Information

2007-2008 CHSA Application & CTBL Participation Agreement
     1) CHSA Workers' Compensation Application
     2) California Thoroughbred Participation Agreement

"FROM WORST TO FIRST"

On December 6, 2002 the California Horsemen’s Safety Alliance (CHSA) was formed to combat California’s ongoing workers’ compensation crisis.

The formation of the CHSA contributed to Governor Schwarzenegger signing AB701 into law on May 13, 2004. The Bill’s passage was the result of a coordinated industry-wide effort to enact law that would provide California racing interests – including owners – some much needed relief from the high cost of workers’ compensation.

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) as an owners’ organization, is committed to ensuring that thoroughbred owners actually receive benefits afforded our industry under this law. The best means of doing so is to educate individual owners as to the details of several new programs created as a result of this law.

*Estimated average for a midsized racing stables Statistics compiled by NCCI and a survey of various equine insurances brokers Nationwide.

**New York covers jockeys and exercise riders in a separate fund paid for by owners. Perforated line above indicates true cost of workers’ compensation in New York.

***2004 through 2007 rates factor in subsidy provided by California Thoroughbred Business League (CTBL) through legislative bill increasing takeout on exotic wagering.

PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY
On May 1, 2006 the TOC was able to successfully add an Alternative Employer Endorsement to all CHSA policies. The TOC worked the California Department of Insurance to add this endorsement for all owners insured through the CHSA program. For further information on this important endorsement contact the TOC office for a copy.

A FAIR AND EASY SYSTEM
Rates are based on per horse per day method of payment. This methodology ensures that all participants pay their fair share, protects the financial integrity of the program, and allows for an easier auditing process. The CTBL subsidy pays for jock starts. NO OWNER WITH A TRAINER IN THE CHSA PROGRAM SHOULD RECIEVE A BILL FOR JOCK STARTS!!!!

PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED AND EXPERIENCED CLAIMS SERVICING TEAM
The CHSA has over 5 years experience dealing with the unique risk the thoroughbred racing industry poses to insurance markets. The professional team at the CHSA, MOC and AIG are the foremost experts in this field. Sonia Pishehvar serves as the program administrator of the CHSA and John Unick serves as the broker from MOC Insurance Services on the CHSA program. A large part of the financial success of the CHSA program is the behind the scenes implementation of preferred provider networks, loss control, claims reviews, etc. Please feel free to contact Sonia Pishehvar or John Unick for questions on the CHSA program.

March 13, 2007

Attention All CHSA Insured Trainers,

You will receive a “conditional notice of non-renewal” that your rates may go up by more than 25% or more from AIG (American Home Insurance Company) in the next few days. Carriers are required by the California Department of Insurance to send such letters just in case the carrier was to determine the need to increase premiums. Conditional non-renewal letters are sent out as a standard operating procedure. These same letters have been sent to you for the past three years.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances CHSA rates should remain the same, if not drop, while other States rates have been rising at alarming levels. Renewal negotiations are currently taking place towards this goal. The addition of the subsidy provided by the CTBL, through the last year’s legislative efforts combined with the formation of the CHSA, paints an extremely positive insurance outlook for California racing's future. In fact, the compounded economic effect puts California at a competitive level with the rising insurance rates in other racing jurisdictions. California is well on its way to becoming one of the most desirable States in the nation for workers compensation costs.

The CHSA platform is one that many other States are looking to model. MOC Insurance Services continues to play a leading role in actively solving the complex insurance problems in the industry throughout the United States.

Please stay tuned to the latest CHSA news by checking in at our website www.mocins.com. Your renewal packets for 2007/2008 will arrive in your mailbox the first week in May.

Stay safe,

John Patrick Unick
Vice President, National Sales Manager


Welcome to the California Horsemen’s Safety Alliance Website!

Here you can find answers to your questions about claims, find links to new articles and relevant websites, and email the CHSA risk manager and brokers. You can also complete and print a CHSA application online!

The CHSA Workers’ Compensation program began in December 2002 in response to the workers’ compensation crisis facing thoroughbred trainers in California. The program is a partially self insured captive back by collateral from the thoroughbred racetracks and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

The purpose of the CHSA is to oversee a workers’ compensation program for licensed California thoroughbred trainers in order to reduce cost and increase claims efficiency.