WCIRB Updates on COVID-19 Workers’ Comp Claims Impact

9/28/2023

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has released its COVID-19 in California Workers' Compensation – 2023 Update. This report details the characteristics of COVID-19 workers’ compensation claims in California and their impact on the state’s workers’ comp system. 

The full report is available in the Research section of the WCIRB website and at the following link: 

Highlights of the report include: 

  • Since Omicron, COVID-19 claims have represented 2 percent of all indemnity claims. 
  • Accident year (AY) 2022 COVID-19 claims are emerging as much less severe than those from AYs 2020 and 2021, partially due to a higher share of claims with incurred indemnity but no incurred medical loss (indemnity-only claims). 
  • At later report levels, AYs 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 claims remain less likely to be classified as permanent disability claims than non-COVID-19 claims. 

Previous Reports