What Is Workers Compensation?

Workers compensation is a type of insurance states require business owners to carry. If a company has more than four employees, they must cover them in the event of injury or illness at work.

This state-mandated social insurance covers wage loss and medical benefits. It also protects the employer against civil litigation. Workers can sue if they’re injured on a job.

The insurance has its limitations and varies by state. But in essence, it serves to protect all parties—employee and employer—in the event of an injury.

How Does Workers Compensation Insurance Work?

Each state regulates workers comp differently, which means coverage varies by state. However, the basics are the same.

Any employee who experiences an occupational illness or work-related injury must report it to the employer. There’re strict timeframes or windows for reporting injuries in each state.

If an employee misses the deadline, they may forfeit receiving benefits. After reporting an injury, the following steps occur:

• Visit an Approved Workers Comp Doctor
• Begin the Claims Process
• File Your Claim
• Start Receiving Benefits
• Get Back to Work (if possible)

Again, the process differs by state. Speak with your employers about the intricate details.

What Work-Related Injuries Get Covered

Workers comp does not cover all injuries and illnesses. You need to know this before you file.

Workers comp does cover repetitive motion injuries from manual labor. It also covers illnesses like diseases resulting from working conditions.

It doesn’t cover injuries unrelated to the work you do. For example, if you clock out and commute for lunch and an injury happens. The insurance won’t cover this. Horseplay that results in your own injury doesn’t give you a right to claim either.

When it comes down to emotional and mental stress injuries, things get tricky. Everyone experiences a certain amount of stress, so many mental health claims go uncovered.

But if you can prove you have a job-related stress injury like heart disease or cancer, file a claim. The courts in most states do recognize these resulting injuries as work-related.

Injuries that a first-aid kit can take of don’t warrant filing a workers comp claim and may not get covered. That includes tiny, minor scrapes or bruises and sometimes headaches.

If your headache is a result of chemical exposure at work, you can file, especially is they’re reoccurring.

Know When to File 

Many people experience the denial of worker comp claims. That’s because they’re unclear of what classifies as work-related injuries.

Don’t let that be you. Keep this guide in mind and know how to file if you suffer an injury.

Need to find a doctor for your injury? Take a look at our medical services and let us get you to the right physician.