A new report from the National Academy of Social Insurance found that the number of workers covered by workers’ compensation dropped by 4.4 percent in 2009. That’s the biggest decline in two decades. Employer costs for benefits fell by 7.6 percent to $73.9 billion, which is due to the overall decline in jobs.

The main reason for this drop is the decline in employment, according to officials. “As one might expect, when the Great Recession hit, employers paid less in workers’ compensation costs because there were fewer workers to cover,” said John F. Burton, Jr., chair of the panel that oversees the report. “Although the drop in employer costs represents the biggest decrease in the last two decades, benefits increased slightly by 0.4 percent to $58.3 billion, reflecting in part benefits provided in 2009 to workers injured in prior years.”

In 2009, the total benefits paid to injured workers increased in 23 states as well as in the District of Columbia. Benefits declined in the other 27 states compared to 2008. The study also shows that payments for medical care declined for the first time in a decade by just over 1 percent to $28.9 billion. Employers paid a total of $73.9 billion for workers’ comp which equals out to about $1.30 per $100 of payroll. That’s the lowest in more than three decades.

Residents in Kansas can now sign up for child-only health insurance. The legislation, signed into law in early June allows children  under the age of 19 to be included in insurance plans provided there is no similar, child-only coverage available at the county level. Many Kansas insurance providers stopped selling insurance to those under the age of 19 and this new law fills a void.

Any minor unable to purchase or obtain individual health insurance can now be included in the state’s high risk pool which is handled by the Kansas Health Insurance Association, or KHIA. “Now, those families that need a child-only policy can seek coverage through the KHIA plan if they meet the new eligibility requirements,” Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance, said in a news release. “It provides a starting point for a Kansas-based solution to a coverage problem. We appreciate the understanding of Gov. Brownback and the Kansas Legislature in supporting this change.”

In New York, parents with children under the age of 19 who need health insurance can not be denied health coverage due to pre-existing conditions thanks to a new law signed in late April. If a parent applies for insurance and is approved, then the child will also be approved.

If a parent is not applying for coverage, the application is known as a “child-only plan.” SB-11-128 mandates that child-only plans will be sold only during two open enrollment periods during the year — the month of August for this year. Starting in 2012, it will be the month of January and July. If a parent is not signing up, then the best time to sign up for “child-only” policies in New York is during August which is the open enrollment period. The situation is similar to Kansas and other states looking for a temporary solution until health care reform takes full effect. “The new law provides a temporary solution until 2014, when all health plans are required by law to provide coverage without consideration of health status,” Praeger said.

In the past as soon as college graduates grabbed their degrees they had to worry about finding a job with benefits. Typically insurance plans stopped coverage once school was done for good. But new changes in health care reform mean that adult children can stay under their parents’ plans until they are 26.

The LA Times talked to 22-year-old Boston University graduate Rochelle O’Sullivan who says she’s relieved she can keep her mom’s coverage. O’Sullivan broker her hip during a fall and needs good health coverage while she heals. “I’m worried about getting a job, getting experience,”  the mass communications major told the newspaper. “And if that means taking a job without insurance, I’d do that.”

The new law even covers adult children who don’t live at home and who may be married. But if the twenty-something-year-olds do find a job with benefits, they can’t opt to stay on their parents’ plan. For some recent grads that means they’ll give up mom and dad’s good coverage for entry level benefits that may not be as good.

According to a news release, WellPoint, the country’s largest public health insurer says they’ve seen the addition of 280,000 new members who fall under this new dependent provision. Aetna added roughly 100,000 young adults, Kaiser Permanente about 90,000 and Highmark says they saw an additional 72,000 young people added on. US Health and Human Services estimates that up to 1.2 million young adults will likely sign up during 2011.

Witnessing car accidents can be a scary event. The shock of the moment often leaves people in a panic wondering what to do, who to call or where to go. A new State Farm survey found that plenty of people are confused about their obligations and responsibilities when it comes to witnessing auto accidents.

Going Through Insurance

Roughly half of those surveyed felt that it was against the law to leave an accident unreported to an insurance company. Four in ten felt it was OK to not go through insurance.

Naming a Witness

There was also confusion over who constitutes a witness in the event of a car accident. Nearly 75% of Americans felt that they are a witness if they are within 100 feet of the accident. Two-thirds felt that being a witness means you’re not involved in the actual incident.

Saying Sorry

One third of those surveyed felt that saying “I’m sorry” would also admit fault and imply legal liability in the event of an accident.

Pulling Over

The majority of those surveyed say they would most likely stop if they saw an accident that didn’t involve them. Eighty-three percent would pull over.

State Farm now has a new website that will help answer question and make clarifications for drivers. “We found that many consumers look online seeking answers about auto insurance, but don’t have a resource, outside of the Auto Learning Center, to go to that offers independent, credible information,” stated Patty Gaumond in a news release, State Farm Assistant Vice President, Enterprise Internet Solutions. “When we designed the Auto Learning Center, we made sure to include perspective and tips from third-party experts and everyday consumers who can give visitors what they need: credible answers to their real-life questions. Auto insurance is important, yet can be a complicated topic for many people,” added Gaumond in the news release.  ”The Learning Center gives consumers access to the resources they need, when they need them, from the sources they trust the most.  We’re not trying to create insurance experts, but we do want consumers to know enough so that they can make the kinds of decisions that provide peace of mind and maximize value.”