Who Provides Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Most employers are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance to protect employees who are injured or become sick due to work conditions. Workers’ comp benefits include payment of medical bills, disability payments for lost wages, rehabilitation and some death benefits. Who is responsible for buying workers’ comp insurance and how is it provided?

How Do Employers Get Workers’ Comp Insurance?  

Employers have three avenues to get workers’ comp insurance. First, the employer could purchase a policy from a third-party insurance company, similar to buying auto or homeowners’ insurance. In some states, the state has a system in which employers can pay into to make sure employees are covered. The state manages the system much like an insurance company would, but premiums are kept low for small businesses because the money is pooled. Larger businesses may self-insure their employees and keep a fund for workers’ comp benefits. These businesses are usually overseen by the regulatory agency in the state to ensure workers get all the benefits they deserve.

How Do Employees Receive Workers’ Comp Benefits?

To receive benefits under workers’ comp, a person must be an employee of the company. Freelancers, contractors and consultants do not qualify. Second, the employee must have been injured in a job-related function. Being on the clock isn’t necessary, nor is it required that the employee be injured at work. If you were attending a trade show for the business and were injured, your injuries should be covered.

When an employee is injured at work, the first priority is that the individual gets medical treatment. It should be documented that the injury occurred at work. Once the person is safe, the employee needs to make a report to the workplace. It’s recommended that this report be made in writing to a supervisor or someone in management. The employee will then give the employee instructions on how to file a claim. Injured employees should hold on to all medical bills and track expenses associated with their injuries. Think about lost wages, time traveling to doctor’s appointments and mileage.

Workers’ compensation benefits are generally received quite fast. Medical bills should be paid quickly. If you are out of work, you should get a check for a percentage of your wages while you are out. This is one benefit of workers’ comp. Employees used to have to sue their employers under the personal injury system. This meant that the employee had to wait for the case to settle before receiving compensation.If you aren’t getting benefits under workers’ compensation, you may need to speak to an attorney, like one of the workers’ comp lawyers in Milwaukee, WI from Hickey & Turim, SC, who can help you find a solution.