Many workers worry about how they will pay for medical treatment if they get hurt at work. Luckily, workers’ compensation does cover medical bills. Knowing this can help reduce the stress that comes with workplace injuries and help workers protect their rights.
What benefits does workers’ comp offer?
Workers’ compensation is insurance that helps workers who get hurt or sick because of their job. These benefits ensure that workers get medical care without paying from their own pocket, support for the wages they lose as a result of their injuries, retraining and other support.
What medical bills can workers’ comp cover?
The cost of a work-related injury can vary depending on your situation, as can the support workers’ comp offers. Workers’ comp can cover a variety of reasonable treatment for work-related injuries or illnesses, including:
- Emergency medical treatment: If you have an accident at work, workers’ comp covers visits to the emergency room or urgent care to stabilize you. Receiving care as soon as possible is important to treat injuries effectively.
- Doctor visits: Workers’ comp pays for your visits to healthcare providers for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. Regular visits help make sure your injury is healing well and let doctors change your treatment if needed.
- Hospitalization: If your injury or illness requires a hospital stay, workers’ comp will cover the costs, including surgery and other necessary treatments.
- Prescription medications: Workers’ comp also covers medications your healthcare provider prescribes. This includes both short-term prescriptions for pain management and long-term medications for ongoing treatment.
- Rehabilitation and therapy: Recovery from some injuries might need physical therapy, occupational therapy or other types of rehab. Workers’ comp covers these therapies to help you get back to full health and return to work.
- Medical equipment: If your injury requires using medical devices like crutches, wheelchairs or braces, workers’ comp will pay for these to help in your recovery.
- Specialist consultations: Sometimes, an injury might need a specialist’s care. This may include seeing doctors like an orthopedic surgeon or a neurologist. Workers’ compensation covers these specialist visits, allowing employees to receive comprehensive care.
These benefits can not only help you with the cost of care immediately after your injury but for ongoing care as you recover.
How can you get benefits to help with medical costs?
Once a work-related injury occurs, the employee should report the incident to their employer as soon as possible. The employer is responsible for filing a claim with their workers’ comp insurance provider. After you file your claim, the insurance provider will evaluate it to determine eligibility. If approved, the insurance will cover the medical expenses outlined in the policy. You will also receive compensation for the cost of treatment you received before the provider approved your claim.
It is important to act quickly after a workplace injury.
Workers’ compensation can offer vital help after your job impacts your health. However, it is important to act quickly to ensure that you receive support for your medical care. If you do not tell your employer about the injury within 90 days, you could lose out on benefits.
Delays can also impact your health. Waiting to seek treatment can lead to health complications. The insurance provider may even claim that your injuries were not serious or were not related to your work.
If you or someone you know suffered an injury the job, do not wait to get the help you need. Understanding your rights and the benefits available to you through workers’ comp can make all the difference. Reach out to a knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorney to offer guidance during the claims process and fight for the medical care and financial support you deserve.