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Nestled in the northeastern corner of the United States, New Hampshire captivates with its picturesque landscapes, charming small towns and colonial heritage. From the peaks of the White Mountains to the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, the Granite State boasts a diverse terrain that reflects its unique character.
With industries like manufacturing, tourism and agriculture, the state provides ample opportunities for businesses to flourish. When it comes to protecting your business and employees, securing the right workers’ compensation insurance is essential.
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for employers with one 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.
Family members and part-time workers are considered employees under New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Department of Labor is responsible for administering the workers’ comp law in New Hampshire. The law requires employers with one or more employees to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Workers’ comp coverage can be obtained through a provider like EverPeak Insurance. The Workers’ Compensation Division can approve self-insured requests based on financial requirements.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.
Policies include protection for full and part-time employees.
Some exemptions from workers’ comp in New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire workers’ comp insurance provides four types of benefits for work injuries:
The weekly compensation rate in New Hampshire is 60% of the employee’s average weekly wage based on their wages 26 weeks prior to the injury. This amount is not to exceed or fall below a maximum and minimum rate determined by the state.
Find more information on New Hampshire workers’ compensation benefit rates
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Employees in New Hampshire should report their injury to their employer right away.
The employee should immediately seek medical attention.
Once notified of the injury, employers should file a report of the accident within five 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. In case of total disability where the employee is unable to engage in gainful employment and the employee has reached maximum medical improvement, permanent benefits may be payable to the employee during the continuance of such total disability.
In New Hampshire, the injured worker can choose their treating doctor. They also have the right to get a second opinion. In most cases, the injured worker can select any doctor, but some workers’ compensation carriers have a managed care system where the worker must choose from a list of doctors.
The employer’s workers’ compensation insurer has 30 days to pay or deny a medical bill once it receives a receipt of the invoice.
If an employee is out of work:
If an employee or employer wishes to dispute a claim, they can contact the New Hampshire Department of Labor for assistance.
Employers in New Hampshire 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 provide workers’ compensation coverage may be fined up to $2,500 and additionally assessed a penalty of up to $100 per employee per day of noncompliance.
In most cases, employees in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire. 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.