Frequently Asked Questions

Group Rating is a program allowed by the State of Ohio by which substantially similar companies may pool their experience and achieve a discount off their Workers’ Comp premium.

It is NOT hopeless. If a company is not eligible for a traditional group rating program, it can still achieve discounts through various other programs offered by the Bureau of Workers Compensation, subject to eligibility.

It’s simple and free. You can complete the AC3 on our website or you contact our office to request an AC-3 form. Once you complete the form and fax or scan it back to our office, our office will be able to obtain the necessary risk data from the BWC to determine your company’s group eligibility.

To be eligible for a group rating program (and most other discount programs) employers must: • Be current on all undisputed premiums, administrative costs, assessments, fines or monies otherwise due to BWC; • More specifically, you must be current (not more than 45 days past the due date) on any balance greater than $200 due to BWC, by the group-rating application deadline. The only exceptions are when a policy is placed into an appealed status or a BWC-approved payment plan is in place. • Be current on the payment schedule for any scheduled part-pay agreement you've entered into to pay premiums or assessments otherwise due BWC as of the application deadline; • Not have cumulative lapses in workers' compensation coverage in excess of 40 days in the past twelve months preceding the application deadline. • Not be a member of more than one group. If you apply for more than one group on a valid group-experience-rating application, BWC may reject you from all groups. • Be substantially similar (in the same industry group) to all other employers in the group.

Yes. All groups in Ohio charge a claims administrative fee and a membership fee to the sponsoring association (if the Company is not already a member). CRM’s groups are no different. However, one important factor with our groups is that the claims administrative fee covers all claims representation before the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and Industrial Commission of Ohio for one year. The services are detailed in the Participation Agreement that is sent to all enrolled Companies.

Groups are formed on an annual basis. All groups need to be filed with the BWC on the Monday before Thanksgiving for the rating year that will begin on July 1 of the following year.

Once CRM receives your AC-3, we will process it with the BWC to obtain risk information relative to your Company. Our group rating department will review that information and determine whether your Company qualifies for a group. If eligible, your company will then receive an invitation to join the group, which will include the proposed savings, an invoice for the claims administration fees and the necessary enrollment documents.

Yes, your premiums will still be paid directly to the BWC. The premiums due to the BWC will include the reduced group rates. Premiums are calculated as they were in the past, except at a lower rate.

You can contact our office and we will be able to direct you to the best program based on the Company’s claim history and size. The BWC offers many programs besides group rating. A few discount programs outside of group rating are Group Retrospective Rating, EM Cap, and the One-Claim Program. There also exist the Destination: Excellence Programs, which can be “stacked” with the programs mentioned above (subject to BWC program compatibility rules).

You can contact our office to obtain an application or you can file online at the Bureau’s website (www.ohiobwc.com).

• The Group Retrospective Rating deadline is the last business day in January. • The One-Claim Program deadline is the last business day in January. • The Destination: Excellence Program deadlines are the last business day in May. As a reminder, the standard group rating deadline is the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Information on BWC discount programs can be found at https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/employer/programs/