Colorado Workers’ Compensation

Get Workers’ Compensation in Colorado

With very few exceptions, Colorado requires all businesses who have employees to carry workers’ compensation coverage.¹ If your business has one or more part-time or full-time employees, you need to carry workers’ compensation insurance in Colorado state. Exceptions to this requirement include:²

Sole proprietors
Corporate officers
Limited liability company members

Although not required, these types of employees can choose to get Colorado workers’ compensation insurance.

To comply with state law, Colorado businesses can get workers' comp through a private insurance company, like The Hartford. We’ve made getting workers’ comp coverage fast and easy. Get a quote today. You can also speak to your insurance agent or call 855-829-1683 to purchase workers' compensation insurance.

How Does Workers' Compensation in Colorado Work?

Colorado workers’ compensation helps protect business owners and employees in the event of a work-related injury or illness. It protects employers by limiting their liability for injuries or illnesses caused by work. And it protects employees by providing benefits to help them recover from a work-related injury or illness.

Colorado established workers’ compensation laws through the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act in 1915.³ The Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation (DOWC) oversees the system.

Is Workers’ Compensation Required in Colorado?

Coverage requirements for workers’ compensation in Colorado indicate that employers must:

Have at least one part- or full-time employee
Display a Notice to Employer of Injury poster at all times
Record all lost time injuries and occupational diseases⁴
File an Employer’s First Report of Injury with their insurer within 10 days of an injury⁵
File Supplemental Report of Accident forms with their insurer when employees return to work or are terminated⁶

Proof of coverage is a formal document that proves a business has workers’ comp coverage. Also known as a certificate of insurance, this document can also include important policy details. Getting proof of coverage is a simple process with The Hartford. You can start by getting a workers’ compensation quote today.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Coverage:

Colorado workers’ compensation from The Hartford can help cover:

Accidents or injuries that occur at work. Workers’ comp can help cover an employee’s cost of medical care and any ongoing care or rehabilitation if they are injured on the job.
Illnesses caused by an employee’s exposure to poor air quality, allergens or harmful substances. Workers’ comp can help cover an employee’s treatment costs if they get sick from their job.
Repetitive injuries that develop over time. Repetitive injuries happen after months or years of continuous, stressed movements. It can also occur after poor ergonomic habits. Workers’ comp can help cover an employee’s cost of treatment and ongoing care if they suffer a work-related repetitive injury.
Missed wages if an employee has to take time off from work to recover from a work-related injury or illness. Workers’ comp can help make up a portion of their missed wages. In Colorado, employees can receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage.⁷
Ongoing care that an employee may need to recover from a work-related injury or illness. Some work-related injuries require more than one treatment session. This can include physical therapy or multiple surgeries. Workers’ comp can help cover these costs.
Funeral costs if an employee loses their life as a result of a work-related incident.
Disability benefits if a work-related injury or illness leaves an employee disabled.

Workers’ Comp Coverage Examples

What’s covered? Colorado workers’ comp can help cover an employee’s medical costs if they get sick or hurt from their job. Workers’ comp can also provide death benefits to an employee’s beneficiaries if they lose their life in a work-related accident. Some examples of what Colorado workers’ comp can help cover are:

A barista trips over a misplaced box in a hallway and breaks his wrist. Workers' comp can help cover his treatment costs when he’s taken to the hospital.
A server at a diner severely burns herself while carrying food to a table, needing medical treatment to heal her injury. Workers' comp can help cover the hospital costs.
A chef throws out her back while lifting a heavy box. She needs physical therapy to fully recover. Workers' comp can help cover the costs for her ongoing care.
A receptionist develops carpal tunnel after spending years typing on her computer. The employee also had poor ergonomic posture, which made the condition worse. As a result, she needs physical therapy. Workers' compensation can help cover her treatment costs.

Important Timelines When Filing a Claim for Workers' Comp in Colorado

Employees and employers have timelines to follow when they file a workers’ compensation claim in Colorado. Common timeframes include:⁸

Four days for employees to report work-related injuries to their employers.
Ten days for employers to report an injured employee to their insurer.
Twenty days for the insurer to respond to an employee’s claim.

Colorado Workers’ Compensation Claims

To file a claim in Colorado, visit our workers’ compensation claims page today.

Last Updated: May 22, 2023

This article provides general information, and should not be construed as specific legal, HR, financial, insurance, tax or accounting advice. As with all matters of a legal or human resources nature, you should consult with your own legal counsel and human resources professionals. The Hartford shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages in connection with the use by you or anyone of the information provided herein.

^1,4,5,6 Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, “Workers’ Compensation”

² Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, “Workers’ Compensation Insurance”

³ Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, “Workers’ Compensation: Statute, Rules & Guidance”

⁷ Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, “ Workers’ Compensation: FAQs”

⁸ Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, “Important Claims Timelines”

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