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Situated in the heart of the Midwest, Iowa boasts a unique heritage and charm all its own. With a rich agricultural history and scenic countryside, the Hawkeye State presents a captivating blend of tradition and natural beauty.
Iowa's diverse economy provides opportunities for businesses across various sectors to thrive. Securing workers' compensation insurance you can trust is crucial for safeguarding your business and its employees.
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for employers with one or more employees. It’s designed to provide employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses with medical treatment and indemnity benefits.
Without workers’ compensation, the cost of a work-related injured or ill employee’s medical treatment could become the responsibility of your business.
The Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) administers the workers’ comp law in Iowa. The law requires employers with one or more employees to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Businesses can obtain workers’ comp coverage through a partner like EverPeak Insurance. Alternatively, companies that meet the state’s requirements may also apply to be self-insured.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.
Policies include protection for full and part-time workers.
Some exemptions from workers’ comp in Iowa may include, for example:
Workers' compensation covers a range of work-related injuries and illnesses, including physical injuries resulting from an accident and occupational diseases that may develop over time due to job conditions.
Iowa workers’ comp insurance provides three types of benefits for work injuries:
The temporary partial disability (TPD) benefit amount is 66 ⅔% percent of the difference between the injured worker's average gross weekly earnings when injured and the worker's actual earnings while temporarily earning less.
For other disability classifications, the weekly compensation rate is usually 80% of your spendable earnings before deductions, but rates are not to exceed the following maximums:
Find more information on Iowa’s workers’ compensation rates.
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Employees in Iowa should report their injury to their employer as soon as possible. Employees should disclose essential details, including the date, time, and location of the incident, as well as a description of the injury sustained.
The employee should immediately seek medical attention.
Once notified of the injury, employers should file a report of the accident with their workers' compensation insurance partner within four days.
If the workers’ compensation claim is accepted, an injured employee may begin to receive workers’ compensation benefits, such as lost wages and medical benefits.
Following their recovery, a worker is expected to resume work safely. If an employee is unable to return to their previous position or any other type of work due to their work-related injury, they may be entitled to permanent total disability benefits.
In Iowa, the employer is expected to designate a medical provider for the employee. Employees dissatisfied with the care can bring it up to their employer or their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance partner.
If an employer does not grant the employee’s request for alternative care, the employee may file a petition for alternate medical care before the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner.
To resolve a workers’ compensation claim dispute, an employee can file a petition with the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Generally, employers in Iowa with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance or qualify for self-insurance. Compliance with this requirement is essential to protect both the employer and employees.
When selecting a workers' compensation insurance provider, consider factors such as the provider's experience in the industry, financial stability, coverage options, claims process, customer service, and cost.
We recommend requesting multiple quotes and comparing the offerings before making a decision.
Covering your business and employees with a trusted insurance partner — like EverPeak — brings peace of mind so you can focus on your bottom line.
Employers who fail to maintain workers' compensation insurance will be charged with a Class D felony, which is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine between $750 and $7,500.
In most cases, policies bar employees in Iowa from suing their employers for work-related injuries or illnesses. The workers' compensation system provides an exclusive remedy, meaning that employees typically cannot file a lawsuit against their employers. Instead, they must pursue a workers' compensation claim to receive benefits for their injuries or illnesses.
Generally, a business’s workers’ compensation policy does not cover independent contractors in Iowa. Workers' compensation laws typically apply to employees rather than independent contractors.
However, it's important to note that the classification of a worker as an independent contractor or an employee can be complex, and misclassification can lead to legal disputes. If unsure whether an independent contractor should be treated as an employee, seek legal guidance.
Ideally, the incident should be reported immediately or within a few days of the occurrence. Prompt reporting helps ensure the necessary steps are taken to initiate the workers' compensation claims process.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.