Getting workers compensation in Maine is straightforward: you buy a policy from any carrier licensed in the state, and if private carriers decline you, the state-created MEMIC serves as the guaranteed insurer of last resort so coverage is always available. You gather a few basics about your payroll and work, get quotes, and put the policy in place before your first employee starts. Maine requires coverage from that first worker under 39-A M.R.S. section 401, so timing it before the start date matters.
Who this is for: Maine owners buying workers comp for the first time, or business owners who have been turned down and need a path to coverage.
The short version
- You buy from any carrier licensed in Maine; an agent can shop several at once.
- MEMIC competes for regular business and is also the guaranteed backstop if you are declined.
- Maine has no separate high-risk (assigned-risk) pool to worry about; MEMIC is the state's guaranteed backstop.
- Have your payroll by role, the kind of work, your business type, and any claims history ready.
- Put coverage in place before your first employee starts, since the requirement begins at day one.
Your options for buying coverage
Maine lets employers secure coverage a few different ways, though most small businesses use the first one. You can buy a policy from a licensed carrier, which is the normal route; you can apply to self-insure on your own if you are large enough and can post the required security; or you can join an approved group self-insurance arrangement with similar businesses. The key point for anyone worried about being declined is that Maine does not leave you stranded, because MEMIC must write coverage for employers who cannot get it elsewhere.
| Route | Who it fits | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Policy from a licensed carrier | Most small and midsize businesses | An agent can compare several carriers at once |
| MEMIC as last resort | Businesses declined by private carriers | The state-created backstop that must take you |
| Individual self-insurance | Large employers that can post security | Needs state approval and financial backing |
| Group self-insurance | Members of an approved group | Shared arrangement overseen by the state |
What to have ready
Quoting goes faster when you gather a few things first. Have your estimated annual payroll broken out by role, a clear description of the work each person does, your business type, your years in operation, and any past claims. That lets an agent place each worker in the right pricing category and match you with carriers that want your kind of work. If you have been turned down before, it usually means the account looked risky or was hard to classify, and the fix is often correcting the classification or routing you to MEMIC as the backstop, not going without.
An Auburn example
Illustrative, not a quote. An Auburn metal fabrication shop opening its doors needs coverage before its first three hires start. The owner gathers payroll by role and a description of the shop work, and we shop several carriers. Two decline because the shop is brand new with no track record, but a third offers a competitive quote, and MEMIC stands ready as the guaranteed backstop either way. Coverage is bound before the crew's first day, so the shop is compliant from hour one and can show proof of coverage to the landlord. We confirm the fabrication work is rated correctly so the price is fair. See our workers comp for manufacturers page.
Real questions Maine owners ask
How do I get workers comp in Maine?
You buy a policy from a carrier licensed in Maine, usually through an agent who can compare several at once. Put it in place before your first employee starts, since the requirement begins at day one.
What if private carriers turn my business down?
You still have a path. MEMIC is Maine's guaranteed insurer of last resort, so it must write coverage for employers that private carriers decline. No eligible employer is left without a way to get covered.
What if no insurance company will take my business?
You are still covered. Maine has no separate high-risk ("assigned-risk") pool; instead the state-created MEMIC must write a policy for any employer private carriers turn down, so no eligible business is left without a way to get covered.
What information do I need to get a quote?
Have your estimated payroll by role, a description of the work each person does, your business type, years in operation, and any claims history. That lets an agent classify the work and match carriers.
How fast can I get coverage in place?
Often quickly. With your payroll and work details ready, many small businesses can be quoted and bound in a short time, which matters because you need coverage before your first employee starts.
Can I self-insure my workers comp in Maine?
Larger employers can, with state approval and posted security, and some join an approved group self-insurance arrangement. Most small businesses simply buy a policy, which is faster and does not tie up collateral.
Do I need coverage before my first employee starts?
Yes. Maine requires coverage from the first employee, so the safe approach is to bind the policy before that person's first day rather than after.
Why Maine owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Maine you buy workers' comp on the open market from any carrier licensed in the state, with the state-created MEMIC competing alongside private insurers and also standing as the guaranteed insurer of last resort, so we can shop your price freely and still have a fallback if you are hard to place.
- 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 Maine guides
Every Maine 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 Maine (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?
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- Maine manufacturer workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Maine rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with Maine Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.