Workers injured on the job or who acquire medical conditions due to their job responsibilities may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. There are two main types of benefits available through workers’ compensation.
If employees have to take time away from work or restrict their job functions, they may qualify for disability benefits. Disability benefits can replace a portion of a worker’s lost wages. There are several types of disability benefits depending on an employee’s ability to work and how long their symptoms last. Workers may also qualify for medical benefits.
The medical coverage available through workers’ compensation is useful for employees in need of treatment. Unlike health insurance, which imposes costs on patients, workers’ compensation provides full medical coverage. There is no deductible to meet or coinsurance due from the patient. Workers’ compensation can pay for any necessary treatments related to an employee’s job-acquired medical condition. How long do those benefits last?
Until the worker recovers
Most workplace injuries only cause temporary medical issues. People with broken bones or strained joints eventually make a full recovery and can return to their jobs full-time. Medical benefits are no longer necessary when someone’s condition fully resolves after treatment. In cases where people have lingering symptoms despite returning to work, they could be eligible for benefits to cover their symptom management needs, such as medications.
When treatment stops helping
Workers’ compensation only pays for treatment that is medically necessary and effective. The doctor overseeing a worker’s care may eventually determine that they have stopped responding to treatment despite still having symptoms. The doctor may submit documentation asserting that the worker has achieved maximum medical improvement (MMI). At that point, treatment-related coverage typically ends.
Injured employees may still be eligible for symptom management benefits and may qualify for permanent partial disability benefits. The greater the impact that their condition has on their job performance, the greater the potential for permanent partial disability benefits.
In some cases, doctors overseeing workers’ compensation treatment plans may make mistakes when gauging a worker’s recovery or chances of recovering. Employees may need support as they pursue the maximum benefits possible. Obtaining support during a workers’ compensation claim can limit the stress that the injured employee faces. An attorney assisting with the claim can educate a worker about their rights and manage much of the claims process on their behalf.