[Drango]

Our workmans comp more than tripled from last year to this and we have no employees. My husband is a general contractor who gets contracts through the county so we are required to carry it.

??? I don't think I understand...Every firm is required to carry it *IF* you have employees. And if you don't have WC and ther is an injury, the owner is personally liable for all claims.

*IF* you don't have any employees there is nothing to insure. However, it appears, the county is making sure your subs have it

[farmfriend]

No, our subs can not use it either. This is just to have the insurance policy. WE have no employees and would be paying money on top of this per employee according to their wages if we did.

[lakey]

I'm trying to remember back 30+ years re: WC. I believe we had to maintain a cash reserve for a certain amount of employees - but was it in a state fund, or did an insurance company keep it in trust? $3,500 reserve for 40 employees sounds right. But if anyone was injured and filed a claim, our reserve went up.

I do recall being ticked off at how easily a broken toe claim was settled and the amount of the settlement - lump sum of $3,000. But some poor yodel with a serious injury, who could never return to the same job, would go through test after test, in and out of one hospital after another at the state's demand, and wait years for a decision.

On top of escalating medical costs, be assured attorneys are a major reason the system is "broke."