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Located in the American Midwest, Missouri has a distinct history and charm. From the bustling cities of Kansas City and St. Louis to the beautiful Ozark Mountains, the Show-Me state is rich with pioneer spirit and culture.
With a diverse and robust economy spanning manufacturing, agriculture and technology, Missouri offers plenty of opportunities for businesses to flourish. When it comes to protecting your business and employees, securing the right workers’ compensation insurance is crucial.
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for employers with five or more employees. It’s designed to provide benefits such as medical care and lost wages for employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
Full and part-time, casual laborers and family members are considered employees under Missouri workers’ compensation law.
Without workers’ compensation, the cost of a work-related injured or ill employee’s medical treatment could become the responsibility of your business.
The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is responsible for administering the workers’ comp law in Missouri. The law requires employers with five or more employees to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Workers’ comp coverage can be obtained through a partner like EverPeak Insurance. The Division of Workers’ Compensation can approve self-insured requests based on financial status.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.
Policies include protection for full and part-time workers.
Some exemptions from workers’ comp in Missouri include:
Workers' compensation covers a range of work-related injuries and illnesses, including physical injuries resulting from an accident and occupational diseases developed over time due to job conditions.
Missouri workers’ comp insurance provides three types of benefits for work injuries:
The weekly compensation rate is two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, not to exceed a maximum amount set by the law. The average weekly wage is based on gross wages.
Find more information on Missouri workers’ compensation rates.
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Employees in Missouri should report their injury to their employer immediately but no later than 30 days after the accident.
The employee should immediately seek medical attention.
Once notified of the injury, employers should file a report of the accident within 30 days to their workers' compensation insurance carrier.
If an employer’s insurance provider accepts the claim, the worker may begin receiving benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages.
Following their recovery, a worker is expected to resume work safely. If a work injury has left an injured employee unable to do any type of work, the employee might be entitled to permanent disability benefits.
The employer or its workers’ comp insurance carrier has the right to choose the healthcare provider or treating physician. The employee can select their treating physician at their own expense.
If an employee is out of work:
To resolve a workers’ compensation dispute, the employer and employee can take advantage of the Division’s Dispute Management Unit, which offers mediation services. Mediation is an informal process in which a neutral person facilitates communication between the parties to work toward a mutual agreement.
Employers in Missouri with five 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.
Failure to maintain the required workers' compensation coverage is a class A misdemeanor with a penalty equal to three times the annual premium the employer should’ve paid, up to $50,000. A second violation results in a class D felony.
In most cases, employees in Missouri are barred 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, independent contractors aren’t covered by workers' compensation insurance in Missouri. 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. Missouri’s Department of Labor and Industrial Relations also offers a worker classification assessment to help avoid misclassification.
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.