Industry News
Navigating the Future of Workers’ Compensation with Todd Lewis: Litigation Trends, AI, and Claims Management
Rancho Mesa President and CEO Dave Garcia sits down with Todd Lewis, Vice President of Claims at Republic Indemnity, to discuss the growing challenges facing California’s workers’ compensation system, including rising litigation and cumulative trauma (CT) claims. They explore how AI is helping claims organizations investigate and manage claims more effectively, along with practical strategies employers can use to reduce claim disputes, support employees, and foster a stronger workplace culture.
The Evolving Workers’ Compensation Landscape with State Fund CEO Vern Steiner
Rancho Mesa President and CEO Dave Garcia speaks with California State Fund CEO Vern Steiner about the current state of California’s workers’ compensation market. They discuss key industry trends, cost drivers impacting employers, and offer considerations for the future of the workers’ compensation system in California.
Insuring the Future: AI Tools for Modern Brokers
Rancho Mesa President David Garcia and Erik Vandermaus, Executive Vice President with BrokerPRO, a data and insight company that’s transforming the insurance industry. Discover how their technology is empowering brokers to streamline workflows, personalize client interactions, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. discuss how to deal with current or former employees who post slanderous videos online, and ways to prevent it from occurring.
CA Insurance Commissioner Lara Approves 8.7% Workers Compensation Increase
Rancho Mesa’s Alyssa Burley and President David Garcia discuss California's approved 8.7% workers' compensation insurance rate increase, its impact on businesses, and practical steps business owners can take to prepare for the changes effective September 1st.
Workers' Comp Rate Increases On the Way with Margaret Hartmann: Part 3
In the final episode of a three-part series, President David Garcia and Margaret Hartmann, Sr. VP and Chief Marketing Officer with BHHC, discuss the WCIRB's proposed 11.2% workers’ compensation rate increase in California. They explore how this may impact employers, and actionable steps businesses can take to mitigate rising premiums.
Workers' Comp Rate Increases On the Way with Margaret Hartmann: Part 2
In the second episode of a three-part series, President David Garcia continues his discussion with Margaret Hartmann, Sr. VP and Chief Marketing Officer with BHHC, and explains how companies can mitigate cumulative trauma claims in light of the WCIRB’s recent 11.2% recommended rate increase.
Workers' Comp Rate Increases On the Way with Margaret Hartmann: Part 1
President David Garcia sits down with Margaret Hartmann, Sr. VP and Chief Marketing Officer with BHHC, to offer insight on the outcome of WCIRB’s recent 11.2% recommended rate increase, what areas are driving this increase, and what employers can do to mitigate it.
Trends Shaping the 2025 Insurance Marketplace and What’s on the Horizon for Rancho Mesa
As we enter the New Year, Rancho Mesa's Alyssa Burley sat down with President Dave Garcia to review the past year. They analyzed the state of the commercial insurance marketplace, reflected on Rancho Mesa’s accomplishments, and discussed what’s to come in 2025.
Actual Impact of Auto Claims to Your Bottom Line?
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In two previous articles/podcasts, we explored “below the surface” impacts from payroll inflation and lost time workers’ compensation claims. We provided detail on how these can negatively impact a business’s productivity and profitability and what companies can do to mitigate those impacts. Today, let’s look at another area where you need a keen awareness to really understand all the impacts.
Is Now the Time for a Performance-Based Insurance Program?
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In the three preceding articles in this series, we took a deep dive into some areas where a business’s productivity and profitability could be impacted by various factors emerging in the insurance marketplace. In the course of those articles, we also examined some tools, strategies and ideas that a company might implement to help manage and mitigate those impacts. Today, we will look at a way to exert the most control over your insurance program and premium outcome through performance-based insurance programs.
How is Payroll Inflation Impacting Your Workers' Compensation Premium?
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Inflation is rampant everywhere from consumer goods like groceries and gasoline to increased housing costs to labor. Today, I want to talk with you about the specific impact that payroll inflation is having on the workers’ compensation marketplace and ultimately on your premium cost.
What is the True Cost of a Lost Time Workers’ Compensation Claim?
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are many insurance professionals that have tried to quantify the real cost of indemnity or lost time claims, using multipliers anywhere from 2 to 4 times the claim amount in an effort to determine what the real cost of a claim will be to a company. While this may be true, it remains subjective to many. Let me help you understand the ways this type of claim will impact you and then you can decide the real impact to your business.
Increasing Your Productivity and Profitability Through Your Insurance Program
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
“What?” You’re probably asking yourself; “Did I read that wrong? How can my insurance program improve the productivity and profitably of my company?” Trust me, I understand your confusion.
The Field Guide to Navigating Your Insurance in 2022
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As a business owner preparing for 2022, what areas of insurable risk should cause you the biggest concerns? During the 2021 year, we experienced a hardening insurance market. All lines of insurance were negatively impacted as a result of the catastrophic events we experienced such as wildfires, flooding, hurricanes, and the emergence of COVID-19. Large national and worldwide crises like these caused underwriting losses in the billions of dollars to both front line insurers and reinsurers.
Performance-Based Workers’ Compensation Programs – Are Retros In Your Future?
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In the past, we explored performance-based workers’ compensation programs. These plans can create a competitive advantage and an opportunity to monetize your company’s insurance program.
How to Choose a Workers’ Compensation Carrier Partner
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Many years ago, when I was a young producer, one workers’ compensation carrier legend pulled me aside and told me never to forget that a workers’ compensation decision is not a one-year decision, but at least a 4-year decision. Of course, policies are only written on a one-year basis but what he was teaching me was that the carrier you choose will handle all the claims you have through your Experience Modification cycle. So, evaluating and recommending a workers’ compensation partner for my clients just became a much more thorough analysis of many critical factors beyond just the premium.
SB 1159 Is Now Workers’ Compensation Law
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As expected, California Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1159 (SB 1159) into law Thursday, September 17, 2020 and it will have several impacts on workers’ compensation and the presumption of the claim. Below is an outline of some of the more important elements of SB 1159. In simple terms, just remember three numbers, 4/4/14 - I’ll explain, later.
Commissioner Lara Approves WCIRB Proposed Amendments Addressing COVID-19
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
California Insurance Commissioner Lara has approved, as filed, the proposed special regulatory filing submitted by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) concerning proposed amendments addressing the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). The special regulatory filing is effective July 1, 2020 and will apply retroactively starting March 19, 2020, the day California Governor Newsom issued the Stay-at-Home Executive Order N-33-20. Those amendments are as follow…
Special COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Filing and Executive Order Imminent
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The Workers Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) voted unanimously this past Friday, April 17, 2020, on a special filing and sent it to the Insurance Commissioner for signature. If approved, this order would…
Potential Workers’ Compensation Changes Due to COVID-19 Claims
Author, Dave Garcia, President, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Last week the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) began developing emergency regulations resulting from the COVID-19 crisis that will be presented to the Insurance Commissioner in the coming weeks. The major areas to be addressed are…