Sigma-One Advantage: Control
Effectively managing workers' compensation costs is all about control at every step of the process and it is easier and more effective to control those costs as a Member of Sigma-One.
As a Member of Sigma-One, you are an "owner" of your own insurance company. Sigma-One is a Not for Profit corporation, owned by the Members of the group. As such, the Members have a say in how the group is run. The Board of Trustees is elected by the Membership and all Members are encouraged to attend quarterly Board meetings and volunteer to participate in committees that run the Trust.
Control begins by selecting Members to join the Trust that are like-minded in their desire to control their cost of Workers' Comp. It is important to know that there is a selection process for Membership in the Sigma-One Trust. All Members must pass a baseline underwriting criteria that provide a better chance that a new Member will be a successful participant in the Trust. To assure that every Member is a "good" Member, the Trust "Re-Underwrites" every Member, every year. If a Member is not cooperative with loss control or claims representatives, does not work to return injured workers to work in a timely fashion, does not have regular safety committee meetings or even pay their premium on time, they may be subject to disciplinary action. That disciplinary action can include everything from a written warning to termination of their Membership. The goal is that for the Trust to be successful, everyone needs to do their part and if a Member is not willing to do their part, they put the other Members at risk and that is not tolerated.
Sigma takes the worry out of insurance claims
The likelihood of claims, and the severity of them, is reduced through the use of consistent, proactive loss control services. The least expensive claim to pay is the one that never happens because Member companies have good, proactive loss control programs.
Managing the cost of claims is the next important step in the process of controlling the cost of Workers' compensation. If claims are "managed" by experienced claims adjusters and not processed, there is a greater degree of cost control already in place. Getting the right treatment, at the right time at the right price is critical in minimizing the cost of a claim and returning an injured worker to full capacity in a timely manner.
Sigma-One uses a system of Claims Adjusters, Nurse Case Managers and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors to absolutely minimize the time away from work and the cost of that time away. We also utilize a Managed Care Network or doctors that are proactive in returning injured workers to work in alternative jobs until they are fully capable of returning to their normal duties. We are also able to capitalize on the discounts available to this Managed Care Network that save the Trust hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in medical costs.
Control of claims and their incumbent costs is critical and can only be achieved with a proper level of professional service. That service is provided to the Trust by Comp-Sigma Ltd. of Concord, NH.
