Is workers comp required in Missouri?
Missouri generally requires coverage for employers with five or more employees, and construction employers with one or more. Owners, partners and corporate officers are treated under their own rules, and some workers such as certain agricultural or domestic employees may be handled differently.
Buying coverage in Missouri
Missouri employers buy workers comp from private insurance companies, and businesses that are hard to place can obtain coverage through the state's residual market or a state-chartered carrier where one exists. Missouri also has a competitive state-chartered carrier, Missouri Employers Mutual, that sells coverage alongside private insurers.
Who sets the rules
The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation oversees workers comp in Missouri. In Missouri, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) provides the classification system and loss costs that insurers use to file rates.
What Missouri employers should know
- Construction businesses in Missouri face a much lower threshold than other industries, so a single hire can trigger the requirement.
- Missouri has a state-created mutual carrier that writes alongside private insurers.
Missouri facts employers ask about
Missouri's Division of Workers' Compensation, part of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, administers the law. Most employers with five or more employees must carry coverage, while construction industry employers must carry it with even one employee.
Missouri Employers Mutual was created by the legislature to make sure coverage is always available, and it competes with private carriers. Missouri uses NCCI classifications. The state also operates a Second Injury Fund, funded by a surcharge on workers comp premium, which appears as a separate line on many policies.
The Division can refer employers that fail to insure for prosecution and penalties. Construction businesses near the Kansas and Illinois borders often work in both states, so confirm that the policy lists each state where crews actually work.
Missouri law allows certain construction employers and others to obtain coverage through the Missouri Employers Mutual if they cannot find coverage elsewhere, and employers with fewer than five employees outside construction may still choose to buy a policy voluntarily, which many do because clients ask for proof of coverage.
Sources: Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the agency before you rely on them.
How premiums are calculated
As in most states, MO premium is generally the class code rate per $100 of payroll, adjusted by any experience modification, credits and state charges. The final amount is confirmed by a payroll audit after the policy period. Learn more about how workers comp rates work and preparing for an audit.
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Missouri workers comp FAQ
Is workers comp required in Missouri?
Missouri generally requires coverage for employers with five or more employees, and construction employers with one or more. Rules and exceptions change, so confirm your situation with the state agency or an agent.
Who oversees workers comp in Missouri?
The Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation administers the workers compensation system in Missouri.
Can I buy Missouri workers comp from a private insurer?
Yes. Private insurers write workers comp in Missouri, and a market of last resort is available for businesses that are hard to place.
How is workers comp priced in Missouri?
In Missouri, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) provides the classification system and loss costs that insurers use to file rates. As in most states, MO premium is generally the class code rate per $100 of payroll, adjusted by any experience modification, credits and state charges. The final amount is confirmed by a payroll audit after the policy period.