Overview

The Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association was established by Minnesota statute in 1979 to respond to a need for reliable, low-cost reinsurance protection for serious workers’ compensation claims in order to add stability to the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation system. The Association’s membership consists of companies, groups, and governmental subdivisions authorized to insure their own Minnesota workers’ compensation exposure (self-insurers) and insurance companies authorized to write workers’ compensation insurance (insurers). All of these Minnesota self-insurers and insurers are required by law to be WCRA members.

Workers’ compensation reinsurance is designed to protect an insurer or self-insurer against catastrophic losses from work-related injuries. The insurer or self-insurer is responsible for indemnity and medical benefits up to a selected deductible level, or “retention limit.” Customarily, once that retention limit is reached, the WCRA reimburses the insurer or self-insurer for all statutory benefits above that limit. WCRA coverage applies only to Minnesota jurisdiction claims, and claim costs are covered on a per-occurrence basis.

The WCRA offers four retention levels from which the member may select. Find current and historical retention limits and rates here.

The WCRA charges reinsurance premiums based on actuarial projections of the number of catastrophic injuries that are likely to occur in Minnesota’s workforce each year, together with estimates of the costs of these catastrophic injuries. The WCRA Board of Directors annually establishes premium rates that are designed to produce enough premium dollars that, together with investment earnings over time, are sufficient to reimburse WCRA members for their catastrophic claims that exceed their chosen retention limits. Claim reimbursement payments by the WCRA continue for the life of the claim, which may be as long as 70 years.

As a tax-exempt, nonprofit association, the WCRA is able to charge very low reinsurance premiums because the Association has no marketing and underwriting expenses, pays no taxes, and does not need to make a profit. Further, if the WCRA generates more capital than is necessary to meet the long-term obligations to members, that capital is returned to the members and Minnesota employers.

In addition to providing reinsurance protection, the dedicated WCRA staff has the experience and expertise to help members navigate even the most complex workers’ compensation claims by identifying cost-effective treatment and medical management opportunities.  Since its inception, the WCRA has partnered with members to achieve favorable outcomes for both members and the injured workers.

While state law created the WCRA, it is not a state agency and has never received any state appropriations to fund its operations. It is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, including the Commissioner of Management and Budget and the executive director of the State Board of Investment; five members appointed by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry (two employer representatives, two employee representatives, and a public representative); four insurer representatives elected by insurer members from candidates approved by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry; and two self-insurer representatives elected by self-insurer members from candidates who are also approved by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. A full-time staff of about 30 employees manages the business of the Association, including general reinsurance administration, claims handling and rehabilitation, actuarial and financial functions, and information services.