California self-insureds saw fewer comp claims in 2023

The California workers compensation system saw a 9.5% drop in private self-insured claim volume in 2023, representing the largest year-to-year decline in more than 15 years, according to a report released Monday by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute.

CWCI analyzed data from the state’s Office of Self-Insurance Plans and found that private self-insured employers covering 2.34 million California workers in 2023 reported 94,386 workers comp claims, down from 104,278 claims in 2022.

While claim volume and frequency declined, private self-insured employers’ total paid and incurred losses rose in 2023. Paid losses totaled $340.2 million, up 9.5% from 2022. Incurred losses rose 6.4% to $864 million.

The data analyzed in the report included the total number of covered employees, as well as both medical-only and indemnity claim counts.