Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 287.280 (2026)

Employer's entire liability to be covered, self-insurer or approved carrier

✓ current as of May 2026

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287.280. Employer's entire liability to be covered, self-insurer or approved carrier — exception — group of employers may qualify as self-insurers, requirements — rules — confidential records. — 1. Every employer subject to the provisions of this chapter shall, on either an individual or group basis, insure their entire liability under the workers' compensation law; and may insure in whole or in part their employer liability, under a policy of insurance or a self-insurance plan, except as hereafter provided, with some insurance carrier authorized to insure such liability in this state, except that an employer or group of employers may themselves carry the whole or any part of the liability without insurance upon satisfying the division of their ability to do so. If an employer or group of employers have qualified to self-insure their liability under this chapter, the division of workers' compensation may, if it finds after a hearing that the employer or group of employers are willfully and intentionally violating the provisions of this chapter with intent to defraud their employees of their right to compensation, suspend or revoke the right of the employer or group of employers to self-insure their liability. If the employer or group of employers fail to comply with this section, an injured employee or his or her dependents may elect after the injury either to bring an action against such employer or group of employers to recover damages for personal injury or death and it shall not be a defense that the injury or death was caused by the negligence of a fellow servant, or that the employee had assumed the risk of the injury or death, or that the injury or death was caused to any degree by the negligence of the employee; or to recover under this chapter with the compensation payments commuted and immediately payable; or, if the employee elects to do so, he or she may file a request with the division for payment to be made for medical expenses out of the second injury fund as provided in subsection 7 of section 287.220. If the employer or group of employers are carrying their own insurance, on the application of any person entitled to compensation and on proof of default in the payment of any installment, the division shall require the employer or group of employers to furnish security for the payment of the compensation, and if not given, all other compensation shall be commuted and become immediately payable; provided, that employers engaged in the mining business shall be required to insure only their liability hereunder to the extent of the equivalent of the maximum liability under this chapter for ten deaths in any one accident, but the employer or group of employers may carry their own risk for any excess liability. When a group of employers enter into an agreement to pool their liabilities under this chapter, individual members will not be required to qualify as individual self-insurers.

2. Groups of employers qualified to insure their liability pursuant to chapter 537 or this chapter shall utilize a uniform experience rating plan promulgated by an approved advisory organization. Such groups shall develop experience ratings for their members based on the plan. Nothing in this section shall relieve an employer from remitting, without any charge to the employer, the employer's claims history to an approved advisory organization.

3. For every entity qualified to group self-insure their liability pursuant to this chapter or chapter 537, each entity shall not authorize total discounts for any individual member exceeding twenty-five percent beginning January 1, 1999. All discounts shall be based on objective quantitative factors and applied uniformly to all trust members.

4. Any group of employers that have qualified to self-insure their liability pursuant to this chapter shall file with the division premium rates, based on pure premium rate data, adjusted for loss development and loss trending as filed by the advisory organization with the department of commerce and insurance pursuant to section 287.975, plus any estimated expenses and other factors or based on average rate classifications calculated by the department of commerce and insurance as taken from the premium rates filed by the twenty insurance companies providing the greatest volume of workers' compensation insurance coverage in this state. The rate is inadequate if funds equal to the full ultimate cost of anticipated losses and loss adjustment expenses are not produced when the prospective loss costs are applied to anticipated payrolls. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to those political subdivisions of this state that have qualified to self-insure their liability pursuant to this chapter as authorized by section 537.620 on an assessment plan. Any such group may file with the division a composite rate for all coverages provided under that section.

5. When considering applications for new trust self-insurers, as described under 8 CSR 50-3.010, the division shall require proof of payment by each member of not less than twenty-five percent of the estimated annual premium; except that, for new members who wish to join an existing trust self-insurer during the policy year rather than at the beginning of the policy year, the division shall require proof of payment of the lesser of the estimated premium of three months or the estimated premium for the balance of the policy year.

6. Self-insured trusts, as described under 8 CSR 50-3.010, may invest surplus moneys from a prior trust year not needed for current obligations. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon approval by the division, a self-insured trust may invest up to one hundred percent of surplus moneys in securities designated by the state treasurer as acceptable collateral to secure state deposits under section 30.270.

7. Any finding or determination made by the division under this section may be reviewed as provided in sections 287.470 and 287.480.

8. If a group of employers who have been granted self-insurance authority under this chapter or chapter 537 or a public sector individual employer granted self-insurance authority under this chapter is deemed insolvent, determined to be insolvent, or files for bankruptcy, and fails to pay any of its obligations that are owed to an injured employee or an injured employee's dependent or dependents pursuant to this chapter, whether based upon a compromise settlement approved pursuant to section 287.390 or based upon an award issued pursuant to this chapter, the division shall call upon the entire security posted by the group of employers or public sector individual employer. The division may refer all known losses or cases of the group of employers or public sector individual employer to a third-party administrator or any such entity authorized in this state to administer the workers' compensation cases. The third-party administrator or entity to which the losses are transferred shall have the authority to receive the security proceeds from the division and use the proceeds, after deducting reasonable administrative expenses, to pay the compensation benefits owed pursuant to this chapter. The security proceeds shall not be considered state property and shall not be subject to appropriation by the general assembly. Any unused portion of the security proceeds shall be returned to the division. The group of employers or public sector individual employer may apply to the division for release of the unused portion of the security proceeds as set forth in rules promulgated by the division. Neither the division nor any third-party administrator shall be obligated or required to pay any obligations or moneys in an amount in excess of the security proceeds, and neither the division nor any third-party administrator shall be liable for any interest or penalties. The joint and several liability of the members of a group that is deemed insolvent, that is determined to be insolvent, or that files for bankruptcy shall continue and shall not be terminated by payment of benefits under this subsection.

9. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024.

10. Any records submitted pursuant to this section, and pursuant to any rule promulgated by the division pursuant to this section, shall be considered confidential and not subject to chapter 610. Any party to a workers' compensation case involving the party that submitted the records shall be able to subpoena the records for use in a workers' compensation case, if the information is otherwise relevant.

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(RSMo 1939 § 3713, A.L. 1957 p. 560, A.L. 1965 p. 397, A.L. 1974 S.B. 417, A.L. 1980 H.B. 1396, A.L. 1981 S.B. 382, A.L. 1993 S.B. 251, A.L. 1995 S.B. 3, A.L. 1998 H.B. 1237, et al., A.L. 2013 S.B. 1, A.L. 2017 S.B. 66, A.L. 2021 S.B. 303)

Prior revision: 1929 § 3323

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 40 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1957–2023 · leading case: Parmer v. Bean, 636 S.W.2d 691 (Mo. Ct. App. 1982).

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Parmer v. Bean, 636 S.W.2d 691 (Mo. Ct. App. 1982). · cites it 7× “Under § 287.280 RSMo (1978), an employer subject to the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Law who fails to maintain compensation insurance can be sued at common law by the injured employee.”

Schuster v. State Div. of Emp. Sec., 972 S.W.2d 377 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 9× “According to the Commission, allowing a commutation would not further the purpose of section 287.280 RSMo because there is no danger that state employees will not be compensated in the same manner in which wages are ordinarily paid.”

Mays v. Williams, 494 S.W.2d 289 (Mo. 1973). · cites it 28× “The claim cited § 287.280, RSMo 1959 1 V.A.M.S., as the basis for the amount of compensation sought.”

Leach v. Bd. of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, 118 S.W.3d 646 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 4× “5: If an employer fails to insure or self-insure as required in section 287.280, ... in the case of death of an employee in the employ of an uninsured employer, funds from the second injury fund may be withdrawn to cover fair, reasonable, and necessary expenses in the manner…”

Lewis Ex Rel. Brown v. Gilmore, 366 S.W.3d 522 (Mo. 2012). · cites it 4× “NOTES [1] All references to section 287.280 are to RSMo 2000. [2] All references to section 287.”

Ellis v. Missouri State Treasurer, 302 S.W.3d 217 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 4× “If an employer fails to insure or self-insure as required in section 287.280, funds from the second injury fund may be withdrawn to cover the fair, reasonable, and necessary expenses to cure and relieve the effects of the injury or disability of an injured employee in the employ…”

Eagle v. City of St. James, 669 S.W.2d 36 (Mo. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 4× “Section 287.280 and Mays v. Williams, 494 S.”

Mann v. Varney Constr., 23 S.W.3d 231 (Mo. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 4× “Claimant argues that under this statute he should be reimbursed for the total of his medical costs instead of only the portion he would be liable for under Medicaid.”

Higgins v. Treasurer of State of Missouri, 140 S.W.3d 94 (Mo. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 3× “§ 287.280. By definition, the requirement is only applicable to employers with five or more employees.”

Smith v. Tiger Coaches, Inc., 73 S.W.3d 756 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 3× “Section 287.280 RSMo Supp. 1982.” Id. We find the reasoning and conclusion of Bollmann applicable here.”

Taylor v. Ballard R-II Sch. Dist., 274 S.W.3d 629 (Mo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “” In effect, the Commission decided only that Marvin was entitled to pursue Glennda’s claim as a procedural matter, not whether Marvin was entitled to Glennda’s disability benefits under section 287.280. On February 1, 2008, the Commission issued its final award affirming the…”

Phillips v. Par Elec. Contractors, 92 S.W.3d 278 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). · cites it 2× “5 states that “[i]f an employer fails to insure or self-insure as required in section 287.280, funds from the second injury fund may be withdrawn to cover the fair, reasonable, and necessary expenses to cure and reheve the effects of the injury or disability of an injured…”

Show all 40 citing cases →

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 287.280(1) — 1 case

Schuster v. State Div. of Emp. Sec., 972 S.W.2d 377 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). “According to the Commission, allowing a commutation would not further the purpose of section 287.280 RSMo because there is no danger that state employees will not be compensated in the same manner in which wages are ordinarily paid.”

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