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Idaho Workers’ Compensation Law
In Idaho, every employer with one or more employees needs workers’ compensation insurance. This includes full-time and part-time employees, as well as seasonal and occasional workers.1 For employees who have a work-related injury or illness, workers’ comp helps provide:
- Medical benefits
- Wage replacement
- Disability benefits
On top of helping injured workers, workers’ comp limits the amount of liability you could face if a work-related injury or illness occurs.2
It’s up to you to get your workers’ compensation coverage through:3
- The state insurance fund
- The assigned risk pool
- Self-insurance
- Private insurance carriers
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage
If you have employees, you must have workers’ compensation insurance in Idaho.
Idaho workers’ compensation requirements say that you need a policy before you hire your first employee.4 It’s easy to meet Idaho’s requirement by getting a workers’ comp policy from us.
What’s covered? Idaho workers’ compensation helps cover medical care if your employees become sick or injured because of their job. It also provides missed wage benefits if your employees need time off work to recover.
Idaho workers’ compensation can help cover your employees if they:
- Trip in the office, break their wrist and need to go to the emergency room.
- Tear a ligament while fulfilling customer orders in your warehouse.
- Come down with carpal tunnel syndrome after years of bad typing habits.
Proof of coverage, also known as a certificate of insurance, is required by Idaho workers’ compensation law. You’ll need to file your proof of coverage with the Industrial Commission.5 Getting proof of coverage from us is easy, and you can start by getting a workers’ compensation quote or speaking with one of our insurance professionals.
What Idaho Workers’ Compensation Covers:
Idaho workers’ compensation may also help cover costs related to:
Accidents or injuries that occur on the job.
Repetitive injuries that develop from ongoing strain or stress.
Illnesses caused by exposure to harmful substances at work.
Ongoing care, like physical therapy, needed to recover from a severe injury.
Missed wages if an injured or ill employee needs time off from work. Workers’ comp will usually provide a percentage of their average weekly wage before their injury or illness. In Idaho, there are maximums and minimums for these payments.6
Funeral costs in the unfortunate event that your employee dies on the job.
Disability benefits if your employee suffers an injury that leads to temporary or permanent disability.
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Rates
In Idaho, workers’ comp rates depend on your business’ payroll and the type of work your employees do. As a business owner, you’re required to pay the entire cost of your workers’ compensation coverage. You can’t put any of that cost onto your employees at any time.7
To learn more about how much workers’ comp might cost for your business, you can contact private insurance agents or get a quote today.
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Exemptions
Some Idaho businesses may be exempt from the workers’ compensation law. This includes businesses that employ:8
- Household domestic service workers
- Workers covered by the federal workers’ compensation law
- Dusting or agricultural spraying pilots (these are only exempt under certain conditions)
- Commission-based real estate brokers and salespeople
- Volunteer ski patrollers
- Athletic contest officials in secondary schools (grades 7-12)
- Casual employees that work at irregular times and are not related to the business of the employer
- Outworker employees
You also may have a workers’ comp exemption if you’re a sole proprietorship with:
- No employees
- Employees that are family members and living in your current household
Even if your business is exempt, it’s still a good idea to buy workers’ compensation coverage. If you don’t, your employees may sue you if they suffer a job-related injury or illness.
Idaho Workers’ Compensation & Contract Labor
In Idaho, the law considers contract workers to be employees. If you hire contract workers, it’s best to check with an Industrial Commission Employer Compliance representative to see if they need coverage.9
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Penalties
If your business doesn’t follow Idaho’s workers’ comp laws, you may face disciplinary actions, penalties and lawsuits for any work-related injury or illness that happens.
If one of your employees gets injured on the job, and you’ve failed to provide workers’ comp coverage, you may be liable for:10
- Medical benefits
- Missed wages
- Other workers’ compensation benefits provided under the law
If this happens, your business may be responsible for an additional penalty of 10% of the total medical and wage loss benefits. You may also be liable for attorney fees if your employee sues you.11
You’ll also have to pay $2 per employee for each day they were without coverage, or $25 per day total, whichever amount is higher. If you fail to provide workers’ comp insurance, you can even face a misdemeanor charge, resulting in criminal penalties.12
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Verification & Resources
Your employees can check to see if you have workers’ comp by visiting the Idaho Industrial Commission’s website. This website will give your employee’s information on the insurance companies you use.13
If you need Idaho workers’ compensation forms, you can find them on the “Find a Form” page on the Idaho Industrial Commission’s website. This includes claims forms for the first report of injury or illness, so you can easily download, print and complete this form.14
Idaho Workers’ Compensation Claims
To file a workman's compensation claim in Idaho, visit our workers’ comp claims page today.
This article provides general information, and should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, insurance, tax or accounting advice. As with all matters of a legal or human resources nature, you should consult with your own legal counsel and human resources professionals. The Hartford shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages in connection with the use by you or anyone of the information provided herein.
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 Idaho Industrial Commission, “Employers FAQs”