Are all medical claims by workers paid by their employers? Does it cover all medical expenses? If you become sick or injured on the job, then you might claim worker’s compensation. In this case, you might still need to prove your injury or illness and its cause of being at work or doing a specific task got you injured.
Cases may differ as both the ends (employers & employee) can be at fault. Most commonly, the cases get handled by worker’s compensation lawyers; legal professionals who are responsible for managing the proceedings according to the state’s rule.
Your worker’s compensation benefits may pay your medical expenses, but not every medical expense is settled under worker’s compensation. Each state has different workers compensation law guidelines regarding the set of rules for worker’s compensation which shows which medical expenses the injured workers are eligible for.
Diagnostic Tests
The diagnostic studies like X-rays and MRI’s are usually covered under medical claim when the doctor needs it for further treatment.
Alternative Treatments
Standard treatment practices and medications are most likely to be covered under worker’s compensation system.
However, alternative treatments and drugs don’t fall under the compensation process and set of guidelines. If you are willing to still get treated by alternatives then you will have to pay your medical expense for these type of medications and treatments.
Extended Treatments
Mostly the limits for treatments have been defined under the state’s guidelines regarding the worker’s compensation.
Many states guide employers to pay for additional treatment if an employee has the physicians’ recommendation that extra treatment would be beneficial for the person. But, sometimes your employer will request an independent examination for further medical treatment to be compulsory, needed or not.
Surprising Benefits
The treatments must be authorized by the state. Even in treatment procedures, state laws varies widely.
If your state liberally authorizes treatment that means you are in good hands. You may be surprised how vastly it will benefit you. For example: If you get a lightly injured foot and it causes back pain for you then, the back pain treatment and even surgery (if its required) will be covered under worker’s compensation for the medical expense. You will be surprised at how liberal some states are on compensating the employees under fair conditions.
Final Words
The worker’s compensation benefits for medical expenses covers, doctor’s visit, and emergency room care, blood test, different diagnostic tests, rehabilitation, and even in some cases, the transportation for hospital visits.
Considering that you got injured or disable during work at office premises which was not your own fault does mean that worker’s compensation claim is fair. But, stating that all medical bills (additional treatments) will be covered under worker’s compensation and the employer will be responsible to pay it all is not the procedure.
All the medical expense and payment procedures still have to pass the guidelines of employee compensation set of rule by the state.
