Waltham, MA, Sept. 30, 2024 — A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) shows that the average cost of workers' compensation claims in Delaware, for cases with more than seven days of lost work, went up by 3 percent per year between 2019 and 2022.

“In the years following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were important changes in the labor market as well as shifts in the availability of medical services. These changes were likely important drivers of the trends in total costs per claim in Delaware," said Ramona Tanabe, president and CEO of WCRI.

The study, Trends in the Delaware Workers' Compensation System, 2017–2022, examines key metrics such as total claim costs, medical payments, indemnity benefits, disability duration, and benefit delivery expenses. It provides a detailed look at how these factors have evolved from 2017 to 2022, based on payments made through March 2023.

Key findings include the following:

• Temporary disability duration and wages for injured workers have both increased since 2019, driven by pandemic-related economic changes.
• Medical payments per claim remained relatively stable, with reduced utilization balancing stable prices for professional services.
• Benefit delivery expenses per claim increased after 2019, following a decline in previous years.

The report excludes COVID-19 claims and includes findings from other WCRI studies for a broader context. Click here to learn more or to download a copy of the study. This report was authored by Evelina Radeva.

About WCRI:

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization based in Waltham, MA. Established in 1983, WCRI is committed to providing objective, data-driven insights through rigorous research and unbiased peer review. The Institute’s diverse membership includes employers, insurers, governmental entities, managed care companies, healthcare providers, insurance regulators, and labor organizations across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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