WAC 296-17-31007   Owner coverage.  (1) As a business owner, can I buy workers' compensation insurance to cover myself?

     Yes. If you are a sole proprietor, partner, corporate officer, or member of a limited liability company you may not be required to have industrial insurance coverage as provided in RCW 51.12.020. In these instances, you can still obtain workers' compensation coverage from us. We refer to this coverage as optional coverage since as the owner/officer, you are not required to have this insurance. Because owner insurance coverage is optional, you must meet certain conditions and requirements which are detailed on the application for owner/officer optional coverage. These requirements include:

•	Completing an application for optional owner/officer coverage;
•	Reporting owner/officer hours in the classification assigned to your business that is applicable to the work being performed by the owner/officer;
•	Submitting a supplemental report which lists the name of each covered owner/officer; and
•	Reporting four hundred eighty hours or actual hours worked each quarter for each covered owner/officer and in the applicable workers' compensation classification code.

     (2) When will my owner/officer coverage become effective?

     Your coverage will become effective upon receipt of your application in the department in writing or by fax unless you indicate a future date. However, no such person or beneficiaries thereof shall be entitled to benefits unless the date of injury were the next day or later after coverage was elected. We will not make coverage effective on a date prior to our receipt of your completed application for owner/officer coverage.

     (3) Where can I obtain an application for owner/officer coverage?

     To obtain a copy of this application, contact your local labor and industries office. We are listed in the government pages of your local directory or you can call our underwriting section at (360) 902-4817.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.16.035, and 51.12.120. 03-23-025, § 296-17-31007, filed 11/12/03, effective 1/1/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020, 51.16.035 and 51.32.073. 99-24-055, § 296-17-31007, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/31/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. 99-18-068, § 296-17-31007, filed 8/31/99, effective 10/1/99; 98-18-042, § 296-17-31007, filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98.]