Policy Name:	Date of Injury Coincides with the Effective Date of Coverage
Policy #:	EP-04-04
Code/Rule Reference	Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 4123-17-13.
Effective Date:	December 4, 2015
Approved:	Kevin R. Abrams, Chief of Employer Services
Origin:	Employer Policy
Supersedes:	Date of Injury Matches Date of Coverage Initiation policy revised February 23, 2011.
History:	New policy issued on October 11, 2007, revised February 23, 2011.
Review Date:	December 4, 2020

 

 

I.      Policy Purpose

 

The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will establish the exact date and time an employer’s coverage becomes effective, in accordance with Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 4123-17-13, to determine the coverage status of a claim with a matching date of injury.

 

II.    Applicability

 

This policy applies to employers, authorized representatives, BWC Policy Processing and Field Operations.

 

III.   Definitions

There are no definitions for this policy.

IV.  Policy

A.    Whenever BWC identifies claims with a date of injury that coincides the date the employer initiated workers’ compensation coverage, BWC will:

1.    Determine the date and time that the employer’s coverage became effective as outlined in this policy.

2.    Consider a claim with a date and time of injury prior to the date and time the employer’s workers’ compensation coverage became effective as a no-coverage claim.

B.    Workers’ compensation coverage.

1.    BWC coverage is effective upon completion of the following requirements:

a.    Completion and submission of the Application for Ohio Workers’ Compensation Coverage (U-3), or the online U-3 application on BWC’s website www.bwc.ohio.gov and;

b.    Receipt of the non-refundable application fee equal to the minimum administrative charge set forth in OAC 4123-17-26, and;

c.     Receipt of the first estimated premium payment. See the Prospective Billing Installment Payments policy for additional information.

2.    Once the above requirements are satisfied, coverage becomes effective at the time BWC time and date stamps the U-3.

a.    For walk-in customers, coverage will take effect upon completion of the U-3, receipt of the non-refundable application fee and receipt of the first estimated premium payment as indicated by the BWC time and date stamp.

b.    For online applications, coverage will take effect upon completion of U-3, receipt of the non-refundable application fee and receipt of the first estimated premium payment. The website time indicator will serve as the BWC time and date stamp.

c.     For mail-in applications, coverage will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the date BWC receives the U-3, receipt of the non-refundable application fee and receipt of the first estimated premium payment.

C.   Elective coverage.

1.    On new applications for coverage, on which the employer marks the U-3 as desiring elective coverage, elective coverage will take effect at the same time as the effective date of the new employer’s workers’ compensation coverage upon completion of the U-3, receipt of the non-refundable application fee and receipt of the first estimated premium payment.

2.    Employers with an active BWC policy:

a.    Mail-in applications for elective coverage will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the date that BWC receives the completed Application for Elective Coverage (U-3S).

b.    For walk-in customers, elective coverage will take effect when BWC time and date stamps the U-3S.

c.     For online applications, elective coverage will take effect upon completion of the U-3S as indicated by the BWC website time indicator.

3.    For additional information, see the Elective Coverage policy.