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 2001. 

Figure A provides an historical record of changes in the national averages of total benefits per 100,000 for the same 43 jurisdictions between 1985 and 1998, plus 42 identical jurisdictions for 1998 to 2001. The national averages include California and New York in all years and account for most of the benefit payments in the U.S. 

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 past four years. Particularly noteworthy is the slowdown in the rate of increase in total benefits in 2001. Also of interest, as documented in the article, cash benefits increased only 3.4 percent in 2001, while medical benefits grew by 13.9 percent.

The article also examines the changes in cash and medical benefits (as well as total benefits) from 1985 to 2001 for individual states. One striking result is that interstate differences in both cash and medical benefits have narrowed considerably over these 17 years, although there has been an increase in the dispersion of benefits per 100,000 workers among states between 1998 and 2001.

Information on the Workers’ Compensation Policy Review

The Workers’ Compensation Policy Review is published six times a year. Requests for sample copies 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.