Effects of premium discount on workers' compensation claims in agriculture in Finland.
Effects of premium discount on workers' compensation claims in agriculture in Finland.
复制标题
保费折扣对芬兰农业工人赔偿索赔的影响。
DOI：
10.1002/ajim.20192
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发表时间：
2005
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Zwerling,Craig
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Rautiainen,RistoH;Ledolter,Johannes;Sprince,NancyL;Donham,KelleyJ;Burmeister,LeonF;Ohsfeldt,Robert;Reynolds,StephenJ;Phillips,Kirk;Zwerling,Craig
BackgroundThe objective of this study was to measure changes in injury claim rates after a premium discount program was implemented in the Finnish farmers' workers' compensation insurance. We focused on measures that could indicate whether the changes occurred in the true underlying injury rate, or only in claims reporting.MethodsMonthly injury claim rates were constructed at seven disability duration levels from January 1990 to December 2003. We conducted interrupted time series analyses to measure changes in the injury claim rates after the premium discount was implemented on July 1, 1997. Three additional policy change indicators were included in the analyses.ResultsThe overall injury claim rate decreased 10.2%. Decreases occurred at four severity levels (measured by compensated disability days): 0 days (16.3%), 1–6 days (14.1%), 7–13 days (19.5%), and 14–29 days (8.4%). No changes were observed at higher severity levels. Minor injuries had a seasonal pattern with higher rates in summer months while severe injuries did not have a seasonal pattern.ConclusionsThe premium discount decreased the overall claim rate. Decreases were observed in all categories up to 29 disability days. This pattern suggests that under‐reporting contributes to the decrease but may not be the only factor. The value of the premium discount is lower than the value of a lost‐time claim, so there was no financial reason to under‐report lost‐time injuries. Under‐reporting would be expected to be greatest in the 0 day category, but that was not the case. These observations suggest that in addition to under‐reporting, the premium discount may also have some preventive effect. Am. J. Ind. Med. 48:100–109, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
