01
Tell us about the business
what you do, payroll by job type, and any past claims.
Who Has to Carry It
The Workers' Compensation Board states that virtually all employers in New York must provide coverage for their employees. That includes part-time staff, family members on the payroll and, in many cases, people you pay as contractors.
The main exceptions are narrow. A sole proprietor or partnership with no employees is not required to carry it. Neither is a corporation with one or two officers who own all the stock and hold every office, as long as there are no other employees, day laborers or volunteers.
What Workers Comp Insurance Coverage Pays
Workers comp insurance pays for medical care related to the work injury and replaces part of the wages the employee loses. The cash benefit is two thirds of the average weekly wage, adjusted for the degree of disability, up to a state maximum.
For injuries on or after July 1, 2026, that maximum is $1,281.50 a week. It resets every July. Wage benefits are not paid for the first seven days unless the disability lasts longer than fourteen, in which case they run from the first day.
Workers comp insurance coverage only responds to injuries that come from the job. An illness or injury off the job falls under statutory disability and Paid Family Leave, which is a separate policy and a separate legal requirement.
Workers Comp Insurance For Self Employed People
If you work alone with no employees, the state does not require you to cover yourself. You can still buy a policy voluntarily, and workers comp insurance for self employed people is often less about the law and more about getting work.
General contractors are the usual reason. The Board notes that carriers often charge a general contractor premium for every subcontractor on site unless each one shows proof of its own policy. In construction, a worker is presumed to be an employee unless strict independent contractor tests are met, and a 1099 on its own does not change that.
What Going Without it Costs
The civil penalty is up to $2,000 for each ten day period without coverage. Failing to carry it is a misdemeanor for an employer with five or fewer employees and a felony above that, and the Board can issue a stop work order.
An uninsured employer also becomes liable for every wage and medical benefit awarded to an injured worker. One serious claim can cost far more than years of premium.
How To Find Affordable Workers Compensation Insurance
Premium is generally built on your payroll, the job classification of each employee, and your claims history. Two businesses with the same headcount can pay very different amounts because a roofer and a bookkeeper carry very different risk.
That is why comparing workers compensation insurance quotes matters. The most affordable workers compensation insurance for your business depends on classifying payroll correctly and finding a carrier with an appetite for your trade. Private carriers and the New York State Insurance Fund both write it, and prices differ between them.
Questions Employers Ask Us
Find answers before you get your quote.
Yes. Part-time and seasonal workers generally need to be covered the same way full-time staff are.
No. Disability and Paid Family Leave need their own policy, although we can quote both together.
It is the Board's certificate for businesses attesting they are not required to carry coverage, and permit offices and general contractors often ask for it. It does not resolve an existing penalty.
Payroll is usually audited after the policy period, so keeping job classifications accurate is the best way to avoid a surprise bill. A cleaner claims record also helps at renewal.