This section features questions most frequently asked by prospective members. If you require additional information, please contact our office at (631) 271-0041 or email us.

Q: How do safety groups work?

A: Workers' compensation insurance safety groups are essentially pools of safety conscientious employers who band together for the purposes of obtaining more favorable premiums. It is important to note that this is not self-insurance and therefore earned premiums are guaranteed with no possibility of further assessment.

Safety groups are an alternative, as written to NYS WC Law, offering the opportunity for NYS employers to enjoy lower premiums through their own in house safety and utilization of a seasoned Group Manager providing specialized risk management services.

Once a group is established, premium collected from members of a group is "pooled" for each group year and after paying losses, expenses and the development of a contingent balance for future loss development, any remaining funds may be declared back to members as a dividend. This is referred to as the annual "accounting process" as conducted by the carrier and the Group Manager.

The Group Manager is also charged with the responsibility of promoting job safety, assisting members with claims report processing, and the premium audit process. The Group manager is responsible for the overall management of the group, day-to-day operations, assisting individual members through the insurance carrier as well as for group enrollment and service staffing.

The Group Manager may only be compensated by the group members and not the insurance carrier. 

Q: Can anyone enroll in your safety group programs?
A: No, we can't enroll just any business into a Group. Each Group is focused on a particular nature of business or industry. Further, for the financial well being of the Group, we seek businesses with a favorable loss experience and a minimum premium level. We do however offer alternative programs to help those prospective members with poor loss experience by improving their situation so that they may in time become eligible for enrollment.

Q: Do the losses of the other members affect my firm's individual experience rating (MOD)?
A: No. Each member maintains their own loss experience rating. Losses of the entire Group can only effect the group discount or the production of a dividend and it is for this reason that we must always be selective on membership and encourage workplace safety.

Q: Wy are safety groups more attractive than other workers' compensation insurance programs?
A: Traditionally, safety groups outperform competitors over the long haul. Members have come to realize that the longer they participate, the more successful they will be at keeping workers' compensation insurance premiums under control. Group stability and your own injury prevention efforts enables us to negotiate more attractive premium discounts and earned dividends.

Q: Does ASM charge fees for their services?
A: Since our firm, as Group Manager, does not work for the insurance carrier nor do we receive any commissions or fees from them, each member pays an annual service fee. This fee, including the method of calculation is strictly regulated by NYS Workers' Compensation law.

Q: Are there any charge backs to members if the Group suffers a bad year with losses?
A: No. Members' policies are "guaranteed cost" policies— this means that members are responsible for only the premiums paid for a given year. Since there are no "joint and several" liability issues, members can not be assessed additional premiums in the future for past losses.

Q: What is expected of Group members?
A: We encourage all our members to provide a safe workplace for their employees. We also strongly encourage members to comply with federal, state, and local health, employment, and safety regulations. Remember, since a favorable loss experience on the part of all members is what drives the group's success in negotiating premium discounts and dividends, it is in the best interest of everyone concerned, including your employees, to maintain a safe and healthy work environment.

Q: What is required for enrollment in one of your safety groups?
A: A qualifying classification code, meeting minimum premium requirements, and a favorable loss experience are essential to an otherwise simple process. Our representatives will be happy to assist you in enrolling in our group. Once enrolled we'll start managing the various aspects of you policy and address your concerns.