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Workers' Compensation Group Rating Program

Action Calender For Workers’ Compensation - The following list outlines, by month, important events and deadlines for the workers’ compensation year.

Questionnaire Form >>

AC-3 Form >>

OADA's goal is to provide the most advantageous programs to our members and that is exactly what we have accomplished through our Workers' Compensation Group Rating program. Under group rating, OADA members join together to obtain premium discounts previously available only to much larger employers. Hundreds of dealers have saved millions of dollars through this program. Projections show that dealers can save up to 95% on Workers' Compensation premiums. These immense savings are a result of employer groups, including OADA, causing a change in the law that now requires the Bureau of Workers' Compensation to offer the lower group ratings to employer groups.

What is Group Rating?
As an employer, you are required to pay a premium to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation based on your number of claims, risk experience and total payroll every six months. In much the same way that group health insurance is much less expensive than an individual policy, the group rating plan allows employers that are substantially similar to group together to realize significant savings on their premiums. Employers that have relatively few claims and low risk experiences are saving between 30% to 95% on their workers' compensation premiums. Since 1991, the OADA Group Rating Plan has saved dealers over $173 million dollars in workers' compensation premiums.

How Does the Program Work?

Each year the dealer must elect to be involved in the program due to the fact that the groups are reclassified on an annual basis. The annual reclassification reevaluates the dealers' claims thus allowing dealerships with like experience and claims to be grouped together. This allows each dealer the opportunity to achieve the most savings possible.

• You maintain your own account and continue to pay premiums directly to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. 

• You do not acquire responsibility for any other member's premium.

• You make an informed choice about participation based on actuarial projections.

Administration of the Program.
The Ohio Automobile Dealers Association Group Rating Plan is administered by CCI, Inc. The management fee paid to CCI entitles the dealer to legal representation. This legal representation, should you need it, includes hearings on Workers' Compensation claims before the Ohio Industrial Commission. You will also receive representation in matters concerning overpayment of premiums, adjustments of rates, payroll audits, industrial classifications or other disputes with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. You are also relieved from most of the administrative burden of interacting with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. It is important to note that the dealership is responsible for legal expenses beyond the administrative level.

How to Qualify for OADA's Workers' Compensation Program

In order to qualify for the group rating program a dealership must meet certain qualifications including but not limited to:

• While you need not be a member of the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association to apply, you must be a member to join the plan.

• Have no cumulative lapses in workers' compensation coverage in excess of 59 days within 18 months of the next December 31.

• Be in good standing and current (not more than 45 days past due unless a dispute of the obligation has been lodged with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation in writing) on all monies owed to the Bureau.

• Maintain an active account with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation at the beginning of the policy year.

• Not be participating in a partial payment plan with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation as of the next December 31.

Each year the Ohio Automobile Dealers Association Group Rating Plan offers dealers the opportunity to join the program in August and September for the period beginning the next July, 1 and ending June 30. During this time the dealer completes a questionnaire and an AC-3 or AC-26 form, depending on whether the dealership is currently enrolled in the program or not. By completing this documentation you have given CompManagement, Inc. the authority to evaluate the dealership's experience and claims and determine your eligibility for the program and the projected savings. In November you will receive a display of your projected savings for the next period.

Due to the many variables involved in assessing risk factors for workers' compensation claims, we cannot guarantee that the group rates will be those exactly projected by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, or that your dealership will be qualified for the program.

Questionnaire Form >>

AC-3 Form >>

For more information concerning OADA's Group Rating Plan, contact Charlie Howard at 766-9100 or (800)686-9100 or choward@oada.com