To get workers compensation in Washington, D.C., you buy a policy from a private insurer licensed in the District, either directly or through an agent who shops several carriers for you. D.C. has no government fund, so the open market is your first stop, and if no carrier will take you, an assigned risk pool run by the rating bureau NCCI is the guaranteed backstop. Very large employers can also apply to cover their own claims as an approved self-insurer.
Who this is for: D.C. owners buying coverage for the first time, adding it fast for a contract, or trying again after being turned down.
The short version
- Buy from any private insurer licensed in D.C., on your own or through an agent.
- Have your payroll, work details, and headcount ready to get an accurate quote.
- If carriers decline you, the NCCI-run assigned risk pool is a guaranteed backstop.
- Very large employers can apply to self-insure, covering their own claims with regulator approval.
- A solo owner who just needs a certificate can often use a small owner-focused policy.
The steps to coverage
Getting covered in D.C. is usually quick. Gather your basics first, then shop.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Gather your details | Payroll by role, number of employees, what the work involves, and any claims history |
| 2. Shop the market | Compare private carriers licensed in D.C., directly or through an agent who quotes several |
| 3. Check the pricing categories | Make sure each role sits in the right risk category so you are not overcharged |
| 4. Bind and get proof | Start the policy and get your certificate, the written proof clients ask for |
| 5. If declined, use the pool | Apply to the assigned risk pool, the guaranteed backstop when no carrier will take you |
If you have been turned down
Some businesses get declined on the open market, usually because of the trade, a rough claims history, or being brand new. D.C. has a fallback so no employer is stuck: the assigned risk pool, administered by NCCI, will place coverage even when the voluntary market says no. It is not the cheapest route, but it is guaranteed, and it keeps you legal and able to take contracts while you work on the issues that made carriers cautious. Once your claims settle down, you can usually move back to the regular market at a better price.
Self-insuring and solo owners
Two special cases come up often. A very large, financially strong employer can apply to become an approved self-insurer, meaning it covers its own claims directly instead of buying a policy, subject to regulator approval and proof it can pay. That route is not practical for a small business. At the other end, a solo owner with no employees who only needs a certificate for a client can often buy a small policy built around the owner. This is sometimes called a ghost policy, a minimal policy that mainly exists to produce the proof of coverage a general contractor or client demands.
A Deanwood example
Illustrative, not a quote. A newly formed Deanwood HVAC company with two technicians gets declined by the first carrier it tries because the business has no track record. Rather than give up a signed contract, it places coverage through the assigned risk pool so it is legal and can start work, and it gets the certificate its client requires. Two years later, with a clean claims record, we move the company back to the regular market at a lower price. See our workers comp for HVAC contractors page.
Real questions District of Columbia owners ask
How do I get workers comp in D.C.?
You buy a policy from a private insurer licensed in the District, on your own or through an agent who shops several carriers. Have your payroll, headcount, and work details ready for an accurate quote.
Does D.C. have a government fund I buy from?
No. D.C. has no government fund, so you buy from private insurers on the open market. If no carrier will take you, an assigned risk pool run by the rating bureau NCCI is the guaranteed backstop.
What if every carrier turns me down?
You use the assigned risk pool. Administered by NCCI, it will place coverage even when the regular market declines you. It costs more, but it keeps you legal and able to take contracts.
How fast can I get covered?
Often the same day or within a day or two once you have your payroll and work details ready. A solo owner who just needs a certificate for a client can usually be set up quickly with a small policy.
Can I cover my own claims instead of buying a policy?
Only if you are large and financially strong. D.C. lets a qualified employer become an approved self-insurer with regulator approval and proof it can pay claims. It is not practical for a small business.
I am solo but a client wants proof of coverage. What do I buy?
Often a small owner-focused policy, sometimes called a ghost policy, that mainly exists to produce the certificate a client or general contractor requires. It gives you the proof without a full payroll to insure.
Will using the assigned risk pool trap me there?
No. It is a backstop, not a sentence. Once your claims history settles and you have a track record, you can usually move back to the regular competitive market at a better price.
Why District of Columbia owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Washington, D.C. you buy workers' comp on the open, competitive private market from any insurer licensed in the District, because there is no government fund, and if no carrier will take you the NCCI-run assigned risk plan is the guaranteed backstop, so we can shop your rate freely and still have a fallback for hard-to-place work.
- We catch pricing mistakes. Your price depends heavily on the category your work falls into for pricing (the class code). Put people in the wrong category and you overpay for years. We review your payroll and classifications before you buy.
- Proof of coverage, fast. Need a certificate (proof of coverage) for a general contractor or a landlord before Monday? We turn those around the same business day for most carriers.
- We help lower the score that drives your price. Insurers give you a score based on your past claims that raises or lowers your cost (the experience modification rate). We review it each year, flag errors, and connect you with return-to-work and safety resources that bring it down.
- Real people when a claim happens. When someone gets hurt, we stay involved through the life of the claim, not just at renewal.
Related District of Columbia guides
Every District of Columbia business is set up a little differently. These companion guides answer the same question for other situations, plus the national explainers behind the terms used here.
- Business insurance in District of Columbia (start here)
- Workers comp: the owner's overview
- I own an LLC: do I need workers comp?
- I'm a sole proprietor: do I need workers comp?
- I own a corporation (C-corp or S-corp): do I need it?
- We're a partnership: do we need workers comp?
- We're a nonprofit: do we need workers comp?
- My workers are 1099: do I still need it?
- Only part-time or seasonal staff: do I need it?
- I only employ family: do I need workers comp?
- Remote or out-of-state staff: do I need coverage?
- What happens if I don't carry workers comp?
- How much does workers comp cost?
- What insurance do I need for a contractor license?
- Workers compensation insurance, explained
- What workers comp costs (national guide)
- What is a ghost workers comp policy?
- Glossary: workers comp class code
- DC HVAC workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. District of Columbia rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the D.C. Office of Workers' Compensation or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.