Oregon workers' compensation insurance: Your ultimate resource
Everything to know about workers’ compensation for
Oregon
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
Oregon
's workers' comp laws?
Oregon is situated in the Pacific Northwest and embraces a unique heritage and allure. With a rich agricultural history and breathtaking landscapes, the Beaver State offers an enchanting blend of tradition and natural beauty.
The state’s vibrant economy provides many opportunities for businesses across various sectors to prosper. Securing dependable workers' compensation insurance is paramount for safeguarding your business and its valuable employees.
What is workers' compensation?
Workers' compensation is a state-mandated insurance program for almost all employers in Oregon. Employers are required to have an active policy before hiring their first employee. Coverage provides medical and financial protection for employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
Without workers’ compensation, the cost of an injured employee’s medical treatment could become the responsibility of your business.
Oregon workers' compensation laws
The Oregon Workers' Compensation Division 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
Oregon
workers' comp?
Who is covered?
Policies include protection for full and part-time workers — as well as your business’s financials.
Oregon’s workers' compensation law includes nearly 30 exemptions. Some include:
- Domestic servants, like home health workers, or people working in a private home doing domestic service.
- Employees hired by a homeowner to do gardening, maintenance, repair or remodeling work.
- Casual employees whose work isn’t part of an employer's trade or profession.
- Employees earning less than $500 a year.
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 developed over time due to job conditions.
Benefits provided
Oregon 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
Oregon workers’ compensation rates
As of 2023, Oregon’s workers’ comp weekly benefit amount maximum is $1,331.48 for:
- Temporary total disability
- Permanent partial disability
- Permanent total disability
- Death benefits
How much does workers’ comp cost in
Oregon
?
How do you file a workers’ compensation claim in
Oregon
?
Filing a workers' compensation claim
In the event of a work-related injury or illness:
Step 1: Employee reports injury to employer
Employees in Oregon should report their injury to their employer using Form 801 as soon as possible. Employers should send it to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier within five days of receiving the notice. Additionally, employers should provide their injured worker with this form.
Step 2: Seek medical care
The employee should immediately seek medical attention and complete Form 827 with the help of your doctor.
Step 3: Receive benefits
If an employer’s insurance provider accepts the claim, the worker should begin receiving benefits to cover medical expenses and may receive lost wages.
Step 4: Return to work/permanent disability benefits
Following their recovery, a worker is expected to resume work safely. In cases where the worker cannot fully recover, they may be eligible to receive permanent disability payments.
Choosing a healthcare provider
Unless the employer has enrolled the company in a managed care organization, employees can be treated by any health care provider who qualifies as an attending physician under Oregon state law. Employers cannot choose health care providers for their injured workers.
Compensation for missed work
If an employee is out of work:
- Less than three days: They are not eligible for temporary disability payments.
- More than 14 days: They are eligible for benefits retroactive to the first day they stopped work.
Resolving disputes
If an employee disagrees with their claim closure, they have the right to appeal by asking the Workers’ Compensation Division for a reconsideration. An injured worker must file for reconsideration within 60 days of the mailing date of the Notice of Closure.
How to get workers' compensation
Insurance requirements for employers
Unless exempt, employers in Oregon 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.