Louisiana Workers' Comp Insurance

Q: Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance Required in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana generally requires employers with one or more employees to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This includes coverage for full-time, part-time, seasonal and minor employees. Workers’ compensation operates as a no-fault system that provides medical and wage-loss benefits to injured employees and may help protect employers from certain lawsuits through the exclusive remedy doctrine.

Q: What Happens if You Don’t Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Louisiana?

Employers who don’t maintain required workers’ compensation coverage in Louisiana may face civil penalties of up to $250 per employee, as well as potential criminal charges that can include fines of up to $250 and up to one year of imprisonment. Employers may also lose exclusive remedy protection, which could leave the business exposed to lawsuits from injured employees.

Q: How Long Do You Have To File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, injured employees should report workplace injuries to their employer within 30 days to help preserve their right to benefits. A formal workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within one year of the date of injury. If workers’ compensation payments have already been made, the filing deadline may extend to three years from the date of the last payment.

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Key Takeaways

Louisiana workers’ comp insurance is required for most employers with one or more employees, including full-time, part-time, seasonal and minor workers.
Coverage is no-fault and helps pay for medical bills, lost wages and ongoing care for job-related injuries or illnesses.
The average cost of Louisiana workers' comp insurance is about $1,477 per year, or about $121 per month, though actual costs vary based on payroll, industry risk and job classifications.**
Injured employees should report their injury to their employer within 30 days. Claims generally need to be filed within one to three years of the accident.

Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Insurance Law

In Louisiana, almost all employers need workers’ compensation insurance for their business. Louisiana workers’ compensation is a no-fault system that can help cover employees who have work-related injuries or illnesses. It can help pay for:

Medical bills
Missed wages
Ongoing care

What Are Louisiana’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements?

Louisiana workers’ compensation insurance laws require most employers to have this coverage, even if they have just one employee.¹ This law also applies to employees who are:

Full-time
Part-time
Minors
Seasonal

Keep in mind that sole proprietors may not need this coverage if they don’t have employees. Corporate officers can also typically file for an exemption for this insurance if they own a certain percentage of a business.

Who Is Exempt From Workers’ Comp Insurance in Louisiana?

Some workers may be exempt from workers’ comp insurance in Louisiana, depending on their role and employment status.

The list of workers’ comp exemptions includes:²

Employees of a private residential homeowner
Musicians and performers who provide services outlined in a performance contract
Real estate brokers or salesmen licensed to do business in the state of Louisiana
Employees of a private unincorporated farm
Any landman performing exploration, development, production or mineral transportation services
Employees covered by certain federal laws
Members of airplane crews involved in dusting or spraying operations
Uncompensated officers and members of a board of directors for nonprofit organizations
Louisiana workers’ comp insurance requirements can vary by business. However, if you have any employees, you’ll likely need a policy.

You’ll also want to classify your employees based on their type of work to make sure they have the right coverage. In fact, misclassifying your employees is often considered fraud.

For more details, explore workers’ compensation requirements to understand how coverage rules may apply to your business.

How Does Workers’ Comp Work in Louisiana?

Louisiana workers’ comp insurance helps support employees who have work-related injuries or illnesses by helping pay for their medical treatment and a portion of their lost wages if they need time off to recover.

What Does Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurance Cover?

Workers’ comp insurance in Louisiana can help pay for medical care, lost wages and other benefits if an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job. The benefits covered may include:

Accidents or injuries that require medical care and happened on the job.
Lost wages, also known as indemnity benefits, when an employee is unable to earn money and needs time off to recover before they can return to work.
Disability benefits when a work-related injury limits an employee's ability to work. For example, an employee with a temporary total disability may receive a portion of their average weekly wage during recovery.³ Workers’ compensation disability benefits may also apply to permanent injuries that prevent an employee from returning to work.
Ongoing care when an injury or illness needs extra treatment, like physical therapy or vocational rehabilitation.
Funeral costs in the event that an employee passes away due to a work-related injury or illness. These benefits may help cover funeral expenses and provide support to surviving dependents.
Occupational illnesses that develop as a result of workplace conditions or exposures, such as harmful chemicals, dust or other hazards.
Repetitive stress injuries that develop gradually over time due to job-related tasks. These injuries may require ongoing treatment and could affect an employee’s ability to work. Repetitive stress injuries are covered under Louisiana workers’ comp.

Learn more about what’s included in workers’ compensation coverage and how it can help protect your employees and your business.

How Much Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cost in Louisiana?

On average, The Hartford’s customers pay about $1,477 per year, or about $121 per month, for workers’ compensation insurance in Louisiana.**

Costs often depend on payroll, industry risk level and NCCI class codes. The best and most convenient way to see pricing for your business is to get a free quote.

How To Get Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurance

There are several ways to get workers’ comp insurance in Louisiana, including:

Joining an approved Group Self-Insurance Fund⁴
Applying to become an approved self-insured employer through the Office of Workers’ Compensation⁵
Purchasing a policy through a private workers’ compensation insurer authorized to operate in Louisiana, like The Hartford⁶

Ready To Protect Your Louisiana Business?

Learn more about workers’ compensation insurance coverage options and get a free quote online from The Hartford today.

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How To File Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Claims

If an employee is injured on the job, it’s important to act quickly. Here’s a general overview of the claims process in Louisiana:

Report the injury: The injured employee should notify their employer as soon as possible. Louisiana law requires employees to report workplace injuries within 30 days to help preserve their right to benefits.⁷
File a claim: A formal workers' compensation claim generally must be filed within one year of the date of the injury. If an employee has already received workers' comp payments, they may have up to three years from the date of the last payment to seek additional benefits.⁸
Seek medical treatment: The employer or their insurance carrier should help coordinate medical care for the injured employee. Non-emergency medical treatment exceeding $750 may require prior authorization from the carrier.⁹

If there’s a dispute about medical treatment, the employee or their representative can submit Form LWC-WC-1009 to the OWCA Medical Director within 15 calendar days of the insurer's denial.¹⁰For disputes about compensation or benefits, Form LWC-WC-1008 can be filed with the appropriate OWCA district office.¹¹Depending on the case, disputed claims may take six to nine months to resolve, or longer if appealed.¹²

To file a workers' compensation claim with The Hartford, visit our workers' comp claims page.

small business employee protected by workers compensation louisiana

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Backed by more than 200 years of insurance experience, The Hartford helps Louisiana businesses protect their employees with workers' compensation coverage they can count on.

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What Our Workers’ Compensation Customers Are Saying:

“The way [The] Hartford handles claims is always very effective from start to finish. They are very detailed and are always keeping constant communication throughout the claim.”

Abel, California

“The Hartford has easy online access to claims which makes it fast and easy to open claims. The staff are friendly and helpful, and they do process the claims quickly. Very happy with the service!”

Randa, California

“Easy and seamless transaction.”

Kelly, Montana

“The process was efficient, and Andy was nice. … No one wants a claim. Our focus was the health of our employees and Andy seemed to understand that and support us.”

Cathie, Virginia

“Workers’ comp claim went in and I immediately had a contact and the information I needed to get the claim taken care of.”

Ronnette, Illinois

“The Hartford was so quick and easy. The employee received all his medical attention needed, his payments, his bills were paid [and] appointments went smooth.”

Tricia, New York

Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurance

Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance Required in Louisiana?

Yes, Louisiana law requires most employers with one or more employees to have workers' compensation insurance. Employers must provide coverage for full-time, part-time, seasonal and minor employees. The no-fault system gives injured employees medical and lost-wage benefits and generally helps protect employers from related lawsuits through what's known as the exclusive remedy doctrine.

What Happens if You Don’t Have Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Louisiana?

Employers who don’t maintain required coverage may face civil penalties of up to $250 per employee, as well as criminal charges that can include fines of up to $250 and up to one year of imprisonment.13 Non-compliant employers may also lose the exclusive remedy protection that workers' comp provides, which could leave the business exposed to lawsuits from injured employees.

How Long Do You Have To File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Louisiana?

Injured employees should report workplace injuries to their employer within 30 days to help preserve their right to benefits. A formal claim generally must be filed within one year of the date of injury. If workers' comp payments have already been made, the deadline may extend to three years from the date of the last payment.

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Workers’ Compensation FAQs

^1,2,4,5,6 Louisiana Workforce Commission: The Department of Labor, “Frequently Asked Questions From Employers About Coverage,” viewed June 2026.

³ La. R.S. 23:1221, "Disability Benefits," Louisiana State Legislature, viewed June 2026.

⁷ Louisiana Workforce Commission, "Rights and Responsibilities for Employees and Employers," viewed June 2026.

⁸ La. R.S. 23:1209, "Prescription; Timeliness of Filing," viewed June 2026.

⁹Louisiana Workforce Commission, "Questions About the Medical Treatment Guidelines," viewed June 2026.

¹⁰ Louisiana Workforce Commission, "Form LWC-WC-1009: Disputed Claim for Medical Treatment," viewed June 2026.

¹¹ Louisiana Workforce Commission, "Form LWC-WC-1008: Disputed Workers' Compensation Claim,” viewed June 2026.

¹² Louisiana Workforce Commission, "Frequently Asked Questions From Injured Workers About Disputed Claims," viewed June 2026.

¹³ Justia U.S. Law, “LA Rev Stat § 23:1172 (2025),” viewed June 2026.

** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.

This page outlines in general terms the coverages that may be afforded under a policy from The Hartford. All policies must be examined carefully to determine suitability for your needs and to identify any exclusions, limitations or any other terms and conditions that may specifically affect coverage. In the event of a conflict, the terms and conditions of the policy prevail.

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