The Hartford is the best workers' comp insurance provider in Connecticut. While it doesn't have the lowest rate, it's an affordable alternative. You can save up to $42 per month with The Hartford as its average premium sits about 21% below the state average. You can also expect strong support if you file a claim, along with a team of dedicated specialists for your industry.
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Connecticut (2026)
With rates starting at $14 monthly, The Hartford, ERGO NEXT and Coverdash offer the best workers' comp insurance in Connecticut.
Get matched to top Connecticut workers' comp insurance providers and find your ideal coverage using our tool below.
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Updated: August 26, 2026
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Best Workers' Comp Insurance Companies in Connecticut
| The Hartford | 4.52 | $159 | 3 | 3 |
| ERGO NEXT | 4.50 | $148 | 1 | 6 |
| Coverdash | 4.38 | $181 | 5 | 1 |
| Hiscox | 4.06 | $194 | 6 | 10 |
| Thimble | 3.97 | $185 | 8 | 9 |
MoneyGeek analyzed workers' comp insurance rates and provider performance across Connecticut using small business profiles with one to four employees spanning 408 major industries. Companies earn up to five points in each category in our scoring system. We then use a weighted average of these category scores to calculate a MoneyGeek score out of five.
- Affordability (55%): Based on average payroll for the most common employee code per industry and state classification, priced per employee for a one to four employee business.
- Customer Experience (35%): Evaluates buying (20%), which covers quote access, pricing accuracy and sales support; policy management (30%), which covers payroll reporting, audits, billing and loss control; and claims (50%), which covers FNOL speed, adjuster support, medical access, wage replacement and dispute handling.
- Coverage Options (10%): Assesses coverage completeness (35%), including employers' liability and wage and medical reimbursement; policy flexibility and endorsements (25%); eligibility, state and industry breadth (20%); and policy terms, limits and exclusions (20%).
The Hartford
Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Connecticut
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.1/5Customer Experience
4.5/5Coverage
Average Monthly Cost
$159Claims Processing Score
4.1/5Policy Management Score
4/5Buying Process Score
4/5
ERGO NEXT
Best Connecticut Workers' Comp Insurance: Runner-Up
MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
4.2/5Customer Experience
4.1/5Coverage
Average Monthly Cost
$148Claims Processing Score
4/5Policy Management Score
4.1/5Buying Process Score
4.4/5
Cheapest Workers' Comp Insurance in Connecticut
The cost of workers' comp insurance across industries shows an interesting pattern. Transportation & Logistics costs $443 per month, the highest rate in the table and nearly 25 times what Marketing & Communications pays at $18 monthly. Construction & Contracting ($345 a month) and Wholesale & Distribution ($283 a month) round out the three most expensive categories.
Low-risk desk work tells a different story. Beauty, Body & Wellness Services ($19 a month), Marketing & Communications ($18 a month) and Financial Services ($14 a month) are the three cheapest industries for workers' compensation insurance in Connecticut. If your business sits in one of those categories, annual workers' comp costs under $250 are achievable.
| Agriculture & Natural Resources | ERGO NEXT | $244 | $2,928 |
| Arts, Media & Entertainment | ERGO NEXT | $140 | $1,680 |
| Beauty, Body & Wellness Services | ERGO NEXT | $19 | $228 |
| Childcare Services | ERGO NEXT | $58 | $696 |
| Cleaning Services | ERGO NEXT | $171 | $2,052 |
| Construction & Contracting | ERGO NEXT | $345 | $4,140 |
| Food & Beverage | ERGO NEXT | $62 | $744 |
| Consulting Services | The Hartford | $26 | $312 |
| Education | ERGO NEXT | $97 | $1,164 |
| Financial Services | The Hartford | $14 | $168 |
| Fitness Services | ERGO NEXT | $101 | $1,212 |
| Healthcare & Medical | The Hartford | $69 | $828 |
| Hospitality, Travel & Tourism | The Hartford | $65 | $780 |
| Manufacturing | ERGO NEXT | $221 | $2,652 |
| Marketing & Communications | ERGO NEXT | $18 | $216 |
| Nonprofit & Associations | The Hartford | $87 | $1,044 |
| Other Professional Services | ERGO NEXT | $30 | $360 |
| Pet Care Services | ERGO NEXT | $94 | $1,128 |
| Real Estate & Property Services | The Hartford | $28 | $336 |
| Recreation & Sports | ERGO NEXT | $165 | $1,980 |
| Repair & Maintenance | ERGO NEXT | $108 | $1,296 |
| Retail & Product Rental | ERGO NEXT | $81 | $972 |
| Tech/IT | The Hartford | $52 | $624 |
| Transportation & Logistics | ERGO NEXT | $443 | $5,316 |
| Wholesale & Distribution | ERGO NEXT | $283 | $3,396 |
How to Get the Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Connecticut
You'll need to consider multiple factors to get workers' comp insurance for your business. A structured guide can make the experience smoother, since you're less likely to go with a provider you're familiar with or the one that offers the lowest premiums.
- 1Confirm Connecticut Coverage Requirements
Connecticut’s workers’ comp system covers nearly all employees, including part-time workers. However, people who work fewer than 26 hours per week in a private home are exempt from workers’ comp requirements. Business owners and certain company officers follow separate election rules, so verify who belongs on the policy before applying.
- 2Identify Your NCCI Class Codes
Match each employee to the NCCI code that reflects their actual work. Some classifications already include clerical duties, which means office employees can’t always be separated into a lower-rated clerical code. Ask insurers to explain any code that doesn’t match how your business operates.
- 3Document Payroll, Employee Count and Claims History
Build a consistent quote file with your estimated payroll by class code and recent loss runs. Include the same employee count on every application. If an officer, LLC member or partner has filed an election to be excluded, keep that documentation with your insurance records.
- 4Request Quotes From Multiple Connecticut Carriers
You can approach licensed carriers directly or use an agent to compare the market. If standard insurers won’t cover your business, ask about Connecticut’s assigned-risk plan rather than operating without insurance. Don’t forget to compare business insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting value for money.
- 5Compare Quality, Not Just Price
Check whether the insurer uses an approved managed care plan and whether its network is practical for your workforce. Employees covered by one of these plans generally must choose a provider from its network. Claims support also matters when an injury requires quick treatment or ongoing care.
- 6Complete the Purchase and Set Up Payroll Reporting
Bind the policy before employees begin covered work. Follow the carrier’s payroll-reporting schedule and retain wages by class code for the policy audit. You can confirm that an active policy appears through Connecticut’s Coverage Verification Service.
- 7Review Your Policy at Annual Renewal
Use the audit to check whether the insurer classified your payroll correctly. Update applications when your staffing or operations change, then compare renewal offers using the same figures. Connecticut reviews workers’ comp loss costs and assigned-risk rates annually, so last year’s carrier may not remain the lowest-priced option.
Best Workers' Compensation Insurance in Connecticut: Bottom Line
The Hartford and ERGO NEXT are Connecticut's top two workers' compensation providers, separated by $11 a month on average but diverging on per-industry rates. The Hartford is the better choice for financial services, tech and consulting employers. ERGO NEXT wins on cost for beauty, marketing, food and most service industries.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER BUSINESS INSURANCE TYPES?
Workers' comp is only one part of your coverage if you're building your Connecticut business insurance policy. You'll likely need more than that. Check our other resources for coverage in the state below to ensure you have comprehensive coverage:
Connecticut Workers' Compensation Insurance FAQs
The Hartford is the best workers' comp insurance in Connecticut, with the top MoneyGeek score, while ERGO NEXT has the cheapest average monthly rate at $148.
- ERGO NEXT: $148 a month
- The Hartford: $159 a month
- Coverdash: $181 a month
- Thimble: $185 a month
- Hiscox: $194 a month
Connecticut requires workers' comp for all employers with at least one employee. The Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission is the state oversight body that enforces this mandate. Employers who don't meet workers' comp requirements expose themselves to civil fines and personal liability for all injury costs.
Connecticut is among the more expensive markets in the Northeast, with workers' comp costs averaging $202 per month across all industries. Financial Services ($21 a month) and Beauty, Body & Wellness ($25 a month) are the most affordable industries in the state, while Transportation & Logistics ($619 a month) and Construction ($566 a month) are the most expensive.
Connecticut is a competitive private market with no state fund. Employers who can't get voluntary market coverage may access the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Assigned Risk Pool, administered through NCCI. Self-insurance is permitted for qualifying large employers under the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission.
Your workers' comp insurance policy covers the following:
- Medical expenses: Covers all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for work-related injuries; the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission sets a medical fee schedule.
- Wage loss benefits: Pays temporary total disability at 75% of after-tax (spendable) average weekly wages (verify 2026 maximum weekly benefit against the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission).
- Vocational rehabilitation: Provides retraining and job placement assistance for workers unable to return to their prior occupation.
- Death benefits: Pays burial expenses and compensation based on the deceased's average weekly wage to qualifying dependents.
About Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz
Angelique Palenzuela-Cruz is a Business Insurance Content Writer at MoneyGeek, where she specializes in general liability, workers’ compensation and professional liability insurance. Her work helps small business owners understand how these policies apply to coverage, including risks like customer injuries, employee injuries, professional mistakes, client contract terms and industry-specific coverage requirements.
She primarily covers service-based businesses where liability and employee coverage decisions are especially important, including cleaning, consulting, beauty and wellness, childcare, education, fitness, food service, pet care, repair and maintenance, and other professional services.
Before joining MoneyGeek, Angelique spent nearly 12 years at Guthrie-Jensen Consultants, one of Southeast Asia’s largest management training firms, where she advanced from Training Consultant to Managing Consultant. In that role, she worked with business clients to assess operational needs, develop training programs and present performance analyses to executive decision-makers. She also helped establish Gladwin Training Consultancy, where she served in learning solutions and client service roles.
Her background gives her practical context for writing about how businesses operate, manage client expectations, structure teams and make risk decisions. At MoneyGeek, she applies that experience to business insurance content, connecting coverage to actual business needs.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ma-angela-cruz
Email Contact: angelique.palenzuela@moneygeek.com