If your Alaska workers’ comp claim was denied, you may have resources available to fight the denial and receive the benefits you need. Employees who were denied workers’ compensation in Alaska have the ability to file an appeal and potentially receive benefits that can be used to pay for medical bills and other daily living needs while you recover from your injuries. Speak with a workers’ compensation attorney in Alaska today if your claim was denied to determine if you may be eligible for a settlement. Programs For Alaska’s Employees The Division of Workers’ Compensation is the agency that oversees Alaska’s workers’ comp programs. Alaska has a private workers’ compensation insurance market, meaning that your employer can purchase workers’ compensation insurance from any licensed agency in the state. In Alaska, it’s illegal for businesses with at least one employee to not have workers’ compensation insurance. Reasons For Potential Workers’ Comp Denial There are many reasons why your workers’ compensation claim may have been denied in Alaska. If you are one of the following types of employees, your Alaskan workers’ compensation claim will always be denied: You’re the sole owner of a business, or you’re an equal business partner with one other person You’re an officer in a nonprofit organization You’re a non-commercial cleaner You’re a part-time or temporary worker You’re a taxi driver working on a contract All other employees in Alaska could be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim, so long as the injury happened on company property or while you were working. If your claim was denied and you were not an excluded employee, you should file an appeal as soon as possible. In Alaska, you only have two years after the point of injury to file a workers’ compensation claim. Filing a Workers’ Comp Appeal in Alaska If your claim is denied, you can file an appeal with the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board. This appeal needs to be filed within two years of your injury OR two years after your last workers’ compensation payment was receive. Otherwise, your claim’s statute of limitations will expire. The form needed to start the appeals process is Form 07-6106. Your employer’s insurance company will have three weeks to respond to your appeal. From there, you will be interviewed by your insurance company, medical experts, and others. Once evidence is gathered on behalf of your workers’ compensation claim, you will need to present your case in front of a judge. Speaking With a Workers’ Compensation Attorney Appealing a workers’ compensation denial in Alaska can be a lengthy and stressful process. It may take months to schedule a hearing, and your employer’s insurance company will gather as much evidence as possible to prove that your denial was justified. If you’d like assistance appealing a denied workers’ comp claim, you should speak with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible. A workers’ comp attorney in Alaska will be well versed with your state’s workers’ compensation laws and could dramatically increase your odds of approval.
