Many companies offer Contractors Liability coverage with or without your workman's compensation coverage. Depending on the nature of your business structure, you may not even need Workers comp coverage.
It is perfectly fine for you to purchase the two coverages separately. You may however get a better rate if purchased together because some companies will offer you a discount for placing multiple policies with the same company.
By law, it's optional for sole proprietors. Reality can be different though. In the construction trades most general contractors will require any subs who are sole proprietors to have workmans comp. This is what their insurance companies require. If a sub doesn't have workmans comp the insurance company adds their wages to the gc's bill.
Workers compensation insurance is nothing more than "workers compensation insurance". Your question is similar to asking what type of auto liability insurance does a person who drives a car need. There is not "type of workmans com" insurance. Just ask your local insurance agent to help you obtain workers compensation insurance and he will give you a quote.
Licensed sub-contractors are usually required to obtain their own workers comp insurance and provide proof of same to anyone who hires him.
Workmans Compensation Insurance is a good way to get insurance coverage without emptying out your wallet. You can find more information about the rules and responsibilities and other information on this website: www.workmanscompinsurance.net/faq.html
If you are the sole owner / employee of your s-corp, workers comp insurance is not required in CA, however some companies you do contract work for may require you to have wc insurance or some type of liability or health insurance.
You should hire a licensed contractor. He should already have liability insurance and workmen's comp for his employees. If you do not hire a properly licensed contractor, all the liability for anything tha might go wrong falls on you. If your insurance company discovers that you hired an unlicensed contractor, they could, and probably will, deny payment on any claims you may file. Tread cautiously!
It depends on the insurance company and their particular experience with the kind of work, number of employees, loss history, management, company's safety program, areas of operation and more. Your insurance agent can discuss options. If you're self-employed, ask about Occupational Accident and Contingent Liability instead of Workers' Compensation.
2 years
This is usually called "Workers' Compensation Insurance", or "Workers' Comp" / "Workmans Comp" for short.
The employer, the insurance company, your state board of insurance and your state's workers' compensation bureau are all good to contact about Work Comp insurance fraud.
Most of the major types, more than one of which could be included in one policy: 1) auto 2) home /property 3) health 4) life 5) boat 6) farm 7) business / lost income 8) personal liability 9) inland marine 10) garage keepers 11) workmans comp 12) commercial liabililty 13) commerical vehicle 14) umbrella
In some states being a sole proprietor with no employees allows you a waiver for the state required workmans comp insurance. However, many large companies as well as state and federal projects will require WC insurance, regardless of the waiver status.