Pinnacol Assurance
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Operational scope / geography - Pinnacol is Colorado’s leading workers’ compensation carrier and residual market mechanism; core focus is Colorado employers, with an Other States Coverage (OSC) program written on Zurich paper for multistate needs. - OSC is available even if the insured is not headquartered in Colorado, but accounts must have a strong Colorado presence. Colorado itself remains on the Pinnacol policy; Zurich OSC cannot include Colorado. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) - Zurich OSC is written on an all‑states basis with certain exclusions; U.S. territories (e.g., Guam, Puerto Rico) cannot be written. Alaska, Hawaii, and monopolistic states are generally excluded but may be considered in limited circumstances. Specific states may be excluded on a case‑by‑case basis and listed in Part 3.C. of the policy. Preferred / target business (OSC workers comp) - Multistate employers with meaningful Colorado operations needing coordinated workers comp across states. - Accounts that fit standard WC exposures and are not in the high‑hazard or excluded categories listed in the OSC guidelines (see Declined/Restricted below). - Accounts seeking long‑term, sustainable WC relationships; Pinnacol messages a desire to retain OSC business rather than write short‑term and non‑renew. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) Restricted or declined classes – OSC program Pinnacol states the following exposures "may be outside" current OSC underwriting guidelines and should be assumed typically declined or requiring significant underwriting discussion: - Aviation/aircraft: all aircraft or aviation exposures, including airport operations, servicing, maintenance, aircraft dealers/distributors, storage, and aircraft parts manufacturing. - Weapons / explosives / high‑hazard public safety: ammunition manufacturing/transport/storage or waste ordnance remediation; explosive operations and fireworks manufacturing/sales/storage/transport; firearms manufacturing/sales/distribution/repair; rifle/pistol/skeet/trap ranges; firefighters and emergency responders; Defense Base Act; USL&H. - Heavy construction / catastrophe‑prone operations: bridge/tunnel/elevated highway work; catastrophe/restoration construction; nuclear or environmental construction or cleanup; storm chasers; traffic control/barricades; roofing of all kinds (including incidental outside sales, supervisors, independent contractors); logging; mining; avalanche control. - High occupational disease or environmental exposures: black lung/brown lung; coal, oil sands, oil shales; disease‑loaded work (floods, fires, mold, debris, asbestos, lead, etc.); occupational disease exposures such as silica, heavy metals, asbestos, noise, radiation (other than sudden/accidental events where employees are not normally exposed); remediation work; paint/varnish manufacturing; grain milling or elevator operations; feedlots. - Transportation / mobile risk: armored car services; conveyance and livery; towing; moving and storage. - Personnel models and special populations: employee leasing companies or master PEOs; migrant and seasonal workers; volunteers; professional athletic teams. - Cannabis and related: marijuana, cannabis, CBD, hemp risks. - International / tribal: international and U.S. territory exposures; tribal relations/jurisdictions/sovereign nation risks. - Other: coming out of a self‑insured pool; guarantee/insolvency funds; blood banks; detective agencies/penal systems/arms‑bearing persons/security training facilities; extreme sports/white water rafting. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) Submission requirements – OSC (Zurich policy) - New OSC quotes: - Complete ACORD workers compensation application. - Currently valued 3–10 years of loss runs. - Detailed description of operations by state/location, including relevant safety information. - List of any special circumstances, including requested endorsements, deductibles, limits, experience mod worksheet (if applicable), etc. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) - For existing policies: - Use ACORD change form for edits; use a complete ACORD if adding a new OSC exposure to an existing policy. - Submission channel: - Submit OSC applications to the Pinnacol OSC underwriter directly, or via the Agent Quote app in Pinnacol’s Agency Portal (online submission accepted). ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) - Service standards: - Underwriting goal is to complete most OSC quotes within 3–5 business days from complete submission. - Issuance & renewal: - New OSC policies are effective only on a future date; no backdating for brand‑new OSC policies, consistent with Colorado policy quote/bind/issue standards. - For existing Zurich OSC policies, new state exposures identified midterm or at audit can potentially be backdated if criteria in Part 3.C. are met; underwriters follow an internal backdating review process. - Effective 1/1/2022 and later, OSC policies automatically renew unless Pinnacol or the policyholder provides written notice of non‑renewal or renewal premium is unpaid. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) - Limits & deductibles: - Deductibles do not have to match by state, but Pinnacol expects Employers Liability limits to match between Pinnacol’s Colorado policy and the Zurich OSC policy to avoid unintended “excess” layering issues when limits are exceeded. ([assets-global.website-files.com](https://assets-global.website-files.com/5d710ad86986a61c7247fe82/61707a8a14957e530eb4f69d_OSC%20Instruction%20Guide%20for%20Agents%20FINAL.pdf)) Broker / producer notes - OSC underwriting is handled by a consolidated team of specialized underwriters; agents are encouraged to contact their Pinnacol OSC underwriter with questions or borderline classes. - Applications may be submitted via email directly to the OSC underwriter or through the Agent Quote app in the Pinnacol Agency Portal. - OSC losses are currently not included in agency profit‑sharing loss ratios; Pinnacol may change this as data reporting improves and will notify agencies if that occurs. - Additional compensation: OSC premium counts toward new business incentive thresholds when combined with Colorado premium. - OSC policy information (installments and policy packets) is viewable on Agent and Policyholder Portals; OSC claims are viewable on Zurich’s RiskIntelligence Express; agents should work through their Agency Relationship Manager for support. Core Colorado WC appetite - Public‑facing content emphasizes that Pinnacol serves Colorado employers of all sizes and industries ("from pavers to trailblazers, food purveyors to craft brew makers, and home builders to peach growers"), indicating a broad appetite for in‑state WC subject to standard hazard and rate considerations. ([get.pinnacol.com](https://get.pinnacol.com/partner-with-an-agent/?utm_source=openai)) - For detailed, class‑by‑class Colorado appetite, agents should work directly with their Pinnacol underwriter or Agency Relationship Manager; the OSC guide is the primary published underwriting detail currently available.