In Texas, private employers can choose to carry workers' compensation insurance coverage (subscribers), but it is not required in most cases. A workers' compensation insurance policy provides lost wages and medical benefits to employees injured on the job.
All Texas governmental entities (public school, utility, city, or county) must have workers’ compensation coverage.
Workers' compensation coverage categories for Texas employers
Subscriber – Covered by a licensed Texas insurance carrier
An employer that provides workers’ compensation benefits to their employees by purchasing coverage through an insurance carrier. These employers include governmental entities (public school, utility, city, or county) and private companies.
- Verify coverage at TXCOMP NCCI website.
- Get a list of subscribers at Texas Open Data Portal - Subscriber.
Subscriber – Certified self-insured
A private employer approved to pay its own workers’ compensation losses rather than buy an insurance policy. Private employers can be certified to self-insure by applying with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
- Verify coverage and certification at Texas Certified Self-Insurers.
Subscriber – Governmental entity that self-insures
A governmental entity (public school, utility, city, or county) that chooses to fund its own workers’ compensation program or join a pool with other governmental entities.
- Verify coverage at TXCOMP Locate Self-Insured Government Employer.
Non-subscriber – Employer without workers’ compensation coverage
Employers that choose not to provide workers’ compensation coverage to their employees must notify their employees and DWC.
- Get a list of registered non-subscribers at Texas Open Data Portal - Non-Subscriber.
- Get a copy of the notice to employees of no coverage at sos.state.tx.us/fids/201203620-4.pdf or see Notice 5 on the DWC employer forms page.
Unknown
If you can’t determine whether an employer has coverage, email coverage.verification@tdi.texas.gov and include:
- Name of the employer.
- Physical address of the employer.
- Date of injury.
A DWC representative will respond and provide coverage information within one business day. For more information, email Coverage.Verfication@tdi.texas.gov.