Florida workers' compensation insurance: Your ultimate guide
Everything to know about workers’ compensation for
Florida
businesses
What does workers’ compensation cover?
A standard workers’ comp policy covers four primary areas: medical expenses, lost wages, employer liability and ongoing rehabilitation. EverPeak policies ensure your crew gets the care they need to return to work safely while protecting your business from the costs of workplace accidents.
Medical care
Coverage for the necessary treatment resulting from a work-related injury or illness.
Lost wages
Partial pay for employees unable to work while recovering from an injury.
Legal protection
Financial support for your business if an employee files a lawsuit related to an accident.
Ongoing care
Rehabilitation and training to support employees re-enter the workforce, and ongoing benefits for permanent injuries.
Death benefits
Financial support for the families.
What are
Florida
's workers' comp laws?
Florida — known as the Sunshine State — is rich in history and natural beauty, from the vibrant city of Miami to the breathtaking beauty of Key West. The state boasts a thriving business scene with abundant opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Whether you're an entrepreneur in the heart of St. Petersburg or a small beach-side business owner, safeguarding your business and employees with workers’ compensation insurance is crucial.
What is workers' compensation?
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for employers with four or more employees. It’s designed to provide employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses with medical treatment and indemnity benefits.
Without workers’ compensation, the cost of a work-related injured or ill employee’s medical treatment could become the responsibility of your business.
Florida workers' compensation laws, rules and requirements
The Division of Workers’ Compensation in Florida oversees workers’ compensation laws in Florida.
The law requires the following to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy:
- Employers with four or more employees
- Construction companies with one or more employee
- Agricultural companies with six regular employees or 12 seasonal workers who work at least 30 days in a season but no more than 45 days a year
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage through the State’s online search tool.
Who is covered and exempt from
Florida
workers' comp?
Who is covered?
Policies include protection for full-time and part-time workers, seasonal and temporary employees.
Exemptions from workers’ compensation in Florida may include, for example:
- Construction companies with no employees (including yourself.)
- Businesses in other industries with three or fewer employees
- Agricultural companies with five or fewer regular employees or 11 or fewer seasonal workers
Covered injuries and illnesses
Workers' compensation covers a range of work-related injuries and illnesses, including physical injuries resulting from an accident and occupational diseases that may develop over time due to job conditions.
Benefits provided
Florida workers’ comp insurance provides three types of benefits for work injuries:
- Medical benefits
- Lost wages and other monetary compensation
- Funeral costs and death benefits
These benefits include:
- Medical treatment for work-related accidents, injuries and/or illnesses
- Mileage reimbursement for travel to and from an authorized doctor
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits to dependents
Benefits received rely on many factors, such as the employee’s:
- Average weekly wage before the injury
- Injury severity
- Length of recovery and ability to continue working
Florida workers’ compensation rates
In Florida, the weekly compensation rate is 66 ⅔% of a person’s average weekly wage. The maximum weekly compensation rate for work-related injuries and illnesses occurring on or after January 1, 2024 is $1,260.
Find more information on annual Florida’s workers’ compensation rates here.
How much does workers’ comp cost in
Florida
?
How do you file a workers’ compensation claim in
Florida
?
Filing a workers' compensation claim
In the event of a work-related injury or illness, employees must promptly notify their employer and seek medical attention.
In Florida, you should file your claim as soon as possible but no later than 30 days or your claim may be denied.
Workers’ compensation claims process
Step 1: Employee reports the injury
The injury must be reported to their employer within 30 days of knowing they suffered a job-related injury. Benefits can be denied if the injury is not reported.
Step 2: Employee receives medical treatment
The employee visits a healthcare provider authorized by the employer and their workers' compensation partner. However, in the case of an emergency, the employee should promptly seek treatment at the nearest hospital or clinic.
Step 3: Employer reports the injury
The employer notifies their workers' compensation partner within seven days after the injury is reported. This is referred to as the First Report of Injury or Illness (FROI), or accident report.
Step 4: Workers’ compensation partner sends information to injured employee
A packet is typically sent within three days after the partner receives the FROI. The packet should contain a copy of the accident report and information about the employee’s rights.
Step 5: Workers’ compensation partner accepts or denies claim
If the workers' comp partner denies a claim, workers' comp benefits will not be paid. If a workers' comp claim is accepted by the partner, workers' comp benefits may be paid, such as medical and temporary benefits.
How to get workers' compensation
Insurance requirements for employers
Generally, employers in Florida with four or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance or qualify for self-insurance, depending on their size and industry. Compliance with these requirements is essential to protect both the employer and employees.
Choosing the right insurance provider
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.
FAQs
Enforcing safety protocols, providing proper employee training, maintaining a clean and hazard-free work environment, and regularly reviewing safety practices can significantly reduce workplace injuries.
Your premium is primarily determined by your industry payroll classifications, geographic location and total annual payroll. Your business’s safety history can also play a major role in determining your final rate. Three key factors influence your base insurance rate:
- Industry classification codes: Higher-hazard trades naturally carry higher baseline rates.
- Geographic location: Rates and statutory benefit structures fluctuate heavily by state lines.
- Historical safety record: Maintaining an accident-free workplace lowers your Experience Modification Rate (E-mod), resulting in built-in premium discounts.
Most states require businesses with employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance to stay compliant. Requirements vary by location, but having coverage ensures your business is protected and your team has access to benefits if an injury occurs.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage through the state’s online search tool.
Ideally, the incident should be reported immediately or within a few days of the occurrence. Prompt reporting helps ensures the necessary steps are taken to initiate the workers' compensation claims process.
Whether you need coverage for contractors depends entirely on your state’s specific regulatory definitions and formal worker classification tests. Since misclassification regulations are highly complex and can lead to severe audits or stop-work orders, it’s vital to ensure your entire labor force is properly verified and protected based on the actual day-to-day work they do.
Learn more: Do independent contractors need workers’ compensation?
In most cases, employees in Virginia 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.
In Virginia, employers who fail to procure or sustain the appropriate workers' compensation coverage for their employees may face civil fines of up to $250 per day of non-compliance. Failure to adhere to this requirement can reach a maximum of $50,000 in fines.
Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance that benefits employers and employees in the case of a work-related injury or illness.
Why choose EverPeak for workers’ comp coverage?
EverPeak protects the hardest-working businesses in (state) with simple, reliable workers’ comp starting as low as $18 a month. Backed by over a century of specialized experience, customers get multi-state coverage, fast and easy claims support, and a vast network of brokers.