Maine workers' compensation insurance: Your ultimate resource
Everything to know about workers’ compensation for
Maine
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
Maine
's workers' comp laws?
Known as The Pine Tree State, Maine's captivating landscape famously features a rocky coastline adorned with picturesque lighthouses, lush forests teeming with wildlife and quaint towns exuding New England charm.
Amidst this scenic backdrop, Maine's economy flourishes with various industries such as lobster fishing along the coast, logging in the vast woodlands, and tourism, drawing visitors to its iconic landmarks and outdoor attractions year-round.
Protecting your business and employees with workers' compensation insurance is paramount in this dynamic environment. Workers’ comp provides essential coverage for accidents and injuries, ensuring the well-being of your workforce and the longevity of your business in the vibrant state of Maine.
What is workers' compensation?
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for almost all employers in Maine. 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.
Maine workers' compensation rules and laws
The Maine Workers' Compensation Board administers the workers’ comp law in the state. The law requires employers with one or more employees to be covered by an active workers’ compensation insurance policy.
Businesses can obtain workers’ comp coverage through a partner like EverPeak Insurance. Alternatively, companies that meet the state’s requirements may also apply to be self-insured.
Employees can verify online if their employer has coverage.
Who is covered and exempt from
Maine
workers' comp?
Who is covered?
Policies include protection for full and part-time workers.
Some exemptions from workers’ comp in Maine may include, for example:
- Agriculture or aquaculture businesses with seasonal or casual laborers, as long as the employer maintains at least $25,000 in employers’ liability insurance, with at least $5,000 in medical payments coverage.
- Agricultural or aquaculture businesses with six or fewer workers that are covered with liability insurance of at least $100,000 for each full-time employee and at least $5,000 in medical payments coverage.
- Domestic workers in a private home.
- Sole proprietors with no employees.
- Independent contractors who are not full-time employees.
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
Maine 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
Maine workers’ compensation rates
Injured workers are paid 66 ⅔% of their average weekly wage.
As of 2023, Maine’s workers’ comp weekly benefit amount maximum is $1,379.64.
How much does workers’ comp cost in
Maine
?
How do you file a workers’ compensation claim in
Maine
?
Filing a workers' compensation claim
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Step 1: Employee reports injury to employer
Employees in Maine should report their injury to their employer immediately but no later than seven days from the accident.
Step 2: Seek medical care
The employee should immediately seek medical attention.
Step 3: 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 4: 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
In Maine, If an employer has selected a health care provider, the injured worker must go to the employer's selected health care provider for the first 10 days of treatment.
If the injured worker wants to change health care providers after the first ten days, they must tell their employer that they are going to do that and provide their employer with the name of the new health care provider.
Employers may request a second opinion from a different provider, regardless of the employee's choice of doctor.
Compensation for missed work
If an employee is off work between seven and 13 days, they will only be paid for those days during that period. Should an employee miss more than 14 days, they will be paid for all of the days that they have missed.
For example, if they miss nine days of work, the employee would only receive two days of benefits. If they missed 16 days of work, the injured worker would receive 16 days of benefits.
Resolving disputes
If an employee disagrees with their claim closure, they have the right to appeal by filing a Notice of Intent to Appeal form with the Appellate Division of the Workers’ Compensation Board.
How to get workers' compensation
Insurance requirements for employers
Generally, unless exempt, employers in Maine 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.