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County insurance consultant urges consistent injury reporting as loss runs show mostly low indemnity costs
Summary
An insurance representative reviewed Granite County’s workers’ compensation and property loss runs, urged filing first reports even for zero-dollar incidents and noted one open errors-and-omissions reserve; commissioners discussed how the three-year experience-mod window affects future premiums.
Brody, the presenter for the county’s insurance report, told commissioners that Granite County has generally limited indemnity payouts in recent years and should continue emphasizing early reporting to avoid late-filed claims that can grow in cost. “Report, report, report,” Brody said, urging that first reports of injury be completed even for incidents that appear minor.
Brody walked the board through the workers’ compensation loss runs, noting several zero-indemnity (Z) claims across the report and a few open claims with indemnity exposure. He said indemnity payments are the component that most negatively affects the county’s experience modification and recommended focusing on minimizing those costs while acknowledging that county operations — heavy equipment, construction and law enforcement — carry elevated risk.
On the property and casualty side, Brody identified an open errors-and-omissions claim with a reserve and reported “amount paid was 34.87 thus far” (amount as stated in the transcript). He also noted an open auto-collision claim in the sheriff’s department with a reserve outstanding; most other entries were closed.
Commissioners asked technical questions about the experience-mod calculation. Brody explained the mod uses the three most recently completed policy periods (each county policy year runs July 1–July 1), so a poor year will drop out of the calculation after the completed window improves.
Brody also reminded commissioners that if they choose to seek alternate carriers they carry their experience mod to the new insurer, and that past indemnity history follows the account. The board did not take formal action on the report but directed continuing coordination with county staff for the upcoming Montana Association of Counties renewal process.
