Different Types of Workers Compensation

Medical Care

Workers’ compensation typically covers necessary medical expenses for job-related injuries and illnesses. This may include hospital and emergency room visits, doctor’s appointments, medications, and medical equipment such as wheelchairs and crutches. With the exception of emergency care, you may be required to get advance authorization for medical treatment. Experimental, investigative, and alternative treatments are generally not covered.

Disability

Disability benefits are designed to compensate injury victims while they’re unable to work. They fall into four categories:

• Temporary Total Disability: The employee is unable to work due to a covered injury or illness, but only temporarily. Eventually, the employee will return to work at full capacity.
• Temporary Partial Disability: The employee is able to perform work functions at a reduced capacity. For example, the employee’s doctor may say that four-hour workdays are appropriate during recovery.
• Permanent Partial Disability: The employee is able to return to work at some point, but not at full capacity. For instance, a typist with a permanent hand injury may be able to do the job, but not with the same efficiency as before the injury.
• Permanent Total Disability: The employee is unable to work at all and will not be able to return to the job at any point.

Rehabilitation

Workers’ compensation insurance provides financial assistance for medical and therapeutic care such as physical therapy to help the employee manage an injury or illness. It can also provide vocational rehabilitation to cover the costs of learning new skills. That way, the employee can perform the duties of a new position if they can no longer carry out their former role.

Death

When an employee dies as a result of a work-related injury or illness, some states provide benefits to their relatives. These benefits are generally intended to compensate financially dependent family members.

Oftentimes, employers and their insurance companies dispute or attempt to deny benefits. If this happens to you, contact Morgan & Morgan. We can handle every step of the process to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Fill out a free legal case evaluation to get started today.