Workers' compensation insurance for businesses

Workers’ compensation is the coverage that responds when an employee is injured or becomes ill because of work. It is written to pay covered medical care, wage replacement, and related statutory benefits — and, in states that use it that way, to serve as the employer’s exclusive remedy for those injuries. It is not general liability, and it is not a wrap-up by itself.

Kavana Insurance Inc. places workers’ compensation for California and Texas businesses. Licensed California insurance agency, License 6016951. Licensed in Texas. Office: 915 Highland Point Dr Suite 250, Roseville, CA 95678. Call (916) 545-3202.

What a WC policy is for

Medical care

Covered treatment, rehabilitation, and related care for employees injured on the job, subject to the policy and state rules.

Wage replacement

Statutory disability or wage benefits while the employee is off work for a covered injury, as the state system defines them.

Death benefits

Benefits the state system provides to eligible dependents if a covered workplace injury is fatal.

Employers’ liability

The companion coverage on most WC policies for certain employee-injury claims that fall outside the exclusive-remedy statute. Limits and exclusions still control.

California vs. Texas — carefully

The two states do not use the same rulebook. This is a practical difference, not a scorecard:

California: employers with employees are generally required to carry workers’ compensation. There is not a “skip it” option once you have staff.
Texas: workers’ compensation is largely elective for most private employers. An employer that does not carry it is a nonsubscriber and can face common-law liability for workplace injuries instead of the no-fault WC system. On commercial construction, owners and GCs still often require WC by contract regardless of the statutory default.

A California policy does not automatically cover Texas payroll, and a Texas renewal does not tell you what California will do. Confirm each state’s payroll, classifications, and endorsements separately. More context: California vs. Texas contractor insurance.

Pricing follows classifications, payroll, experience, and state rules — not a national average we can quote on a webpage. Construction class codes cost more than office class codes because the work is different.

Related coverage

Share operations, payroll by class, states of hire, and any owner-officer election questions. Certificates are issued after a policy is bound. Get a workers’ compensation quote