News from your insurance manager - Erica Potts

MT State Fund Workers Compensation

A few reminders as an employer/policyholder …

Claim Reporting

First report of Injury, Montana law requires employers to complete a first report of injury form within six days of notice of an on-the-job injury, accident, or Occupational Disease by a worker. Montana State Fund encourages 24-hour turnaround to ensure prompt claim management.

State Fund has made it quick and easy to submit this report online. You may do this at www.montanastatefund.com. Or if you would rather speak to a representative, you may call 1-800-332-6102 Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Extra Territorial Petition

It seems that this time of year policy holders may be heading out of state to work either on a fire or a sale. We want to remind you to keep us informed if you plan to go out of state to work. We (as your agent) need to request on your behalf an Extra Territorial Petition for your policy.

This petition will allow you as an employer to take your employees on a temporary basis to another state to work and most importantly not be required to purchase workers compensation coverage with that state.

If the state you are going to be working in has a reciprocal agreement with Montana, the worker receives the same benefits as if the injury occurred in Montana. Some reciprocal agreements have restrictions for logging or construction.

Reciprocity means that the state has a reciprocity agreement with Montana and workers on temporary assignment in the state are covered. Extraterritorial provisions mean that coverage from the state follows its workers in other states.

When there is no reciprocal agreement, there is no coverage in place. The employer must buy an insurance policy specific to that state. A few states that do not have reciprocal agreements with Montana include Colorado and New Mexico.

For information on State-by-state coverage give me a call.

Online Payments with State Fund

If you have an outstanding balance with Montana State Fund, making payments to them is so easy. A couple options include, calling and paying over the phone to a MSF customer service representatives, they will accept both credit/debit card and bank information for your payments. You can, of course, still pay by mail or on- line at www.montanastatefund.com. The number to call is 1-800-332-6102.