Workers' Comp Insurance Built for New York Businesses
Tricia Baratta spent 17 years auditing workers' comp policies at Travelers Insurance. Now she's on your side — reviewing classifications, fighting audit errors, and making sure you never pay a dollar more than you owe.
Why Workers' Comp Costs More Than It Should
Workers' compensation insurance is required for virtually every New York business with employees — but the premium you pay isn't fixed. It's calculated using payroll classifications, experience modification rates (EMR), and annual audits. Get any of those wrong and you'll overpay, sometimes by thousands of dollars per year.
Most business owners don't know their policy has errors until it's too late. Incorrect employee classifications, miscalculated payroll, and inaccurate EMR figures are common — and insurance companies rarely correct them on their own.
Tricia Baratta knows exactly how auditors review these figures, because she was one for over 17 years at Travelers. She reviews your policy before renewal, prepares you for audits, and disputes errors on your behalf so you pay what is fair — and not a dollar more.
What Affects Your Workers' Comp Premium
- Employee job classifications & payroll codes
- Experience Modification Rate (EMR / X-Mod)
- Annual audit results & payroll accuracy
- Industry type and claim history
- Subcontractor certificates of insurance
- Safety group eligibility & dividends
- New York State Insurance Fund vs. private carriers
Workers' Comp Services for New York Businesses
Every service is designed to make sure your policy is accurate, your audit is handled, and your premium is as low as it legally should be.
Policy Reviews
Tricia reviews your current workers' comp policy line by line — checking payroll classifications, coverage limits, and carrier rates to find errors before your next audit or renewal.
Audit Representation
When your annual audit arrives, Tricia prepares the documents, accompanies you through the process, and disputes any findings that are inaccurate or unfair. This is where her 17 years at Travelers pays off most.
Classification Reviews
Employee job codes directly affect your premium. Tricia reviews every classification to make sure your workers are coded correctly — not overcoded into higher-risk categories that inflate your cost.
EMR / Experience Mod Analysis
Your Experience Modification Rate can raise or lower your premium by 20–40% or more. Tricia reviews your loss history and mod calculation to identify errors and opportunities to reduce it.
New Policy Structuring
Starting a new business or switching carriers? Tricia structures your workers' comp policy correctly from day one — right classifications, right limits, right carrier for your industry and risk profile.
Safety Group Placement
Eligible NY businesses can be placed into safety groups that offer premium dividends and discounts. Tricia evaluates whether you qualify and handles the placement to get you the savings you deserve.
Who We Help in New York
Workers' comp is required for most NY employers. Tricia specializes in businesses where audits and classifications are especially complex.
General Contractors
Complex multi-trade classifications, subcontractor certificates, and high EMR exposure make GCs one of the most commonly overcharged groups.
Artisan Contractors
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC contractors frequently have incorrect job codes that inflate their premiums unnecessarily.
Small Businesses
Restaurants, retailers, landscapers, and service businesses with employees are all subject to annual audits — and all benefit from having someone review the results.
Any NY Employer
If you have employees in New York, you are required to carry workers' comp coverage. Tricia helps businesses of all sizes get the right policy at the right price.
Workers' Comp Questions — Answered
Do I need workers' comp insurance in New York?
Yes. New York State requires virtually all employers with one or more employees to carry workers' compensation insurance. This includes part-time and seasonal employees. Failure to carry coverage can result in significant fines and personal liability for the business owner.
What happens during a workers' comp audit?
At the end of each policy year, your insurance carrier audits your actual payroll to compare it against the estimated payroll used when the policy was written. If your actual payroll was higher, you owe additional premium. If lower, you may receive a refund. Tricia prepares your documentation and handles the audit on your behalf to make sure the results are accurate.
What is an Experience Modification Rate (EMR)?
Your EMR — also called an X-Mod — is a multiplier applied to your base premium based on your claim history compared to other businesses in your industry. A 1.0 is average. Above 1.0 means you pay more; below 1.0 means you pay less. Errors in the EMR calculation are common and can be disputed. Tricia reviews yours to make sure it's correct.
How do employee classifications affect my premium?
Every employee is assigned a class code that corresponds to the risk level of their job. Higher-risk codes carry higher rates. Many businesses are incorrectly classified — placing office workers or lower-risk employees in higher-risk codes. Tricia reviews all classifications to make sure your employees are coded accurately, which can significantly reduce your premium.
Can Comp Matters help if I already received an audit bill I think is wrong?
Yes. If you received an audit result that seems inaccurate, Tricia can review the findings, identify errors, and dispute them with the carrier. It is not too late to challenge an audit result, and many businesses recover significant amounts after a proper review.
Stop Overpaying on Workers' Comp
Most New York businesses that come in for a free policy review discover at least one area where they are paying too much. It costs nothing to find out — call Tricia today.