Workers’ compensation incurred benefits per 100,000 workers vary markedly

among jurisdictions in a particular year as well as nationally over time. This issue provides

information on cash benefits, medical benefits, and total (cash plus medical) benefits

per 100,000 workers for up to 47 jurisdictions for each of the years from 1985 to

2000.

Figure A provides an historical record for changes in the national averages of total

benefits per 100,000 workers for the same 43 jurisdictions between 1985 and 1998, plus

the identical 42 jurisdictions for 1998, 1999, and 2000. (We hope to add West Virginia,

the missing state for 1999 and 2000, to our data in a subsequent article.)

The national data exhibit an interesting pattern over time. Total benefits increased

for the five years between 1986 and 1990; declined for the five years between 1991 and

1995; marked time in 1996 and 1997; and then increased in each of the last three years.

The article documents that this pattern for total benefits shown in Figure A is similar to

the patterns for cash and medical benefits.

The article also examines the changes in cash and medical benefits (as well as total

benefits) from 1985 to 2000 for individual states. One striking result is that the interstate

differences in both cash and medical benefits have narrowed considerably over

these 16 years, although there was an increase in the dispersion of costs among states

between 1998 and 2000.

Information on Workers’ Compensation Policy Review

Workers’ Compensation Policy Review is published six times a year. Requests for a sample copy or for subscription information can be sent by mail to WCPR, 56 Primrose Circle, Princeton, NJ 08540-9416; by FAX to 732-274-0678; or by filling out our online form.