What Types of Benefits Are Covered by Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation insurance is a benefit provided by your employer in case you are injured at work. Most states require employers to carry workers’ compensation insurance to provide certain types of benefits. It’s a win-win for employers and employees to have this insurance. Employers are protected against most civil personal injury lawsuits if an employee does have an injury. Employees get benefits quicker than if they had to go through the court system. Here are the four categories of worker’s comp benefits that you can expect. Specific coverage details vary by policy and state requirements.

Medical Treatment  

Workers’ comp insurance covers the medical treatment costs that you incur after a work-related injury or illness. This includes doctor’s appointments, hospital treatment, medications and therapy treatments. It may also include crutches or wheelchairs that you might need to use while you’re recovering. Generally, the first treatment, whether at the emergency room or doctor’s office is covered without question. However, some treatments may require approval before the insurance will pay for it. You may have to go to healthcare provides within a certain network, depending on the insurance plan.

Disability Benefits

If you are unable to work because of your covered workplace injury, workers’ comp benefits generally include paying a percentage of your lost wages. It might be a temporary situation, where you’re just out of work for a couple of weeks, but it can also be a permanent situation, where you’re never able to go back to work.

Rehabilitation Benefits

Workers’ compensation insurance has benefits that help you cope with your illness and recover. This might include physical or occupational therapy. You may also get vocational rehab to help you learn new skills to return to work. If the injury prevents you from returning to your job, you may be able to get education or training to help you find new employment.

Death and Funeral Benefits

Workers’ compensation insurance also provides benefits to the employee’s family in case of a death. In most cases, these benefits are only available to immediate family members, such as a spouse, dependent children or elderly parents who are dependent on the employee. Beneficiaries may receive lost wages to ease their financial burden. In many states, adult children of the employee cannot receive death benefits except to pay for the funeral costs. The limits for these benefits are usually determined by the state or insurance policy.

If you believe that your employer is not giving you all the benefits you need after a work-related injury, you may want to contact a Milwaukee work injury lawyer to determine the best way to proceed.

Thanks to Hickey & Turim, SC for their insight into workers compensation and types of covered benefits.