will assign an "open reserve" on the claim -- a cap on what they will pay. Until the claim gets paid, that open cap is the amount reported to NCCI. In the vast majority of cases, the actual settlement amount is less than the cap. For this reason, settling and closing a case in the most expeditious manner possible will aid you in keeping your EMR as low as possible.

Want additional information on how to improve the EMR? See the article: Understanding the Experience Modification Rate (EMR) and Tools to Help Improve.

Resources to improve the EMR  

EHSSoftware.io has a successful track record of helping companies reduce their EMR with Safety Audit and Inspection Software, Incident Management Software (e.g. near miss, hazardous conditions, property damage, first aid, injury and illness), Corrective Action Software and Online Safety Compliance Training.

To learn more use the schedule consultation button below to schedule a 20 minute introductory call or request a consultation.

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1. Experience modifier. (2016, December 10). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:57, April 7, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Experience_modifier&oldid=754113416