MoneyGeek evaluated state insurance companies for their cost, client satisfaction, financial stability and online quote process to find the best workers’ comp insurance in Delaware. With excellent ratings across the board, Nationwide was MoneyGeek’s top choice in the state.

Workers' compensation insurance protects employees who sustain injuries or illnesses at work. It also ensures legal compliance for employers and helps defend them against lawsuits, save on compensation costs and boost employee morale.

Key Takeaways

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Based on MoneyGeek’s evaluation, Nationwide is identified as the best workers' compensation insurance provider in Delaware. Here are the details regarding their ranking, average monthly premium, financial stability, and customer service:

1. Ranking: Nationwide comes out as the top choice for workers’ compensation insurance in Delaware. Their credibility is highlighted by their excellent ratings across financial stability, customer satisfaction, and the online quote process.

2. Average Monthly Premium: For companies with 20 employees and an average annual payroll expense of $1,250,000, Nationwide offers a competitive average monthly premium of $125. This cost may vary depending on several factors like business type and payroll costs but generally stands as one of the most affordable options in the state.

3. Financial Stability: Nationwide is acclaimed for its financial strength, providing consistent and reliable coverage to its policyholders. This stability assures that they have the necessary resources to pay claims promptly and efficiently.

4. Customer Service: Known for its excellent customer service, Nationwide ensures that policyholders receive prompt and helpful assistance. This has contributed to their favorable ratings from customers who prioritize responsiveness and support when dealing with insurance providers.

In summary, Nationwide’s well-balanced approach in delivering cost-effective, dependable, and customer-friendly workers' compensation insurance makes it the best provider in Delaware according to MoneyGeek’s analysis. However, businesses should consider their specific needs and circumstances, as premiums and suitability can vary based on individual factors.

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In Delaware, biBERK stands out as the most cost-effective workers' compensation insurance provider for micro businesses, with an average monthly premium of $67. This makes it an excellent option for cost-conscious businesses, especially those with fewer than 10 employees and lower annual payroll costs.

Why Choose biBERK for Workers' Compensation Insurance?

1. Affordability: At just $67 per month, biBERK offers the lowest average premium for micro businesses in Delaware, allowing small businesses to maintain compliance without a significant financial burden.

2. Tailored Coverage for Smaller Businesses: With targeted policies designed for micro companies, biBERK provides essential coverage that aligns with smaller payrolls and a limited number of employees.

3. Financial Security: Despite the lower premium, biBERK ensures comprehensive coverage, protecting businesses from the financial risks associated with workplace injuries and illnesses.

4. Ease of Access: Access to affordable workers' compensation insurance like that offered by biBERK is crucial for maintaining operational stability and fulfilling legal obligations in Delaware.

For micro businesses in Delaware, biBERK's competitive pricing helps minimize overhead costs while still offering essential protection and peace of mind regarding workplace incidents.

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In Delaware, workers' compensation insurance premiums are influenced by a variety of factors. Understanding these factors can help businesses manage potentially high costs and choose the best policy for their situation. Here’s a breakdown of the primary factors that influence workers' compensation insurance rates in Delaware:

1. Business Type and Employee Class Code: Different industries and occupations come with various levels of risk. For instance, a construction company is likely to pay higher premiums than an office-based business due to the increased risk of injury. Each occupation is assigned a class code that reflects its risk level, which significantly impacts premium calculation.

2. Payroll Expenses: Payroll size is a critical factor because premiums are often calculated as a percentage of total payroll. Higher payroll expenses typically result in higher premiums. This means that, while the number of employees is important, the total payroll amount is often more influential on the cost.

3. Number of Employees: As the number of employees increases, the premium may also rise because of the greater potential for claims. However, the impact of employee count is intertwined with payroll costs and the risk associated with the type of work performed.

4. Claims History: Past claims can significantly affect future workers' compensation costs. Businesses with a history of frequent or severe claims may face higher premiums as insurers consider them to be riskier.

5. State Laws: Each state has unique regulations that can influence insurance rates. In Delaware, it is mandatory for businesses with one or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance, although agricultural employees may be exempt.

6. Policy Limits: The coverage limits selected can also impact the premium. Commonly used limits in Delaware—such as $1 million total policy, per accident, and per employee—can be adjusted with an umbrella policy for higher coverage, which could increase the premium.

In Delaware, workers' compensation insurance rates can vary widely between different businesses. For example, MoneyGeek's analysis revealed that Nationwide is considered the top choice in Delaware due to its balance of cost and customer service, with an average premium of $125 per month for a business with a payroll of $1,250,000 for 20 employees. In contrast, for smaller micro businesses, biBERK offers an average monthly premium of $67.

To choose the appropriate workers' compensation coverage, businesses must evaluate these factors alongside their specific needs and circumstances. This approach not only ensures compliance with Delaware laws but also aids in managing costs effectively while safeguarding employees and the business from potential legal and financial repercussions.

Why Trust MoneyGeek? We collected 677 workers’ compensation insurance quotes and analyzed cost information alongside customer satisfaction and financial stability reports to determine the best workers’ compensation insurance companies for small businesses in Delaware.

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Coverage costs and company information for workers' compensation insurance providers in Delaware were last updated in 2023.

677Quotes Analyzed
 
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Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Delaware

With its excellent balance of pricing and customer service, we rated Nationwide is rated as the overall best workers’ compensation insurance company in Delaware. Its average cost is $125 per month, but your premium may vary depending on factors like your business type and payroll costs.

How was this MoneyGeek score calculated?


1
NationwideBest Overall in Delaware
Score:96

5/5

Affordability

4/5

Customer Satisfaction

4/5

Financial Stability

2/5

Online Quote Process

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take
  • Most affordable insurer in Delaware at $125 per month
  • A+ financial rating from AM Best
  • Received second highest customer service rating in the state
More About Nationwide

Among the insurance providers we surveyed, Nationwide offers the most affordable workers' compensation insurance in Delaware. Its outstanding A+ rating for financial stability by AM Best qualifies it as a reliable partner for businesses. The NAIC also reports that the company receives minimal customer complaints, indicating a good customer support program. However, acquiring a quote can take almost four minutes, which is significantly longer than the other insurers we evaluated in the state.

2
The Hartford
Score:94

2.9/5

Affordability

5/5

Customer Satisfaction

4/5

Financial Stability

4/5

Online Quote Process

Geek Quick Take
Geek Quick Take
  • Costs $137 per month, on average
  • High customer satisfaction ratings
  • Fast online quoting system
More About The Hartford

The Hartford is known for its superior customer service, meaning that there aren't many complaints filed against the business. This provider also received a strong grade for financial stability from AM Best, partly because of its lengthy tenure in the industry. Among the providers MoneyGeek analyzed in Delaware, The Hartford provides online quotes the quickest, with it taking the average customer just one minute and 10 seconds to receive a quote. However, with monthly premiums averaging $137, this company offers one of Delaware's more expensive workers' compensation insurance.

3
Thimble
Score:93
4
biBERK
Score:89

Cheapest Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Delaware

If cost is your primary concern, Nationwide offers Delaware's most affordable workers' compensation insurance. For companies with 20 employees and an average annual payroll expense of $1,250,000, this coverage costs just $125 per month, on average.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
Nationwide

For businesses with 20 employees and payroll costs of $1,250,000 annually, Nationwide is MoneyGeek's top recommendation for cost-effective workers' compensation insurance in Delaware, with an average price of just $125 per month, or $1,503 per year.

This provider is an excellent choice for newly established business owners who require affordable coverage or for those looking to cut expenses. Nationwide receives fewer customer complaints than the typical business of this size, and its finances are steady enough to carry out its obligations.

To find the most affordable insurer, we evaluated providers by average monthly cost, although the cheapest option for your small company might differ depending on other factors. The table below lists the average monthly premiums for businesses with 20 employees for all Delaware workers’ compensation insurance companies we examined.

Nationwide$125$1,503
Thimble$127$1,403
The Hartford$137$1,640
biBERK$152$1,611

Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Micro Businesses in Delaware

biBERK, with an average monthly premium of $67, is the best workers’ compensation insurance provider for Delaware micro businesses.

Although the number of employees does affect your workers' compensation insurance rate, payroll is usually the more influential factor. To find the best workers' compensation for micro companies, or companies with fewer than 10 employees, we collected quotes from companies with five employees and annual payroll costs of $312,500.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
biBERK

biBERK is MoneyGeek’s top choice for workers’ compensation for micro businesses in Delaware. Companies with five employees and annual payroll costs of $312,500 can expect to pay $67 per month, or $710 per year, for workers’ comp coverage from this provider. Among the insurers we analyzed in the state, biBERK has the strongest financial strength rating from AM Best among the companies. The company also has a solid customer satisfaction score, indicating that few customers file complaints with the provider.

Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Midsize Businesses in Delaware

The Hartford offers the best workers’ compensation for midsize businesses in Delaware, with a monthly premium of $564 for companies with 100 employees.

Besides employee count, payroll also plays a major role in workers’ compensation insurance costs. MoneyGeek gathered quotes for a company with 100 employees and an annual payroll amount of $6,250,000 to find the best workers’ comp for midsize businesses in the state.

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MoneyGeek Top Pick
The Hartford

The Hartford ranks as MoneyGeek’s top pick for a medium-sized companies’ workers’ compensation insurance provider in Delaware. This insurer offers a monthly premium of $564 ($6,773 per year) for businesses with 100 employees and annual payroll costs of $6,250,000. It’s the second-cheapest option for midsize businesses and received the highest customer service score among the companies we analyzed. It also has a solid financial stability score and provides the fastest online quote estimate among the companies on our list.

How Much Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Delaware?

Businesses with 20 employees pay $135 per month on average for workers' compensation insurance in Delaware, which is less than the $168 per month nationwide average. MoneyGeek used the following sample policy limits to obtain these cost estimates:

  • $1 million total policy limit
  • $1 million per accident limit
  • $1 million per employee limit

This means that, up to the $1 million total policy limit, the insurer will pay up to $1 million for every particular accident and a maximum of $1 million for each employee. However, you will be responsible for covering any additional lost income or excessive medical costs incurred by your employee. Your coverage limits may be increased with the use of an umbrella policy.

The number of employees and annual payroll are two of the most important variables affecting workers' compensation insurance rates. The table below shows how employee count affects the cost of workers’ compensation in Delaware.

How was this cost calculated?

5$70$784
20$135$1,539
100$641$7,418

Factors That Impact Workers’ Compensation Costs in Delaware

Workers' compensation insurance rates might differ greatly between businesses. This is due to factors like the workforce size, employee class code, payroll expenses, state laws and claims history that affect the overall premium of a workers’ compensation policy.

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    Payroll costs

    Most insurance companies impose a fixed fee for each $100 of payroll. This rate varies by industry and is decided at the state level, but businesses with higher payroll expenses than average will likely pay a higher premium. Delaware imposed an average of $1.34 per $100 of payroll in 2022, which is more than what most states charge.

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    Number of employees

    Your insurance prices can be considerably impacted the number of employees in your company. A large workforce increases the likelihood that workers will become ill or injured on the job. The cost of workers' compensation insurance may increase due to this increased risk.

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    Employee class code

    The class code of an employee identifies the type of work they do. The price that is charged for every $100 of payroll is determined by this code. Rates are typically greater in sectors with higher injury risks, like construction, than in sectors with lower injury risks, like consulting.

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    Previous claims

    Insurance firms consider previous claims when setting rates. Businesses with a long history of claims are considered to be riskier to insure, hence they are usually charged higher premiums.

    In Delaware, claims for workers' compensation are not rare. In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported 6,900 nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries at private industry companies in Delaware. The BLS also reported more than 2.6 million nonfatal workplace illnesses and injuries in the private sector nationwide in 2021.

Do You Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Delaware?

Businesses in Delaware with one or more employees, whether they are part-time or full-time, must carry workers’ compensation insurance. Only farm employees are exempt from this rule.

Even if you are exempt, having workers' compensation insurance in Delaware is important to guarantee your financial security. By choosing not to purchase workers' compensation insurance, you accept full financial responsibility for any accidents at work, including medical costs. Injured employees may also file a lawsuit as a result, incurring significant costs.

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WORKERS’ COMP PENALTIES IN DELAWARE

Delaware employers who do not furnish the legally needed workers' compensation insurance or who do not abide by the workers' compensation rules are subject to penalties for each day of noncompliance.

What Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cover in Delaware?

Workers’ compensation insurance serves two functions: it guarantees that injured employees receive medical care and reimbursement for a portion of the revenue they lose while they are incapable of returning to work. It also safeguards employers — who are the policyholders — from lawsuits brought by employees hurt at work.

When an employee cannot work due to an illness or accident sustained at work, workers' compensation insurance can help them keep their jobs. To aid in their swift return to work, injured employees may also have access to rehabilitation programs, including physical therapy and vocational training. Workers’ compensation insurance may be able to pay death benefits to a deceased employee's dependents.

Workers’ Comp Resources for Employees in Delaware

The Delaware Office of Workers’ Compensation is the place where Delaware employees can get assistance with worker’s compensation and submit insurance claims.

Employers who require workers' compensation benefits must first provide all required medical, surgical and hospital care starting on the date of the accident, keep a record of all injuries suffered by workers and submit a written report to the Office of Workers' Compensation and their insurance carrier within 10 days of the incident.

Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Delaware

To help you in making an informed choice, MoneyGeek explored commonly asked questions regarding the best workers' compensation insurance in Delaware.

Which company has the best workers’ compensation insurance in Delaware?

Which company has the cheapest workers’ compensation insurance in Delaware?

Does Delaware require businesses to have workers’ compensation insurance?

How much does workers’ compensation insurance cost in Delaware?

About Melissa Wylie


Melissa Wylie headshot

Melissa Wylie is the Content and SEO Manager at MoneyGeek, with nearly a decade of editorial experience and six years of work in financial content focused on small businesses. She previously held SEO positions at Bankrate and LendingTree, with bylines on ValuePenguin and MagnifyMoney.

Wylie has a journalism degree from the University of North Texas. Her strong foundation in journalism helps her craft content that simplifies complex financial topics to help everyone feel confident when making decisions with their money.


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