What Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island requires workers’ compensation insurance for employers with one or more employees, subject to limited exceptions. Individual owners and partners are exempt, while most corporate officers are included unless they file the state waiver.

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation can pay medical care and part of an employee’s lost wages after a work-related injury or illness. If you have staff, check who is covered in each state; owners, contractors and some workers may be treated differently. Read the national Workers’ compensation guide.

Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
One or more employees	With limited exceptions, employers with one or more employees must provide workers’ compensation insurance; individual owners and partners are exempt, while most corporate officers are included unless waived. ^1,²

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in Rhode Island

Corporate Officer Waivers Change Protection
Most corporate officers are included unless they file a DWC-11 Notice of Claim of Common Law Rights. The state says a person who files that notice is outside the workers’ compensation system and may sue the employer after a work injury; confirm who is named before relying on the waiver. ¹
Construction Contracts Require Coverage Evidence
A general contractor or construction manager must obtain written proof that a Rhode Island subcontractor carries workers’ compensation insurance or qualifies as an independent contractor under §28-29-17.1. Without the documentation, the hiring contractor can be deemed the employer; build verification into subcontract intake. ⁴
Direct Payment Requires State Approval
Rhode Island law allows an employer to secure liability with an authorized company, satisfactory proof of financial ability plus security, or an authorized group self-insurance fund. Ask for evidence of the precise approved route; an internal reserve alone does not establish compliance. ³

Providers With Rhode Island License Records

These providers publish a national listing for Workers’ compensation; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Rhode Island. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

Corgi
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.
Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. ¹²
Corgi lists workers’ compensation insurance.
ERGO NEXT Insurance
Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28
Next First Insurance Agency, Inc.
ERGO NEXT’s current license table lists Next First Insurance Agency, Inc. in 50 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC; New York is excluded because its table rows name Next Insurance Services and AP Intego, not Next First. The table is company-reported; it does not establish product availability or provide state-regulator verification for each entry. ¹⁴
ERGO NEXT offers workers’ compensation insurance for small businesses.
Hiscox
Insurer · checked 2026-09-28
Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.
Hiscox’s U.S. company information states that Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is company-reported insurer authority for this entity and does not establish which company issues every Hiscox-branded product. ¹³
Hiscox provides access to workers’ compensation underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and requires a general liability policy.
Vouch
Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker · checked 2026-09-28
Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC
Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability. ¹⁵
Vouch lists workers’ compensation among core coverages for technology companies.

Who Regulates Insurance in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division

The DBR Insurance Division provides an online public verification service for producers, adjusters, surplus-lines brokers, and other licensees, and accepts insurance complaints online. Contact the Division for help determining whether it has authority over a particular policy or dispute. ^5,^6,⁷

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Rhode Island

Reported tax rate. 4% of net taxable premium; 2018 filing guide excludes listed broker, carrier and inspection fees ^8,⁹

Rhode Island’s 2024 return applies 4% to net taxable premium (gross premium less returned premium); its 2018 filing guide excludes broker, carrier, and inspection fees from the base. Confirm fee treatment with the Division of Taxation if your bill separates those charges, because no newer official fee-base guidance was located.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Workers’ Compensation in Rhode Island

Which corporate officers are included, and which have filed DWC-11 waivers?
For each Rhode Island subcontractor, do we have current insurance evidence or verified independent-contractor status under §28-29-17.1?
If we plan to pay claims directly, what financial proof and security has the Director accepted?

Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Rhode Island: FAQ

Is workers’ compensation required for one employee in Rhode Island?

Yes, with limited exceptions. Rhode Island DLT says employers with one or more employees must have coverage. ^1,²

Are corporate officers covered by workers’ compensation in Rhode Island?

Most corporate officers are included unless they file a DWC-11 Notice of Claim of Common Law Rights. A filer is outside the workers’ compensation system for work injuries and may sue the employer. ¹

Sources for Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Rhode Island

1
For Employers: Workers’ Compensation. Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training; Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements; Penalties; last updated January 6, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
2
R.I. Gen. Laws §28-29-6: Employers subject to law. Rhode Island General Assembly; §28-29-6; employers subject to chapters 29–38. Accessed 2026-09-28.
3
R.I. Gen. Laws §28-36-1: Insurance or filing of bond required. Rhode Island General Assembly; §28-36-1(a), insurance, proof of financial ability/security, and group self-insurance. Accessed 2026-09-28.
4
R.I. Gen. Laws §28-29-6.1: Secondary provision of workers’ compensation insurance. Rhode Island General Assembly; §28-29-6.1(a), (c)–(d), construction subcontractor documentation. Accessed 2026-09-28.
5
rhode-island insurance regulator. State insurance regulator; DBR Insurance Division overview links to complaint, license lookup, statutes, and regulations. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
DBR License Status Verification. State insurance regulator; Official page identifies online NAIC-partnered status checks for producers, adjusters, motor vehicle appraisers, surplus-lines brokers, and reinsurance intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
DBR Insurance Consumers. State insurance regulator; Official consumer page explains the division's regulated insurance lines and online complaint route. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
2025 T-71A Surplus Line Broker Return of Gross Premiums. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2025 return, p. 1, lines 1–4: net taxable premium is gross premium less returned premiums; 4% tax; filing due April 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Guide to Tax Filings for Surplus Lines. Rhode Island Division of Taxation; 2018 Guide to tax filings, surplus-lines section: gross premium for tax purposes excludes carrier, broker, and inspection fees; no newer official fee-base instruction located as of 2026-09-28. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
11
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
12
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
13
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
14
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
15
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements Apply in Rhode Island?

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Workers’ Compensation in Rhode Island

Corporate Officer Waivers Change Protection

Construction Contracts Require Coverage Evidence

Direct Payment Requires State Approval

Providers With Rhode Island License Records

Corgi

ERGO NEXT Insurance

Hiscox

Vouch