To get workers compensation in Montana, you can buy from a private insurer, buy from the Montana State Fund, or, if you qualify, self-insure, and most small employers simply place a policy through an agent or the State Fund. The State Fund is Montana's guaranteed market: by law it must insure almost any Montana employer that asks, so even hard-to-place businesses have a way to get covered.
Who this is for: Montana owners buying a first policy, switching carriers, or worried they will be turned down.
The short version
- You have three paths. A private carrier, the Montana State Fund, or approved self-insurance.
- The State Fund cannot turn you away. By law it must insure almost any employer that asks (section 39-71-2313).
- No separate high-risk pool. Because the State Fund is the guaranteed market, Montana has no separate assigned-risk pool.
- You will need basic business details. Payroll, job duties, entity type, and any prior claims.
- Watch out for fake coverage. A policy that lists no real payroll (a ghost policy) does not cover your employees.
The three ways to buy
| Path | Who it fits | How |
|---|---|---|
| Private carrier | Most small and midsize employers | Place a policy through an agent who shops carriers for you |
| Montana State Fund | Any employer, including hard-to-place work | Apply directly or through an agent; it must insure almost any employer that asks |
| Self-insurance | Large, financially strong employers | Apply to the state for approval to pay claims directly |
Step by step
First, gather your details: your payroll by role, what your workers actually do, your entity type, and any past claims. Second, decide your path; for most owners that is comparing a private carrier against the Montana State Fund. Third, get quotes and check that each worker is in the correct pricing category, since that drives the price. Fourth, bind the policy and get your certificate, which you can hand to landlords, clients, or general contractors. If a private carrier declines you, the State Fund is your backstop and cannot refuse you except in narrow cases like an unpaid prior debt to the fund.
If you have been turned down
Being declined by a private carrier is not the end of the road in Montana. The State Fund is the statutory guaranteed market, so it must write almost any Montana employer that requests coverage. That is also why Montana does not run a separate high-risk pool the way some states do: the State Fund itself fills that role. Beware of a shortcut that is not real coverage: a policy showing no payroll, sometimes called a ghost policy, may satisfy a contract when the owner is exempt, but it does not cover employees, so it is no substitute for a real policy once you have staff.
A Billings example
Illustrative, not a quote. A Billings plumbing company with two employees is quoted by a private carrier but finds the price high after a past claim. The owner also applies to the Montana State Fund, which must insure him, and compares the two. He picks the lower quote, confirms his office worker and his field plumbers are in the right categories, and gets a certificate the same day for a builder that requires it. See our workers comp for plumbers page.
Real questions Montana owners ask
How do I get workers comp in Montana?
Buy from a private carrier or the Montana State Fund, or self-insure if approved. Most small employers place a policy through an agent or the State Fund.
What if carriers turn me down?
The Montana State Fund must insure almost any Montana employer that asks, so it is your guaranteed way to get covered.
Does Montana have a separate high-risk pool?
No. Because the State Fund is the guaranteed market, Montana does not run a separate assigned-risk pool.
What information do I need to get a quote?
Your payroll, the duties your workers perform, your entity type, and any past claims.
How fast can I get covered?
Often quickly. Many small businesses can get a policy and a certificate within a day once the details are in.
What is a ghost policy, and should I get one?
It is a policy that lists no real payroll, used to satisfy a contract when the owner is exempt. It does not cover employees, so it is not a substitute for real coverage.
Can I switch carriers later?
Yes. You can shop at renewal, and comparing quotes can lower your price because Montana is a loss-cost state.
Why Montana owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. In Montana you buy workers' comp on the open market, where private insurers compete with the state-chartered Montana State Fund, which by law must insure almost any Montana employer that asks, so we can shop your rate across carriers and still keep the State Fund as a guaranteed backstop 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 Montana guides
Every Montana 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 Montana (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
- Montana plumber workers comp
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Montana rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Employment Relations Division or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.