To get workers compensation in New York, you buy a policy from a private insurer, from the state-run New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), or through Board-approved self-insurance, and you can be covered quickly once you have your basic business details together. The reassuring part: even if private carriers turn you down, NYSIF must accept any employer, so no New York business is left without a way to get covered.
Who this is for: New York owners who need to put workers comp in place, whether it is your first policy, a replacement, or coverage after being declined. Workers comp pays an injured worker's medical bills and part of their lost wages.
The short version
- Three ways to buy: a private carrier, the state fund (NYSIF), or approved self-insurance.
- Gather your details: payroll by role, what your workers do, and any past claims.
- Shop private first: private carriers often price competitively for standard risks.
- NYSIF is the backstop: the state fund must accept any employer, so you cannot be shut out.
- Move fast: coverage can often be bound the same day once your information is ready.
The steps to get covered
Getting a New York policy is straightforward once you know what carriers ask for. The more accurate your details, the better and faster your quote.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Gather information | List each worker, what they do, and their annual pay, plus any past claims |
| 2. Get your work classified | Match each role to the right class code so you are not overpriced |
| 3. Shop carriers | Compare private carriers, each of which applies its own multiplier |
| 4. Consider NYSIF | If private markets decline you or price high, the state fund must take you |
| 5. Bind and get proof | Put coverage in force and get a certificate for clients or permits |
What if carriers turn me down?
New York does not run a separate state pool for hard-to-insure businesses (an 'assigned-risk' market) the way many states do; NYSIF fills that role. By law it must accept any employer, regardless of size, industry, or claims history, at the lowest rates consistent with staying solvent. So a new business, a high-hazard trade, or an owner with a rough claims history still has a guaranteed path to coverage. We place standard risks with private carriers when that is cheaper and turn to NYSIF when it is the better or only option.
Do not forget New York's other coverages
Workers comp is not the only mandatory employee coverage in New York. Most employers also need disability benefits and paid family leave coverage, which are separate from workers comp but often arranged at the same time. When you set up your workers comp, ask us to line up those too so you are not left with a gap. If your business has no employees and a government license, permit, or contract office asks for proof, you can file Form CE-200 to attest you are exempt instead of showing a policy. A private client or general contractor cannot accept a CE-200, so for them you would carry a policy, often a minimal one, to produce a certificate.
A quick New York example
Illustrative, not a quote. A new trucking company in the Bronx with two drivers struggles to find a private workers comp quote, because new ventures in a higher-hazard trade are hard to place. Rather than run uninsured, the owner turns to NYSIF, which must accept the business as the market of last resort. Coverage goes in force, and the owner gets a certificate to show the shippers who hire the company. A year later, with a clean claims record, the company shops the private market and finds a lower price. When one driver injures his shoulder loading freight, the claim is paid the whole time.
Real questions New York owners ask
How do I actually buy workers comp in New York?
You buy it from a private insurer, from the state fund (NYSIF), or through approved self-insurance. Gather your payroll and job details, get quotes, then bind coverage. It can often be done the same day.
What information do I need to get a quote?
A list of your workers and what they do, each role's annual pay, your business type and location, and any past claims. Accurate details produce a faster and more reliable quote.
What if every private carrier turns me down?
You still have a guaranteed option. NYSIF, the state fund, must accept any employer regardless of size, industry, or claims history. New York does not run a separate state pool for hard-to-insure businesses (an 'assigned-risk' market), so NYSIF is the backstop.
How fast can I get covered?
Often the same business day once your information is ready. If a client or permit office needs proof, we can usually issue a certificate showing your coverage as soon as the policy is bound.
Is the state fund more expensive than a private carrier?
Not always. NYSIF is a competitive insurer that must offer the lowest rates consistent with solvency. For standard risks a private carrier may be cheaper, so we compare both and place you where it makes sense.
Do I need anything besides workers comp in New York?
Usually yes. Most New York employers also need disability benefits and paid family leave coverage, which are separate but often set up at the same time. We can line those up alongside your workers comp.
I have no employees but a client wants proof. What do I do?
A private client cannot accept Form CE-200; that form is only for a government license, permit, or contract office, not another business. If a private client or general contractor wants proof, a minimal policy can produce a certificate for them, or they may agree to work with you without one.
Why New York owners choose Morrow
- We shop the right market for you. New York is an open, competitive market: you can buy coverage from any private carrier the state authorizes or from the state-run New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF), so Morrow shops multiple insurers to find the best fit instead of leaving you with a single option.
- 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 New York guides
Every New York 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 New York (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)
- Hiring your first employee: what changes
- What is a ghost workers comp policy?
- Trucking workers comp in New York
This guide is general information, not legal advice. New York rules and penalty amounts can change, so verify current requirements with New York State Workers' Compensation Board or a licensed advisor before you rely on them. Last updated: July 2026.