Best Workers' Comp Insurance in Pennsylvania (2026)

Workers’ compensation insurance requirements apply as soon as you hire one employee in Pennsylvania, even if that person works part time or is a family member. Limited exceptions apply, including certain sole proprietors, partners and approved corporate officers.

Pennsylvania uses its own classification system through the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB), not NCCI. Your code should reflect the nature of your business and the risks involved in its operations. Give your insurer a clear account of the work your employees perform so it can apply the appropriate PCRB classification and rate.

Organize your payroll by class code and gather loss runs, which summarize your previous workers’ compensation claims. Include part-time employees and anyone whose duties have changed since your last policy period. If you use construction subcontractors, collect their insurance certificates and confirm they qualify as independent contractors under Pennsylvania’s construction worker classification rules.

Compare business insurance quotes because Pennsylvania carriers may charge different rates for the same PCRB classification. If private insurers will not cover your business, you can also apply to the State Workers’ Insurance Fund, which provides an assured source of coverage in the state. Compare payment options as well as the quoted annual premium.

Ask each carrier how it would help you establish and maintain a panel of medical providers. With a properly posted list of at least six providers and written employee acknowledgment, you can generally require an injured worker to use someone on that list for the first 90 days of treatment. Look for a carrier that can explain the provider-list requirements and offer accessible options near your worksites.

Once coverage begins, post your insurer’s contact information where employees can easily find it and set up a process for recording payroll throughout the year. Report every workplace injury to your insurer immediately. Pennsylvania also requires a First Report of Injury within 48 hours after a death and within seven days when an injury causes an employee to miss a full day, shift or turn of work.

Use your annual audit to correct payroll or job duties assigned to the wrong PCRB code. Check your experience modification, which adjusts your premium based partly on your claims record, and make sure your subcontractor certificates remain current. If you operate a certified workplace safety committee, verify that your renewal includes Pennsylvania’s 5% premium discount.