Types of Employers

There are two types of employers:

• State-Fund Employers
• Self-Insuring Employers

If you do not know if your employer is state-funded or self-insured, ask your employer.

State-Fund Employers
State Fund Employers primarily are either a Public or a private employer who pays 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-fund.

Click here for more information on State Fund Employers

Self-Insuring Employers
Approximately one/third of Ohio employers are self-insured. Self-insured employers pay workers' compensation benefits directly to their employees. If your employer is self-insured, your workers' compensation claim should be filed with the employer.

When employers doing business in the state of Ohio meet the self-insuring criteria listed under ORC 4123.35 and OAC 4123-19-03 they are granted the privilege to self-insure (administer) their own workers' compensation claims.

• Self-insuring employers are given decision-making authority similar to that of the BWC Administrator.
• The self-insuring (SI) employer agrees to abide by BWC and Industrial Commission (IC) rules and regulations.
• The employer agrees to provide accurate and timely payments of compensation and benefits subject to the provisions of those rules.

Click here for more information on Self-Insured Employers.