Expenses Approaching Half of System Costs

California workers’ compensation carriers last year paid half as much for expenses as they did for medical benefits, and nearly double the amount of indemnity benefits. Carriers paid $6.729 billion in expenses last year, according to a draft annual report the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation posted online for comment. Expenses accounted for 44.3% of the $15.185 billion paid in calendar year 2017. The $4.742 billion in medical payments accounted for 31.2% of all payments made by carriers last year. Indemnity benefits totaling $3.714 billion accoun...