Industry News
Caring for the Caregiver: Reducing the Top Three Home Care Workers’ Comp Claims
Author, Raysan Benito, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In California workers' compensation, Class Code 8827 applies to employees who provide in-home personal care services, including assistance with daily living activities, companionship, and, in some cases, nursing services. While these caregivers focus on the well-being of their clients, they often face significant injury exposures themselves.
The True Cost of DSP Turnover in Developmental Disability Services
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Non-profit organizations supporting adults with developmental disabilities fulfill their missions and promise to individuals and families by employing a dedicated group of people, Direct Support Professionals (DSP). The evergreen challenge to attract and retain DSPs adds hidden costs and increases an organization’s exposure to risk. Below we outline these challenges and questions to raise with a National Best Practices insurance agency.
Education, Leadership and Impact: A Conversation with Francis Parkers CFO Mike Rinehart
Author, Daniel Frazee, Executive Vice President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
General engineering contractors deal with a myriad of risks on a daily basis. Even though these risks are typically few in frequency, they are high in severity. This means the claim is going to be significant and could ultimately impact your company’s financial and reputational standing within the industry. Too many times I have seen contractors only focus on the claim after it happens, which is reactive. I recommend taking a proactive approach and have your foreman and project managers focus on the near misses.
PAGA: The Scariest Four-Letter Word for California Employers
Account Executive Raysan Benito sits down with employment law attorney Bob King and breaks down how PAGA works, why it has become one of the most feared compliance challenges for home care agencies, and the practical steps business owners can take to reduce their exposure and protect their organizations.
Navigating Today’s Nonprofit Challenges with Arnulfo Manriquez
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Human Services Group Vice President Sam Brown interviews Arnulfo Manriquez of the Manriquez Group to explore the evolving challenges facing nonprofit leaders, from funding pressures and board governance to leadership transitions. With his decades of experience in the nonprofit world, Arnulfo shares practical insights on adaptability, strategic decision-making, and how nonprofits can position themselves for long-term sustainability in a changing environment.
The Hidden Shift in Workers’ Compensation Pricing
The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has approved the recommended increase in hourly wage thresholds for all 16 construction dual wage classifications. The increases range from $2 to $5 depending on the classification and will go into effect for policyholders renewing September 1, 2022 and thereafter. The chart below outlines the increases for each classification.
Cash in the Bank Is Not Profit: What Home Care Owners Need to Know About Margins
Account Executive Raysan Benito sits down with Dana Charumbira, CPA and founder of Home Care CPAs, to explore how home care leaders can use financial insights to drive smarter decisions and sustainable growth. They break down key concepts like gross margin, automation, and financial clarity, offering practical ways to turn numbers into meaningful strategies for scaling a business.
Essential Steps Non-Profit Leaders Should Take in the Pre-Renewal Process
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Non-profit organizations and their leadership often rely heavily on their insurance agent’s experience and insight, gained from working with similar organizations, when considering insurance buying options and risk management throughout the year.
Four RCFE Operational Breakdowns That Turn into Claims
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), most claims do not start with just one huge mistake. They usually begin with small breakdowns that get repeated and eventually one incident turns into a complaint, a licensing issue, or a lawsuit. In my experience working with RCFEs, there are several areas that tend to lead to claims.
Foreign Voluntary Workers’ Compensation: Closing the Coverage Gap for Cross-Border Teams
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In San Diego County, with its diverse workforce and cross border business activities, employers increasingly consider hiring talent from nearby Tijuana or have employees travel into Mexico for business purposes. In other scenarios, American employees decide to move and work remotely from Mexico or commit to a daily commute into the US.
Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion Insurance: A Board-Recruitment Advantage for Nonprofit
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
High-caliber directors—retired Fortune 500 leaders, public figures with reputational exposure do not join boards on faith. They review bylaws and audited financials, D&O policies and look for a solid approach to managing risk.
Protecting the Organization and Employees When Offering Retirement Plans
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In this competitive labor market, employers may offer ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) compliant retirement plans to draw and retain a talented workforce. It makes sense; data shows that retirement benefits reduce turnover, build employee trust, and offer predictable retirement savings.
The Value of Safety Committees in Human Services Organizations
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Human services organizations operate in challenging environments. Staff regularly work in close contact with individuals who may have physical, cognitive, or behavioral needs. This can involve lifting and transferring clients, managing unpredictable situations, or navigating unfamiliar environments. National data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that these situations elevate the risk of workplace injuries.
Ensure Pricing Accuracy and Validity of Insurance Coverage
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As the insurance market for nonprofit and human service agencies continues to harden, with fewer and fewer insurance companies willing to insure valuable community programs, careful completion and review of the insurance applications will ensure proper pricing and coverage following an insurance claim.
Avoid Surprise Premium Increases by Collecting Subcontractor Insurance Certificates
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In the nonprofit world, every dollar matters. Whether you are running community programs, providing housing, or supporting individuals with disabilities, it is important to keep operating costs predictable and under control. There is one area where we are seeing many nonprofits get blindsided during workers’ compensation audits and it often leads to unexpected premium increases.
A Hardening Insurance Market for Non-Profits-Steps to Prepare for the 2025 Renewal Process
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Non-profit and human services leaders started experiencing a hardening property and casualty insurance market in 2024 illustrated by reduced limits of liability, higher deductibles, and increased premiums. And, the market shift still may not have been enough to right the ship.
Market Update: Sexual Misconduct Liability in Healthcare Organizations
Author, Sam Brown, Vice President, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Rancho Mesa’s insurance brokers specializing in healthcare, education and non-profit organizations continue to navigate the hardening insurance marketplace, characterized by tighter underwriting guidelines, reduced limits of liability, increased deductibles, and higher policy premiums.
Umbrella vs. Excess Liability: The Key Differences Contractors Need to Know
Author, Sam Clayton, Vice President, Construction Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When reviewing insurance requirements that contractors receive from municipalities and/or general contractors, two lines of coverage that are often misunderstood are umbrella and excess liability. These terms are commonly interchangeable in the contract, but have subtle differences. In addition, the limits required by contracts are increasing significantly.
How Healthcare Staffing Agencies Can Prevent Claims
Author, Jack Marrs, Associate Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Healthcare staffing agencies play a vital role in maintaining patient care standards. That is why it is critical for staffing agencies’ employees to be properly vetted, kept informed, and trained prior to being placed to reduce the likelihood of claims. Preventing such claims requires a collaboration between the healthcare staffing agency and the facility where employees are being placed. Healthcare staffing agencies can take steps to prevent claims and protect their operations.
Three Industry Benchmarks all Landscape Companies Should Track
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are three major benchmarks that all landscape companies should consider when looking at how well they manage risk: average claim cost, claim indemnity rate, and claim frequency rate. Knowing the importance of this, we designed a key performance indicator (KPI) dashboard that highlights these industry benchmarks, as well as benchmarks them against other landscape companies in their geographic area.