Standard Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Updated: 19 April 2026

What Does Standard Workers’ Compensation Insurance Mean?

Standard workers’ compensation insurance is a mandatory type of coverage for businesses with employees in every state. This insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs for workers who are injured or become ill while on the job. Each state has its own set of rules and regulations governing standard workers’ compensation insurance. Because each state sets its own rules, the requirements and rates can look quite different depending on where the business operates, which is why workers’ compensation insurance in California works differently from how it does in other states.

Insuranceopedia Explains Standard Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Standard workers’ compensation insurance policies became legally required in 1911. Before that, employees who were injured or became ill on the job had to file lawsuits against their employers to receive compensation for related expenses. Workers’ compensation insurance eliminates the need for such lawsuits, allowing workers to receive benefits if they qualify. Additionally, it benefits employers by limiting their liability and preventing legal fees they would otherwise incur if employees were suing them for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ comp is usually just one piece of a wider business insurance package, and owners factoring it into their budgets often look at typical small business insurance costs before settling on a carrier.