On July 10, 2026, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara adopted an average advisory workers’ compensation pure premium of $1.65 per $100 of payroll, a 6.6% increase effective September 1, 2026. The WCIRB had asked for 10.4%. Department actuaries recommended the lower number. The rate is advisory. Carriers file their own.
Lara had warned legislators in 2025 that medical costs, cumulative trauma, and claims-adjusting expense were pushing combined ratios the wrong way while charged rates stayed low. Wage growth offset some of it. Not enough to skip a second straight advisory increase after the 8.7% move on September 1, 2025.
A 6.6% benchmark is not a 6.6% bill. Class, dual-wage, and experience mod still dominate. Get payroll and class codes clean before the renewal, not after the binder.
If this is on your renewal, call the office at (619) 420-8600 or start a quote. We will tell you what the market will actually write.
Sources: CDI, July 10, 2026.