Agent

What is changing?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:24:28 GMT

Minnesota pure premium base rates, assigned risk rates, and expected loss rates are moving from two decimal places to three decimal places in precision effective 1/1/26.

Why is an additional decimal place added?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:23:37 GMT

This change will improve accuracy and stability. Please see the article from MWCIA Q1 2024 newsletter for more details: Decimal Extension – Why Do It?

What is the impact of this change?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:22:31 GMT

None, this is a premium neutral update. 

Is this a methodology change?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:21:42 GMT

No, the rounding rules are updated. The underlying derivation of pure premium base rates and expected loss rates (ELRs) are not changed. 

What if carrier systems are not ready yet?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:20:55 GMT

The Minnesota Department of Commerce advises carriers may file for an effective date after 1/1/26 should additional time be required to update their systems. 

Will experience modification factors be extended to three decimal places?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:20:13 GMT

No, experience modification factors will remain at two decimal places. The expected loss rates (ELRs) used in the experience modification calculation will expand to three decimal places.

What miscellaneous values will also be extended to three decimal places?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:19:29 GMT

Guidance for Catastrophe (Other Than Certified Acts of Terrorism) will have a trailing zero. Guidance for Catastrophe Provision for Terrorism currently uses three decimal places.

How does this change impact Policy Data?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:18:36 GMT

WCIO WCPOLS supports reporting manual rates with three decimal places. Policies effective 1/1/26 and subsequent will be reported using three decimal manual rates.

How does this change impact Unit Statistical Data?

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:16:29 GMT

WCIO WCSTAT supports reporting manual rates with three decimal places. 1st report valuations on 7/1/27 and subsequent will be reporting with three decimal manual rates.

How do I determine if someone is an independent contractor?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 20:24:34 GMT

For determination of an independent contractor please contact the MN Department of Labor and Industry at: (651) 284-5032 option 3 for the work comp hotline or visit the MN Department of Labor website at:

Construction worker misclassification | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Misclassification FAQs | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Revisions to Manual Rules Related to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic – Paid Furloughed Employees and Final Premium Reporting

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 19:19:57 GMT

An expiration date of June 30, 2023, was filed an approved for:
1. Statistical Code 0012—Paid Furloughed Employees
2. The exclusion of payments to paid furloughed employees during federal, state, and/or local emergency orders, laws, or regulations issued due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic from premium and experience rating calculations
3. The final premium reporting rule exception for the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
4. Please see Circular No 23-1821 for full details.

What are the password requirements for OAR?

Wed, 19 May 2021 19:05:00 GMT

Must be at least 10 characters in length and must have at least one upper, one lowercase, one number and one special character (i.e. !@#$%^&*)

Why do I need to provide my mailing address zip code when I make an electronic check payment?

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 18:57:43 GMT

When you make a payment via OAR, you are accessing the US Bank system. US Bank uses the zip code to authenticate you as a customer. The bank verifies the zip code that you enter against the zip code that OAR passes. If the zip codes do not match, then you are not authorized to continue with the payment.

Does OAR use rounding during premium calculation?

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:19:05 GMT

OAR rounds to the closest dollar when computing the amounts that appear in the premium column.

Why am I not getting my emails through OAR?

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 19:32:24 GMT

Click on the initials on the upper right of the blue bar on the Home Page. Click on “Profile”. Make sure that the email address on record is correct. If not, make the updates and click the "Update Profile" button.

I am not able to view an attachment for my application. Why?

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 19:16:41 GMT

It may be that you have a pop-up blocker turned on.

How does an agent update their agency information in OAR?

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:59:52 GMT

Click on the initials on the upper right of the blue bar on the Home Page. Click on “Profile”. Make your changes and select the Update Profile button.

Are 3rd party checks accepted as payment for hard copy Assigned Risk applications?

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Payment for hard copy applications must be made by certified check, bank draft, money order, finance check, employers check or agency check. 3rd party checks will not be accepted by the Assigned Risk Plan.

How do I make an online payment for an application submitted through OAR?

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

If the MWCIA has assigned your application pending payment, then you must make electronic payment within two business days or coverage will not be bound. OAR will connect you to a secure U.S. Bank website to complete payment by electronic check or credit card. (Currently, the following credit cards are accepted: VISA, MasterCard.)

Steps to make payment:

After you have logged in to OAR, locate the application on the “My Applications” page. Click on the corresponding Ellipsis icon (⋮) and select “Make Premium Payment”.
The payment amount will be displayed. Review and/or edit this amount. Also, be sure to note the “shared secret”. This information may be necessary to confirm your identity on the US Bank site. Click on the “Make Payment” button.
Enter the contact information and indicate the type of payment you wish to make: E-check or credit card. Click on the "Continue" button.
Continue to step through the screens, confirming and/or providing the necessary detailed information to complete payment. Click on “Continue” to advance from one screen to the next.

How do I make an attachment to an application for a payroll decrease?

Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

If you haven't already submitted the application, click on the rightmost application tab labeled “Attachments/Submit”. The “Attachments” screen will be displayed. At the top of the screen, OAR will list any attachments that are required based on data you have entered. To add an attachment, use the down arrow to select the type of attachment and then select the attachment option.

If you have already submitted the application and you received an email from us requesting the payroll decrease information, you need to login to OAR. Select the appropriate application from the list and select the Ellipsis icon (⋮). Select View Application and Components and then select either file or free form text.

NOTE: For either a file or free-form attachment, be sure to click on the “Save” button to save your changes. Click “Save” for each separate attachment type.