Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association

What Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association does

The Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association (WCRA) is a Minnesota-statutory, tax-exempt nonprofit reinsurance association founded in 1979 to provide reliable, low-cost catastrophic-loss reinsurance protection for the state's workers' compensation system. All insurers licensed to write workers' compensation in Minnesota and all authorized self-insurers are required by law to be WCRA members, making WCRA the exclusive reinsurance provider for the jurisdiction. Members select from four annual retention tiers — Low ($500,000), High ($1,000,000), Super ($2,000,000, available since 1996), and Jumbo ($5,000,000, available since January 2018) — and are billed actuarially determined reinsurance premiums approved by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.

The core operating platform is the WCRA Portal (portal.wcra.biz), a secure web-based member system that handles claim reporting, reimbursement requests, exposure adjustment, experience rating, loss detection, secure messaging, and electronic notifications. The portal is supplemented by a suite of 11 deterministic online calculators (CompCalc, Dependency Calc, Benefit Weeks Calc, Interest Calc, Life Expectancy Calc, PPD Calc, Present Value Calc, Subro Calc, TPD Calc, Premium Calc, Ultimate Value Calculator) and a library of Catastrophic Injury Guidebooks, Rehabilitation Advisories, and Medical Management Advisory Services covering conditions such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and burns. WCRA's investment program targets a 70% equity / 30% debt allocation, with returns and any excess capital returned to members rather than retained as profit.

The revenue model is subscription-style annual reinsurance premiums (estimated in December, adjusted between May and July) calculated as exposure base multiplied by tier-specific rates, with no profit margin. Rates have trended down (e.g., Low Retention from 8.35% in 2017 to 7.10% in 2026). The organization is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors and managed by approximately 30 full-time staff headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Distribution is exclusively direct via mandatory membership; there are no resellers or third-party sales channels, and no external funding, acquisitions, or diversification beyond the Minnesota workers' compensation jurisdiction are evident in the source material.

Name

Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association

Legal name

Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association

Website

https://wcra.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

WCRA is a Minnesota-statutory, tax-exempt nonprofit reinsurance association founded in 1979 that provides mandatory, low-cost catastrophic-loss reinsurance for all Minnesota workers' compensation insurers and self-insurers, with four retention tiers and member-funded rates approved by the state.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workers' Compensation Reinsurance

NAICS

Reinsurance Carriers (52413), Insurance Carriers and Related Activities (524)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance (FSAOABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Self-Insured Workers’ Compensation Programs (FSAJAEAD), Managed Workers’ Compensation (Loss Control, Claims & Return-to-Work Programs) (FSAJAEAH), Workers’ Compensation Treaty Reinsurance (FSAOAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workers compensation reinsurance
• Catastrophic claims coverage
• Statutory reinsurance pool
• Self-insurer coverage
• Reinsurance premium billing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Reinsurance Premiums: WCRA charges annual reinsurance premiums sufficient to cover expected reinsurance liability and associated expenses. Each member's premium is based on their Minnesota workers' compensation exposure (exposure base) multiplied by the reinsurance rate for their selected retention level. Premiums are billed estimated in December for the coming year, with an annual adjustment between May and July based on actual exposure data. As a nonprofit, rates contain no profit margin and excess funds may be returned to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WCRA is the statutory, nonprofit reinsurer for the Minnesota workers' compensation system, providing reinsurance coverage above members' selected per-occurrence retention limits (Low $500,000, High $1,000,000, Super $2,000,000, Jumbo $5,000,000). Members are reimbursed 100% for qualifying indemnity and medical benefits for the life of each covered claim (up to 70 years). The offering is delivered through mandatory membership for all Minnesota-licensed workers' compensation insurers and authorized self-insurers under Minnesota statute, supported by a member portal for claims, exposure, and experience-rating reporting.

Product overview

The Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association (WCRA) is a nonprofit reinsurance association that serves as the exclusive reinsurance provider for Minnesota's workers' compensation system. The organization's primary offering is Statutory Reinsurance Coverage with four retention levels (Low $500,000, High $1,000,000, Super $2,000,000, Jumbo $5,000,000), which reimburses members for workers' compensation claims exceeding their selected retention limit. The WCRA Portal serves as the central member-facing platform providing secure access to all services including claim reporting, reimbursement requests, loss detection, experience rating data reporting, and exposure adjustment. The organization supplements its core reinsurance offering with a suite of 11 online calculators (CompCalc, Dependency Calc, Benefit Weeks Calc, Interest Calc, Life Expectancy Calc, PPD Calc, Present Value Calc, Subro Calc, TPD Calc, Premium Calc, and Ultimate Value Calculator), Catastrophic Injury Guidebooks covering conditions like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, Rehabilitation Advisories, Medical Management Advisory Services including case consultation and literature research, and a Claims Reference Guide. The portfolio is completed by educational webinars on medical management topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Statutory Reinsurance Coverage Provides statutory workers' compensation reinsurance coverage for claims exceeding the member's selected retention limit. Available in four retention levels (Low $500,000, High $1,000,000, Super $2,000,000, Jumbo $5,000,000). Coverage applies to Minnesota jurisdiction claims on a per-occurrence basis and continues for the life of the claim. Sold to Minnesota-licensed workers' compensation insurers and authorized self-insurers.
• WCRA Member Portal Secure web-based platform for members and authorized TPAs to report claims, submit reimbursement requests, manage exposure and experience rating data, view claim details, and access online calculators and guidebooks. Provides electronic correspondence, secure messaging with attachments, and electronic notifications for scheduled claim updates.
• Catastrophic Injury Guidebooks Comprehensive reference guidebooks for management of serious catastrophic claims including anticipated medical and rehabilitation treatment, cost projections, home care guidance, and rehabilitation facility information for injuries such as amputation, burns, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Provided free to members.
• Rehabilitation Advisories Brief informational reports on medical and rehabilitation issues relevant to managing catastrophic and complex claims, covering topics such as chronic pain, spinal cord stimulation, and home modifications. Provided free to members.
• Medical Management Advisory Services Advisory services including case consultation, literature research, and onsite training to assist members in identifying appropriate rehabilitation programs for severely injured Minnesota workers. Provided free to members and authorized TPAs.
• Claims Reference Guide Comprehensive reference guide covering claims and medical management, initial and interim claims reporting, settlement procedures, reimbursement request procedures, and reimbursable versus non-reimbursable benefits for use by members and TPAs.
• Experience Rating Data Reporting Annual reporting service in which self-insurer members submit experience rating loss data used in the experience modification calculation for the upcoming coverage year.
• Exposure Adjustment Reporting Annual process to update member exposure base from estimated to actual figures, requiring payroll data reporting for self-insurers and financial call information for insurers to reconcile estimated December-billed premiums in May–July.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SFM FoundationminorOthersWCRA is a proud supporter of SFM Foundation, an affiliate of Kids' Chance of America. The Foundation is dedicated to easing the burdens on families affected by workplace accidents by providing post-secondary education scholarships to children of parents fatally or seriously injured on the job.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Direct peers

• Florida Workers' Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association: State-level statutory mechanism providing residual market and insolvency protection for Florida workers' compensation insurers. Comparable to WCRA as a state-mandated backstop for the WC market, though structured as a guarantee association rather than a pure reinsurer.
• National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI): Rate-making organization serving many state workers' compensation systems, including experience rating and statistical services. Compares to WCRA as a WC-industry infrastructure provider, though NCCI focuses on ratemaking rather than reinsurance.

Broad incumbents

• California State Compensation Insurance Fund: State-established workers' compensation carrier of last resort and major market participant in California. Comparable as a government-affiliated WC insurance entity, though it writes direct policies rather than reinsurance.
• New York State Insurance Fund: State-mandated workers' compensation carrier in New York. Comparable as a state-affiliated WC insurance mechanism providing market stability, though structured as a direct carrier rather than a reinsurer.
• Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation: State-run monopoly workers' compensation insurer in Ohio, similar in its statutory origin and statewide mandate to WCRA. Comparable as a government-affiliated WC mechanism providing system-wide coverage, though it operates as a direct insurer.
• Munich Re: One of the world's largest reinsurance groups with a substantial workers' compensation treaty portfolio. Compares to WCRA as a WC reinsurance provider, though it operates globally, across multiple lines, and as a for-profit entity.
• Swiss Re: Global reinsurance leader underwriting significant workers' compensation treaty business. Comparable to WCRA in providing WC reinsurance capacity, though at much larger scale and across global markets.
• Hannover Re: Major global reinsurer with treaty workers' compensation exposure. Comparable to WCRA in writing WC reinsurance, though diversified across lines and geographies as a for-profit public company.
• PartnerRe: Global reinsurer with North American workers' compensation treaty business. Comparable to WCRA as a WC reinsurance provider for primary carriers and self-insurers, though operating as a for-profit commercial reinsurer.
• Everest Re: Major North American reinsurer with significant workers' compensation treaty capacity. Comparable to WCRA in providing WC reinsurance solutions, though operating globally as a for-profit public company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wcra-of-minnesota

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association