WCRB Wisconsin Workers Comp Pool:
When the Voluntary Market Won't Write You

The Wisconsin Workers Compensation Insurance Pool (WWCIP) is administered by the Wisconsin Compensation Rating Bureau (WCRB) — a licensed rate service organization that has served Wisconsin workers compensation since 1917. The WCRB develops rates, classification systems, and policy forms, and administers the assigned risk pool on behalf of participating insurers.

Like Minnesota's MWCIA, the WCRB assigns applications to servicing carriers who administer the policies. The risk is shared across Wisconsin's workers compensation market. Wisconsin law requires employers with employees to carry workers compensation insurance — the WWCIP ensures that even employers who cannot obtain coverage voluntarily can meet this legal requirement.

Important change effective July 1, 2024: The Wisconsin Workers Compensation Insurance Pool no longer accepts hard copy applications. All applications must be submitted electronically through the WCRB's Online Assigned Risk (OAR) system. Paper applications are not accepted.

Wisconsin employers end up in the WCRB assigned risk pool for similar reasons as Minnesota employers end up in MWCIA:

• High-hazard classification — industries with elevated injury frequencies that voluntary carriers avoid in Wisconsin.
• Poor claims history — significant workers comp losses, especially recent losses that suggest inadequate safety practices.
• High experience modification factor — an experience mod well above 1.0 signals elevated risk to voluntary carriers.
• New business in high-hazard class — some voluntary carriers won't write new Wisconsin businesses in certain industries without an established track record.
• Unable to secure coverage elsewhere — the pool is the option when every voluntary carrier has declined.

Coverage is bound at 12:01 AM the day following receipt of a complete electronic application by WCRB. The assigned carrier handles all policy administration and claims.

WWCIP policies provide the same workers compensation and employers' liability coverage as voluntary market policies. Wisconsin law standardizes the coverage forms:

• Part I — Workers Compensation: Statutory Wisconsin benefits — medical treatment, wage replacement (temporary total disability, permanent total disability), permanent partial disability, and death benefits.
• Part II — Employers' Liability: Standard limits for employer liability arising from work-related injuries. Defense costs included.
• Wisconsin must be listed in Section 3-A of the policy for valid Wisconsin coverage. All-states endorsements in Section 3-C alone are not sufficient under Wisconsin law.

WWCIP policies use the same WCRB manual rates and experience rating as the voluntary market. The cost difference comes from the absence of premium discounts and dividends — voluntary market carriers can offer significant discounts to desirable accounts; the assigned risk pool cannot.

Experience modifications apply equally. An improving experience mod reduces premiums in the assigned risk pool and, more importantly, eventually opens doors to voluntary market carriers who can offer further savings through discounts.

The minimum premium applies and is subject to final audit after policy expiration. The unearned portion of the minimum premium is not returned until after the final audit is completed.

The path back to the voluntary Wisconsin workers comp market follows the same logic as Minnesota:

• Improve your experience modification factor — reduce claim frequency and severity through workplace safety programs, return-to-work programs, and documented safety training. The experience mod reflects 3 years of loss data (excluding the most recent policy year).
• Build time with a clean record — for new businesses in high-hazard classes, building a loss-free track record over time is the primary tool for accessing the voluntary market.
• Request a change of servicing carrier if needed — if you have service issues with your assigned carrier, you can request a change in writing. Disputes should first be raised with the servicing carrier; unresolved disputes can be escalated to the WWCIP pool at 262-796-4592.
• Work with Options Insurance — Tom Wertish monitors voluntary market availability for Wisconsin workers comp clients and presents options the moment they become available.