What Does Workers' Compensation Provide?
On an
accepted workers’ compensation claim there are four potential benefits. Not every
worker receives every benefit. The benefits received depend upon the type and severity of the
injury.
The four benefits are:
-
Medical Coverage: Medical expenses
are 100% covered under workers' compensation, with no co-pay and no deductible. Not only are all actual medical expenses
covered such as doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, etc.; but, prescriptions are covered 100%, and mileage is reimbursed if
it is submitted for reimbursement by the worker.
-
Time Loss Benefits: Time loss benefits are paid on accepted claims if the attending physician takes the
worker completely off work, or if the worker is released only to modified work but there is no modified work
available. (These authorizations/modifications must be in writing from
the doctor.) Time loss benefits are usually two-thirds (2/3) the worker’s
gross pay, but they are tax free. There is a maximum cap on time loss
benefits.
-
Permanent Partial
Disability: When a worker
becomes medically stationary he is no longer entitled to time loss benefits and, instead, is rated for permanent partial
disability. This usually means permanent loss of function, such as loss of range of
motion or loss of strength, or permanent work restrictions. Permanent partial disability
is determined based on objective medical evidence provided by the doctor, and calculated by use of Administrative Rules
covering the types of losses for which compensation is allowed.
-
Vocational
Rehabilitation: If an injured worker has so much permanent partial disability that they cannot return to their
regular work, or any other kind of work which they know how to do, vocational rehabilitation benefits may be
appropriate. This benefit covers a broad spectrum, from as little as helping a worker
with a resume or to line up interviews, to a year of retraining with the worker put back on time loss and all costs of retraining
covered. The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to return a worker to some type of
work he can physically do which is within 80% of the wage at date of injury.
DISCLAIMER
THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY.
IT DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL INFORMATION REGARDING RULES AND REGULATIONS ON WORKERS’
COMPENSATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION DIVISION, OR A
QUALIFIED ATTORNEY WHO SPECIALIZES IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.
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