Every job comes with certain risks. Truckers might throw out their backs while loading a trailer or might sustain injuries in a crash. Health care professionals are vulnerable to assault and exposure to infectious materials.
Thankfully, workers in all kinds of different careers can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Individuals hurt on the job may qualify for benefits. People may also be able to seek benefits for work-acquired medical issues, such as occupational diseases.
Injured employees are often unsure of what rights and protections they have. What kind of support can injured workers generally expect to receive?
1. Medical benefits
Even professionals who receive health insurance through their employees often have to pay quite a bit for their care. Insurance companies often make workers responsible for deductibles before the company covers any care. They may have to pay co-insurance or a percentage of their overall costs.
Workers’ compensation can cover all necessary treatment costs provided that the physician overseeing the claim agrees that it is necessary. Workers don’t have to pay out of pocket for surgery, medication or physical therapy.
2. Disability benefits
Workers’ compensation can help replace a professional’s lost wages. Many workers simply need temporary disability benefits. They need time away from work to heal or undergo treatment. Workers’ compensation can provide them with temporary total disability benefits that cover up to two-thirds of their wages until they return to work.
If workers can perform some job tasks but not their usual functions, they might be eligible for temporary partial disability benefits. Workers’ compensation can supplement their reduced wages until they return to their usual pay.
In scenarios where the injured employee does not make a full recovery, they might receive permanent disability benefits. There are total permanent disability benefits available for those who can never return to work. There are also permanent partial disability benefits available for those who lose income by changing professions.
3. Death benefits
In the tragic scenario where a worker loses their life on the job or because of an employment-related illness, workers’ compensation can help. Family members can receive income replacement benefits that are comparable to disability benefits. There is also a funeral benefit available that can cover up to $5,000 in burial, cremation or memorial service expenses.
The right support can help allow a worker to focus on their physical recovery while someone else manages most of the red tape and paperwork. Securing support early in the workers’ compensation claim process can help injured professionals optimize their recovery and minimize their stress.