Workers’ compensation insurance is not the same as health insurance which you may already have been taking out by yourself or contributing to with your employer in co-payments. Workers’ comp. is an insurance scheme which covers injuries and illnesses which are solely work related. It helps to pay for medical treatment and part, but usually not all, of any lost earnings while off work because of treatment or the need to recover at home. While off work, health insurance contributions that you normally make will not be deducted. Your own and your family’s health insurance cover may be affected. Talk to an attorney if you need to know details. Health Insurance Contributions During Time off Work on WC If you need to take time off work because of a work-related injury or illness, your normal wages may be recovered in part if you later file a claim for workers’ compensation. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to claim back around two thirds of your normal income; If you have a health insurance scheme which combines a contribution from you and from your employer, your contribution will not get paid. There is no state or federal rule that makes it compulsory for employers to pay their share of the insurance contributions while you are off work. Some employers may still do this, but this is not guaranteed by workers’ comp. regulations. Obviously this could potentially expose both you and your family to a lack of coverage while you are off work. The situation may be different if you work for a government agency or even some larger employers as it may be covered by acts like the Family and Medical Leave Act. If you are disabled for more than a year, you may also qualify for Medicaid or Medicaid. If in doubt, talk to your health insurance provider about coverage or an experienced workers’ comp. attorney. What Your Employer Cannot Do Although your employer is not required to keep paying your own health insurance contributions, it is not allowed to retaliate against you in any other way if you are injured or become sick at work and are claiming or attempting to claim workers’ comp. Despite this restriction, your employer may still decide to lay you off if your injury or sickness is likely to mean that you are off work for an extended period, or will be unable to return to the same work as you did before. There is a narrow line between an employer firing you because you have attempted to claim compensation and because your illness or injury prevents you from doing the same job as before. You may need to seek help from an attorney if your employer says you cannot have your job back. An Experienced WC Attorney Can Help You With Your Claim There are many reasons why you should contact a workers’ comp. attorney before filing a claim for compensation. It may be for general advice, like how to maintain health insurance contributions, or what documentation you need to submit with a claim or how to respond if fired or your claim is denied. Additional Resources Can My Workers’ Comp Settlement Pay My Medical Bills? How Can I Start a Workers’ Compensation Claim?
