What Is Workers’ Compensation and Do I Qualify?

In 2019, workers’ injury rate was almost 3 cases per 1,000 workers. While this number might not seem high, it still leaves workers susceptible to injury.

So how do employees protect themselves from the medical bills and other hardships that come with workplace injury?

One solution is workers’ compensation. These policies are designed to help workers work through their injuries without sustaining a big hit on their livelihood.

But what is workers’ compensation? And how much does it cover?

That’s what we’ll be looking at today. Read on to find out more about workers’ compensation benefits here.

What is Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that benefits employees who suffer job-related illnesses or injuries. Each state has a different workers’ compensation law that employers must follow.

In most cases, employees can receive workers’ compensation regardless of who was at fault. These policies are designed to ensure medical bills and other injury costs don’t include burden workers overly.

What Does It Cover?

This might depend on your state and employer. But, generally speaking, workers’ compensation covers any medical bills, lost wages from time lost recovering, other ongoing care costs, and even funeral bills.

Medical bills for surgeries, emergency room visits, and prescriptions are every day. Workers’ comp can cover those costs in most cases.

It also takes time for workers to recover from an injury, meaning they can’t work or earn wages. Workers’ compensation provides lost wages as a result.

Qualifying for Workers’ Compensation

If you aren’t sure whether you qualify for workers’ compensation, you should ask your employer right away. But, first, let’s look at some common questions regarding workers’ comp qualification.

Does Workers’ Compensation cover all Employees?

No. States have varying rules for requiring workers’ compensation. On top of that, part-time workers or other conditional employment can restrict workers’ comp.

What Are My Rights At Work?

You can file a workers’ compensation claim after an injury. If you’re denied, you can appeal it. You can also hire workers’ compensation lawyers after getting injured at work to get the right benefits.

Do I Have to be Injured At a Worksite?

No. So long as your injury occurred because of your work or workplace conditions, you have a strong case. This means you can file for workers’ comp for injuries sustained while traveling for business. In addition, if you fall sick because of poor workplace conditions, you can file a claim there as well.

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Does It Cover Long-Term Conditions?

Many workplaces have conditions that hamper your quality of living over a more extended period. This might be something like poor air quality or the presence of fumes.

If this contributes to long-term health conditions, you might be able to receive workers’ compensation. Other injuries like stress on your bones or chronic pain also qualify here.

Leverage Workers’ Compensation Today

Workers have the right to compensation for workplace injuries. So if you’ve been asking, “what is workers’ compensation?” use this article to make sure you’re adequately covered.

Looking for more information on workers’ rights or proper business practices? Check out the rest of our site for the latest articles!