Understanding the Wcirb Coverage Sheet Information

• Publication year: 2021
• Author: H. Neal Wells IV, Esq.

Understanding the WCIRB Coverage Sheet Information

H. Neal Wells IV, Esq.

Calabasas, California

Vol. 33, No. 3, of the Workers' Compensation Quarterly included an excellent article by WCIRB lead counsel Mary Chapman-Corning that discussed the purposes of the WCIRB as well as the different methods and procedures used to obtain workers' compensation information.

Whether the coverage information is obtained by mail or through the WCIRB's website page at www. caworkcompcoverage.com, the information it provides on the coverage sheet is not without its limitations and unique lingo, as explained in this article.

Accuracy

According to the WCIRB, the website information is "not proof, evidence or verification of workers' compensation insurance" because the information shown may not reflect coverage changes that may have occurred in the last 30 to 90 days. Therefore, it would be prudent to periodically refer back to the website for possible coverage changes.

Five-Year Cap

The website will provide no-cost coverage information only for the five-year period immediately preceding the date of the coverage request. Coverage information for older coverage periods is available only through a direct request to the WCIRB, at a cost of $20 per employer for each coverage year.

Policyholder Name

The name of the employer, aka policyholder, needs to be as precise as possible when you use the employer name search since employers can have very similar names (e.g., Advanced Medical Billing Services and Advanced Medical Billing Solutions); imprecision could result in the wrong employer and/or carrier being joined. Additionally, a search misspelling may result in the WCIRB website showing "no coverage" for an employer that is actually insured.

Street Address/City/Zip Code

This information refers to the insured employer's location as listed on the workers' compensation policy. Any additional insured employer locations would be noted in separate listings with reference to those additional job sites.

Multiple Locations

An employer can be listed as being insured in multiple locations, usually with the same carrier, which means one policy has been issued with endorsements for multiple locations. However, other situations may arise in a WCIRB coverage sheet:

• Job site-specific policies: An employer may have a policy covering all workers at the main office and a separate policy for a specific job site location. This is common in the construction industry, where certain major projects require a policy...