Get Workers Compensation Help
The number of workers compensation claims filed in the United States each year has doubled in the last ten years, and is expected to continue to rise. While workers compensation policies are required by federal law and provide crucial protections for employees who experience work-related injuries or illnesses, they are not designed to be a substitute for private health insurance. The following guide can help you identify the appropriate circumstances under which you should apply for this type of coverage.
More than 91% of all U.S. workers have employer-sponsored health insurance. Employers are required to provide coverage for their employees by law, but they do not have to purchase the same amount of health insurance coverage that those employees receive. Although the federal government’s requirement for employer-sponsored health insurance has made coverage affordable for most Americans, the law also contains some loopholes and exclusions that can leave employees without adequate protection in the event of a serious illness or injury at work. Workers compensation insurance is intended to fill that gap.
Workers compensation insurance is a form of short-term, no-fault health insurance coverage reserved for employees of private sector employers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. It provides medical and disability coverage up to maximum benefits levels in a court of law, and also provides wage replacement and rehabilitation benefits for up to 60 days. Workers compensation policies are required by federal law, and provide crucial protections for employees injured at work. The purpose behind the laws and regulations that establish employer-sponsored health insurance programs is to make coverage affordable for employees in a wide variety of circumstances, from those who are healthy to those who are sick. Workers compensation insurance fills an important gap in many workers’ health insurance coverage.
There are three types of workers compensation policies: short-term disability, long-term disability and medical payments. A worker can purchase one or more of these policies simultaneously, according to his or her needs and financial situation. They cover injuries and illnesses that occur at the workplace, as well as injuries and illnesses that develop outside of work.
Many employers purchase short-term disability coverage for their employees. Short-term disability insurance is designed to pay medical expenses related to an injury or illness that occurs within a specific period of time, less than three months. A worker may consider purchasing short-term disability in addition to the other types of workers compensation policies if he or she experiences a temporary loss of income while recovering from an injury or illness.
Long-term disability insurance may also be recommended for purchase by a worker’s employer. Long-term disability coverage is provided by many employers as part of an employee benefits package, but it can also be purchased independently. This type of coverage provides wage replacement benefits in addition to medical expenses and other compensation. It becomes available after a specified period has passed, usually 12 months, and will continue to pay out if the worker is unable to return to work because of an illness or injury.