Employer types and available coverage

To do business in Ohio, an employer must be covered through the state insurance fund or be granted the privilege of self-insurance.

State-fund employers
State-fund employers primarily are either public or private employers who pay premiums for workers' compensation coverage. The premiums are placed in the state fund. Two-thirds of Ohio's employers are either public or private employers and are covered by the state insurance fund.

Private employers
Private employers include domestic households, sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, individuals incorporated as a corporation with no employees, family farm corporations or professional employer organizations. To learn more about specific private employer types, click on the appropriate link below.

• Domestic household
• Sole proprietor
• Partnerships
• Limited partnerships
• Limited liability companies
• Corporations
• Individuals incorporated as a corporation with no employees
• Family farm corporation
• Professional employer organizations

Public employers
These are governing units that provide service to the public. The services provided are paid for by public monies collected from levies on property and other services that the public taxing districts provide.

Examples of public employers include:

• All state government agencies;
• Counties;
• Townships;
• Villages;
• Cities;
• Public school districts;
• Libraries;
• Some hospitals, cemeteries and fire departments;

Self-insuring employers
These are usually very large corporations who have been granted the privilege to pay their own workers' compensation claims.

Click here to learn more about self-insurance.
Click here to learn more about marine industry employers.
Click here to learn more about coal mine operators.