Includes examinations, treatments and rehabilitation.
Gives employees time to recover from an injury before returning to work.
Helps employees who need to learn skills and enter a new field.
Provides benefits for employees who can no longer work due to injury.
Workers’ compensation insurance is required in Hawaii for businesses with one or more employees. This includes full-time, part-time, permanent and temporary workers.1
By having insurance for workers’ comp, Hawaii employers are protected from the financial liability that can result from employee accidents on the job. In addition, you as the business owner would not be subject to civil actions from employees for work-related injuries and illnesses.
If an employee is injured while at work, Hawaii workers’ comp coverage can help pay for:
There are certain types of employment which are excluded from the workers’ compensation coverage requirement in Hawaii, including:
Although employers are not required to have workers’ comp insurance for these excluded employees, they may still decide to obtain coverage to protect their business from potential financial risks.
Certain types of business owners are exempt from the insurance requirement according to Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Law, such as:
If you fall into one of these categories, you may still want to consider getting workers’ comp insurance since it could provide coverage if you’re hurt on the job.
For example, if you own a small retail store and fall off a ladder while restocking shelves and injure your back, your recovery takes several weeks. Workers’ comp could help cover your medical expenses and lost wages while your store is closed.
Hawaii employers have the option to become self-insured, which means that they pay statutory benefits directly to their employees instead of obtaining an insurance policy.
Employers interested in self-insurance must apply to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to prove their solvency and ability to pay benefits. If the application is approved, they must submit a surety bond or approved securities as a deposit.
In the event of a work-related injury or illness, certain benefits are provided by insurance for workers’ compensation. Hawaii employees and covered business owners may receive benefits for:
For example, if one of your employees at your construction company breaks their leg in an on-site accident, workers’ comp insurance could help cover the costs of their medical care and their lost wages while they heal.
There are several types of workers’ compensation income benefits in Hawaii, including:4
The employee is unable to work temporarily due to their injury.
The employee loses certain body parts or functions as a result of their accident.
The employee is unable to return to work because of the injury.
The employee sustains significant scarring, deformity or discoloration as a result of their accident.
In incidents when an employee dies due to a work-related injury or illness, death benefits may be paid to a surviving spouse or dependent children.
In addition to obtaining the required workers’ comp coverage, employers in Hawaii must:
In order to maintain the required insurance for workman’s comp, Hawaii businesses can’t use a policy from another state. Employers are required to obtain their workers’ compensation coverage from a carrier authorized to transact insurance in the state of Hawaii.
Hawaii employers who do not have the required workers’ compensation insurance may be subject to fines. The penalty for failure to obtain coverage is $100 for each employee for each day without coverage, with a minimum fine of $500.
If an employee gets hurt on the job when you don’t have coverage, you could be subject to serious financial risk. The injured workers may file civil action against you and submit a claim to the state’s division of workers’ compensation.
Premiums for Hawaii workers’ compensation insurance can vary significantly based on your industry, your work environment and other factors. Insurance carriers will consider the following when determining the rate for your workers’ comp coverage:
At NEXT Insurance, we make it easy to get workers’ compensation insurance designed for small businesses and self-employed workers.
All of our services are available online, and you can get a quote, review coverage options, purchase insurance and download a certificate of insurance in as little as 10 minutes.
Start an instant quote online today.
Need some help figuring out what coverage you need? Our team of licensed insurance advisors is standing by to advise you.
Most businesses need general liability insurance to provide coverage for common work-related mistakes, like accidental damages to someone’s property or customer injuries.
Business-owned vehicles and personal vehicles used for work-related activities must be covered by commercial auto insurance. This type of insurance protects your business from unexpected expenses if you are involved in an accident.
Professional liability insurance provides financial protection if a client or customer accuses you of making a professional mistake that costs them money.
Learn more about workers’ compensation insurance options in the state where you work.
Business insurance is divided into different policies. We offer seven types so it's easy to design the coverage that fits your business.