As your business evolves — whether through expanded headcount, new facilities or new equipment — the insurance premium you pay should evolve accordingly. 91şÚÁĎÍř’s annual premium audit gives you a confident, accurate view of your true exposures and ensures your coverage reflects your business today.

Why Does an Annual Premium Audit Matter?

Insurance carriers base premiums on estimated exposures such as payroll, sales or subcontracted labor. Because those metrics naturally shift over time, the final premium must align with actual operations — not last year’s estimate. With 91şÚÁĎÍř’s annual premium audit service, you gain clarity: you see exactly what the carrier reviewed, and you know the premium you pay is aligned with your business today.

“At 91şÚÁĎÍř we believe the premium audit is a strategic checkpoint — not a surprise,” says John Coffaro, AVP, Premium Audit at 91şÚÁĎÍř. “It gives our policyholders the visibility they deserve and ensures they are paying only for the risk they actually carry.”

Key features of our annual premium audit include a straightforward, web-enabled process designed to fit your schedule, premium audit consultants who understand your industry and business, and a timely, fair review of your operations—including payroll, sales, subcontracted labor liabilities, and departmental roles—to ensure your coverage accurately reflects your current exposures.

How the Annual Premium Audit Works at 91şÚÁĎÍř

1. 1. After your policy period ends, your 91şÚÁĎÍř auditor schedules a consultation to review your operations and exposures.
   2. You’ll gather the material — payroll registers, tax journals, ledgers, certificates of insurance for subcontractors — and provide subscriber access via our Premium Audit Portal powered by .
   3. In the portal you upload payroll data (it accepts many major third-party payroll providers), document business operations via the intuitive questionnaire, and share other required files.
   4. Your auditor reviews the submitted materials and collaborates with you to determine final exposures.
   5. The outcome: your premium is either confirmed correct as originally estimated, reduced (if exposures were less than estimated) or adjusted upward (if exposures were greater). Either way, you come away with assurance your coverage cost matches your business.

Our Premium Audit Portal Highlights

• Automated status emails keep your team informed.
• 24/7 secure access, enabling uploads, profile updates and shared visibility with your auditor.
• Payroll Validator feature reduces manual entry — automatically loads payroll from compatible providers.
• Same-day visibility for you and the auditor.

The Business Case for Premium Audits

Beyond transparency and fairness, an annual premium audit carries strategic value for policyholders in the manufacturing, construction and healthcare industries. For one, accurate classification of job roles and exposures helps avoid paying for risk you no longer bear. For carriers, timely and accurate audits premium leakage and bolster underwriting integrity, especially as technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics are increasingly applied to audit workflows.

From a risk-management perspective, audit outcomes are connected to workplace safety: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that worker injuries and illnesses have fallen from about 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to approximately 2.4 per 100 in 2023. Meanwhile the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 5,283 fatal work injuries in 2023 across U.S. workplaces (a rate of roughly 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers).

While these numbers don’t directly dictate premium audit outcomes, the underlying safety culture, classification accuracy and exposure transparency influence how auditors evaluate operations and how carriers price risk.

“In short, the audit is more than paperwork,” explains Coffaro. “When you complete the audit process, you not only validate your operations — you position your business to control cost, optimize classification and ensure your premium is right.”

Best Practices for Policyholders

Start Early: Have your payroll register job duties by role subcontractor certificates and income and expense logs ready. These are among the most requested items.

Use Our Portal: simplifies the upload process and keeps your audit on-track.

Collaborate with Your Auditor: The consultation is your chance to explain operational changes (new facility, major equipment, headcount shifts) and ensure they’re accurately captured.

Leverage the Outcome: If the audit shows lower exposure than estimated, you may be eligible for a refund or credit. If exposures are higher, use the results to budget and optimize for the next policy period.

Turn Audit Insights into Strategy: Use classification and exposure details from the audit to guide safety, cost-control and operational planning. Accurate classification supports proper premium treatment and a reliable experience-mod, strengthened by OSHA’s requirement to maintain clear injury and illness records.

Looking Ahead

In a time of evolving labor models, business growth and technological innovation, premium accuracy matters more than ever. 91şÚÁĎÍř remains committed to investing in audit transparency, digital convenience and consultative expertise so businesses can benefit from coverage that aligns with real-world operations.

Discover how 91şÚÁĎÍř’s Premium Audit service delivers clarity, transparency, and confidence in your coverage. Learn more about the process, explore helpful resources, or connect with an expert auditor today.

Many businesses hesitate, hoping a minor injury resolves on its own or fearing a report might raise premiums. Yet experience consistently shows the opposite: when a workers’ compensation claim is reported promptly and handled by a carrier with specialized expertise, costs are contained, outcomes improve, and future rates stay stable. The first call after an incident often shapes every step that follows.

Why So Much Rides on “When”

Workplace injury data continues to paint a revealing picture of how timing influences cost and recovery. In 2023, private-industry employers roughly 2.6 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses—a notable 8% decline from the prior year. Yet nearly one million of those cases involved days away from work, showing how even seemingly minor incidents can quickly disrupt operations and productivity.

Each number tells a story about timing and impact. Workers’ compensation claims that remain unreported for even a few days tend to grow more expensive—not simply because of rising medical costs, but because critical details fade, treatment is delayed, and uncertainty heightens stress for the injured employee. has consistently shown that waiting just one to two weeks can nearly double total claim costs, as the window for early intervention and return-to-work narrows. The sooner an adjuster can coordinate medical care and verify the circumstances, the greater the control over outcomes and overall exposure.

The impact also reaches beyond dollars and cents, touching how employees recover and how teams operate. allows carriers to engage nurse case managers, prevent unnecessary treatments, and reduce litigation potential. And staying compliant is another key part of the picture, ensuring businesses meet requirements while maintaining transparency and trust. Federal regulations under the OSHAĚý employers to document and submit severe injuries—such as hospitalizations, amputations, or fatalities—within tight timeframes, sometimes as short as eight hours for a fatal incident. Missing those deadlines can trigger penalties that start at thousands of dollars per violation and, more importantly, can signal to employees and regulators that safety accountability is lacking.

“Reporting an injury right away gives everyone the best chance for a positive outcome,” says Brandie McDonald, Director of Claims Compliance and Operations at 91şÚÁĎÍř. “It allows us to step in early to guide next steps and coordinate care, so the injured employee feels supported and the business can stay focused on recovery rather than red tape. That early connection really makes a difference.”

Timely claims handling, then, becomes more than a procedural task. It’s a safeguard that protects compliance, preserves culture, and demonstrates a company’s credibility and care long before a case ever reaches the settlement stage.

Expert Claims Handling Delivers

When an injury is reported right away, an experienced workers’ compensation claims partner like 91şÚÁĎÍř can mobilize the right team: assigning an adjuster who knows your industry, engaging trusted medical providers, launching early return-to-work strategies, and deploying technology-driven tools to monitor progress. This isn’t about speed for its own sake — it’s about precision and prevention.

For high-risk industries such as manufacturing, construction, and healthcare, our expertise carries tangible value. Proactive management helps stabilize the — a key factor in workers’ compensation premiums — and protects renewal positioning. It also builds trust within the workforce, signaling that employee safety and well-being are priorities, not just paperwork.

Moving Ahead with Confidence

When handled quickly and thoughtfully, a claim becomes more than a response to an incident — it’s an opportunity to demonstrate care, accountability, and leadership. Prompt reporting shows responsibility to employees and commitment to the business itself, strengthening trust and reinforcing the values that define lasting partnerships. A timely approach not only reduces costs and downtime but also supports recovery, confidence, and culture — proving that how your business responds in critical moments says just as much about it as the outcome itself.

Discover how 91şÚÁĎÍř helps organizations turn claims into confidence through timely, expert claims handling that protects what matters most — your people, your operations, and your future.

Ashley Parker, Senior Risk Management Consultant – President-Elect, American Society of Safety Professionals – Heart of America Chapter,

Brian Wilsher, Director of Program Business – Speaker and “Phenoms Under 40” award recipient, Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Annual Conference,

Kathleen Babilon, Risk Management Specialist – Presenter and speaker, Rising Auto Rates: The Cost of Distracted Driving and Nuclear Verdicts,

Kimberly Vaughn, Vice President of Claims – Presenter and speaker, From Peer to Manager: Navigating the Leadership Transition,

Matt Latham, Purchasing Manager – Presenter and speaker, From Pitch to Approval: Building a Business Case for CLM,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Manager – Presenter and speaker, Leveraging Technology to Improve Workplace Safety,

Steve Donnelly, Chief Service Officer – Presenter and speaker, Litigation Management Hot Takes: Insights from the Task Force,

Tyah Williamson, Senior Claims Adjuster – Presenter and speaker, Workers’ Compensation 101,

Stay tuned for more in Q3! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from 91şÚÁĎÍř right here on theĚýNewsroomĚýeach quarter.

Greg Crabb, President and CEO – Roundtable speaker, How to Move Forward on Legal System Abuse Reform,

Steve Donnelly, Chief Service Officer – Presenter and speaker, Litigation Management Hot Takes: Insights from the Task Force,

Enjonli Hutchison, Risk Management Manager; Kathleen Babilon, Risk Management Specialist; George Pavarini, VP of Complex & Specialty Commercial Claims – Presenter and speakers, The Nuclear Verdict Experience for Commercial Auto,

Ryan Anderson, Risk Management Technology Manager – Presenter and speaker, Exosuit Case Study: Deploying Exosuits to Improve Worker Well-being and Improve Productivity,

Matt Latham, Purchasing Manager – Presenter and speaker, Pitch to Approval: Building a Business Case for CLM,

Ashley Parker, Senior Risk Management Consultant – Presenter and speaker, Claims Management: A Key to Your Safety Program,

Marcus Rasberry, Risk Management and Lead Property Specialist – Podcast guest and speaker, Insurance and the Psychology of Risk,

George Pavarini, VP of Complex & Specialty Commercial Claims – Presenter and speaker, 91şÚÁĎÍř Response to Social Inflation and Reptile Litigation Tactics,

Abbi Brock, Rotational Claims Specialist – Worker’s Compensation – Roundtable presenter, Functional Capacity Evaluations and Use in Worker’s Compensation Litigation,

Stay tuned for more in Q2! We’ll share the latest news, media mentions and speaking engagements from 91şÚÁĎÍř right here on theĚýNewsroomĚýeach quarter.

Why This Matters

Vehicle accidents can have a ripple effect on businesses. , there were over 19,500 traffic-related fatalities in the U.S., with commercial vehicles involved in over 400,000 crashes annually. These incidents come with significant costs—medical, legal, property damage, and lost productivity—that can be overwhelming for employers. That’s why having a streamlined, efficient claims process is so critical.

What Sets Us Apart

“We’ve designed the Auto Direct Repair Program to do more than just fix vehicles—we’re focused on delivering a superior experience,” says Matt Michalski, 91şÚÁĎÍř’s Vice President of Claims Programs & Shared Services. “Our policyholders can rest easy knowing their vehicles are in good hands, and we’re making sure the claims process is faster, smoother, and easier than ever.”

Not only does the program include real-time updates, concierge-level service, and expedited scheduling, but it also comes with a lifetime repair guarantee. This means that repairs are guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle. With this peace of mind, businesses and individuals alike can focus on what matters most—getting back on the road quickly and without stress.

“We’re committed to making auto claims as easy as possible,” Michalski adds. The Auto Direct Repair Program isn’t just about fixing cars—it’s about providing a streamlined experience that minimizes downtime, reduces stress, and gets our customers back on the road faster.”

Benefits at a Glance

• Over 2,400 pre-screened and insured shops across the U.S., where repairs are handled by experts you can trust.
• We keep you informed at every stage, so you always know where things stand.
• Expedited scheduling and a streamlined claims process mean you won’t be left waiting.
• Lifetime repair guarantee
• 91şÚÁĎÍř handles payments directly with the repair shop—no need to wait for checks to clear.

For more information on how the Auto Direct Repair Program can streamline your repair process, visit our website.

91şÚÁĎÍř is continuing to transform the auto claims process, now with photo-based estimating—a state-of-the-art solution that makes vehicle damage assessments faster, easier, and more convenient. Since launching in partnership with , an innovative insurance technology provider, 91şÚÁĎÍř claimants have already benefited from this streamlined approach. By reducing wait times and expediting claim resolution, this tool helps policyholders get back on the road quickly while minimizing operational disruptions for businesses.

Why It Matters

Vehicle accidents can take a significant toll on businesses. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. The financial burden of each crash averages $16,500, but when an employee is injured, that cost jumps to $74,000—and fatalities can push expenses beyond $500,000. Efficient claims processing plays a crucial role in mitigating these financial impacts.

How it Works

Through a secure platform, claimants can submit photos of their damaged vehicles, often eliminating the need for in-person inspections. This innovative approach significantly reduces processing times, with estimates generated in just 16 hours—compared to the 10 to 11 days typically required when using an independent adjuster. Faster estimates mean repairs can begin sooner, reducing downtime and costs for businesses and policyholders alike.

Customer-Centric Solutions

“The auto physical damage team is excited to have photo-based estimating in their toolkit,” said Matt Michalski, 91şÚÁĎÍř’s Vice President of Claims Programs and Shared Services. “Our claimants have good reason to love this option because estimates can be created in hours and repairs can start right away. Solutions like this reinforce our commitment to efficiency and superior customer service, while also reflecting our ongoing dedication to providing contemporary customer-centric solutions. A big thank you to the auto physical damage team for successfully bringing photo-based estimating to 91şÚÁĎÍř.”

Looking Ahead

Improving the auto claims experience doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. By leveraging innovative technology like photo-based estimating, businesses can create a more efficient claims process that minimizes downtime and reduces financial strain. Proactively adopting solutions that accelerate claim resolution not only benefits policyholders but also strengthens operational productivity and cost savings for organizations.

For more expert insights, actionable strategies, and innovative claims management solutions, visit our website.