
Underwriting
Your solution for custom coverage.

Custom Underwriting
At PERMA, our underwriting process begins with each member getting individually evaluated according to their own exposures, their focus on safety and their own loss experience. We partner together to verify exposures both through on-site inspections and year-end payroll audits to provide you with the best coverage. This thorough process allows each member to pay their fair and equitable share. PERMA members face lower administrative costs by being part of our group self-insurance plan and unpredictable member losses are typically paid by both excess insurance and/or PERMA surplus funds.
Our Underwriters’ tenure at PERMA allows relationships to develop promoting our individualized and personalized service throughout the renewal and new member processes. Additionally, all our Senior Underwriters obtain the prestigious WCP (Workers’ Compensation Professional) designation, as well as other accolades.
If you ever have any concerns and/or questions regarding your renewal pricing or options, our Underwriters, along with your designated Broker are ready to help!

Membership in PERMA includes access to valuable training programs, services & benefits that elsewhere are additional expenses.
Eligible Members
New York State municipal organizations that wish to join PERMA must have taxing authority and a unique (not shared) Federal Employer Identification Number. These stipulations exclude certain municipal types from membership, including ambulance companies and community colleges.
PERMA’s membership currently includes:
- Bridge Authorities
- Cities
- Counties
- Development Authorities
- Fire Districts
- Housing Authorities
- Libraries
- Park Districts
- Parking Districts
- Port Districts
- Sanitation Districts
- Schools
- Towns
- Urban Renewal Districts
- Villages
- Water Boards & Districts
- Water Pollution Control Districts
FAQs
While it is possible to work directly with PERMA, we strongly recommend working with a broker to further enhance PERMA’s value and to help continually evaluate your coverage needs. The cost to join PERMA does not increase if there is a broker or not named on your contract.
Below are some key reasons:
- Group Self-Insurers, like PERMA, provide exceptional value through tailored risk management programs, personalized claim service and are owned and governed by our members.
- A majority of NYS public entities are self-insured while PERMA currently has over 600 members including Towns, Villages, Counties, Cities, Schools, Fire Districts, Housing Authorities, Bridge Authorities and more.
- Our claims adjusters work only with public entity clients. When these workers are injured, they are subject to a variety of public service contracts that have specialized needs, such as police, fire, DPW, bridge workers, parks, recreation, etc. Our expert claims staff and risk management specialists are more equipped to handle injuries to these classes of business compared to private companies.
- Choosing group self-insurance, safety becomes a priority. When safety and risk management are the key focuses in the workplace, everyone benefits.
PERMA is a public entity group self-insurer, owned by our members and funded by members annual contributions to the group, not by premiums. Surplus is owned by the membership, not by stockholders. Private commercial insurance companies collect premiums and are not owned by their insureds.
Contact your broker or underwriter to initiate this process. A review of your history with PERMA including loss history and exposure level will be conducted. If this offer is not immediately available, a discussion with your underwriter, broker and risk management team may produce a path to a multi-year option in a short time.
PERMA believes it is best for all of the members to have a payroll audit completed to ensure contributions are being appropriately calculated according to the actual exposures that exist. Members do have the option of the contribution change waived in advance to provide budget stability. The date received from a payroll audit is valuable and helps determine that no member is subsidizing another’s based on incorrect payroll estimates over the long term.
Yes. PERMA regularly provides VFBL coverage, but also VAWBL (Volunteer Ambulance) coverage. These coverages are typically added as endorsement to the members contract; however, can also be issued as a separate coverage document.
Employer’s Liability coverage is separate coverage from Workers’ Compensation. In New York, it is normally provided along with the traditional Workers’ Compensation contract. It provides coverage for members in the event of a third-party lawsuit that is the result of an employee’s injury. For example, a third-party that may bear some responsibility for an accident who could be sued by the employee and then name the employer in a counter suit. In this instance, Employer’s Liability may be triggered. This coverage also provides for punitive damages. Currently, PERMA includes the coverage on an unlimited basis. Many excess carriers have put sub-limits on this coverage, be sure to carefully review your contract.
For More Information
Al Campney
Deputy Executive Director for External Relations
888-737-6269, ext. 130
acampney@perma.org
Learn More About Our Services
PERMA's Mission
PERMA strives to be the best partner to public employers in New York State by providing Workers’ Compensation coverage, customized workplace solutions, delivering exceptional value with membership, and prioritizing personal and dedicated service to members and their employees.
Partners
PERMA is proud to partner with:
New York State School Boards Association
New York State Association of Counties
New York State Association of Chiefs of Police
New York State Association of Fire Chiefs
Vendor Partners:
Lexipol
NYS – LTAP Cornell Local Roads Program
Public Sector HR Consultants