Q&A: Employers Ask about Workers’ Comp Q. “Why do some larger Workers’ Comp claims increase premium less over the three-year payback period versus smaller claims that increase premiums more?” A. Frequency of claims as well as severity impact the calculation of the Experience Modification factor. The experience rating formula has a greater impact on the first $5,000 of each claim, and a lesser impact on costs over $5,000. So, one claim of $100,000 will have less of an impact than ten different claims, totaling $100,000. There also is a cap or maximum amount that affects the claim.