Louisiana workers' compensation insurance: Your ultimate guide
Everything to know about workers’ compensation for
Louisiana
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
Louisiana
's workers' comp laws?
Nestled in the Deep South, Louisiana has a history that’s uniquely its own. From the cultural mecca of New Orleans to the quiet bayous, the Pelican State presents a captivating blend of culture and natural beauty.
With a robust and diverse economy, Louisiana offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses to thrive. When it comes to protecting your employees and your business, securing the right workers' compensation insurance is crucial.
What is workers' compensation?
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for employers with one 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.
Louisiana workers' compensation laws
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is responsible for administering the workers’ comp law in Louisiana. The law requires employers with one or more employees to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Full-time, part-time and seasonal workers are covered under Louisiana’s workers’ compensation law.
Workers’ comp coverage can be obtained through a partner like EverPeak Insurance. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration can approve self-insured requests based on financial history.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.
Who is covered and exempt from
Louisiana
workers' comp?
Who is covered?
Policies include protection for full-time, part-time and seasonal workers.
Some exemptions from workers’ comp in Louisiana may include, for example:
- Employees of a private residence
- Employees of a private unincorporated farm
- Musicians and performers
- Employees of railroads or other vessels in interstate or foreign commerce
- Crews of airplanes engaged in crop dusting or spraying operations
- Uncompensated officers and members of boards of directors of non-profit organizations
- Landmen
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.
Louisiana workers’ compensation law also covers mental injury resulting from physical injury or sudden, unexpected and extraordinary stress related to employment.
Benefits provided
Louisiana workers’ comp insurance provides three types of benefits for work injuries:
- Medical benefits
- Lost wages
- Death benefits
- Medical treatment for work-related accidents, injuries and/or illnesses
- Temporary disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits to the surviving dependents
Louisiana workers’ compensation rates
The weekly compensation rate in Louisiana is 66 ⅔% of the employee’s average weekly wage, subject to a maximum and minimum benefit amount set by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration.
Find more information on Louisiana’s workers’ compensation rates.
How much does workers’ comp cost in
Louisiana
?
How do you file a workers’ compensation claim in
Louisiana
?
Filing a workers' compensation claim
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Step 1: Employee reports injury to employer
Employees in Louisiana should report their injury to their employer within 30 days of the accident.
Step 2: Seek medical care
The employee should immediately seek medical attention.
Step 3: Employer reports injury
Once notified of the injury, employers should file a report of the accident within 10 days to their workers' compensation insurance partner.
Step 4: Receive benefits
If the workers’ compensation claim is accepted, an injured employee may begin to receive workers’ compensation benefits, such as lost wages and medical benefits.
Step 5: Return to work
Following their recovery, a worker is expected to resume work safely. If an employee is unable to return to their previous position or any other type of work due to their work-related injury, they may be entitled to permanent total disability benefits.
Choosing a healthcare provider
Under Louisiana workers’ compensation law, an injured worker can choose their treating physician and may switch from one specialty of care to another without seeking approval from their employer or its workers’ comp partner. The worker must have permission to change from one provider to another within the same field of specialty.
The physician must have approval from the employer or workers’ comp insurance partner to continue treatment beyond $750 unless the care is provided under emergency conditions.
Payment of medical bills
Workers' compensation medical bills are due within 60 days of submission for paper bills or 30 days for electronic bills in Louisiana. The employer or its workers’ compensation partner is responsible for payment.
The employer or its workers' comp partner may request additional information from the healthcare provider. The healthcare provider must respond to the request for additional information within 10 business days.
Compensation for missed work
- Less than seven days: They are not eligible for temporary disability payments.
- More than seven but less than 14 days: They are eligible for lost time benefits.
- More than 14 days: They are eligible for benefits retroactive to the first day they stopped work.
Resolving disputes
To resolve a workers’ compensation claim dispute, an employer or employee can request a mediation conference with an Office of Workers’ Compensation mediator. If the problem isn’t resolved through mediation, an employee can contact the nearest Office of Workers’ Compensation district office to file a Disputed Claim for Compensation.
How to get workers' compensation
Insurance requirements for employers
Generally, employers in Louisiana with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance or qualify for self-insurance. Compliance with this requirement 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.