What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of coverage that protects employees’ income and pays their medical bills when they are injured on the job or get sick from something in the work environment. Employers purchase this insurance from private companies or from the state to cover their employees. When workers file a claim, and it is approved, the policy pays the employee’s medical bills and lost wages.
What Does Workers’ Compensation Cover?
Workers’ compensation coverage varies widely by state. The laws set out how much coverage employers must carry, how much the polices must pay, for how long they must pay, and what penalties employers face for noncompliance. Each state sets its timeline for the claims process, how long an employee has to report an injury, how long the insurer has to process applications, and how workers can appeal a denial.
Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical expenses associated with work-related injury or illness, but it also includes compensation for missed days of work. Here are some of the forms those payments can take.
- Temporary total disability benefits (TTD): Employees receive TTD benefits when they cannot work temporarily due to a workplace injury or illness. Usually, the employee must complete a waiting period before the benefits begin, so the employee must be off work for a set number of days to receive TTD payments.
- Temporary partial disability benefits (TPD): Employees who can return to work but not to their original duties may be assigned light-duty tasks that may not pay as much as the initial salary. TPD pays the difference between the two salaries so that the worker doesn’t lose income as a result of the injury or illness.
- Permanent partial disability benefits (PPD): Employees who are permanently partially disabled may receive PPD benefits. The amount varies based on the severity of the disability, but like TPD, it makes up for reduced earning potential due to the accident or illness.
- Permanent total disability benefits (PTD): Employees who are wholly and severely disabled and never able to return to the workforce may receive PTD benefits. These benefits may be reduced by and social security disability the worker draws.
Where Can I Find Help?
Workers’ compensation laws are complicated. If you get hurt at work, and you need to file a workers’ compensation claim, you should seek the help of a competent and experienced workers compensation lawyer in Abingdon, VA. The professional can help protect your rights and your eligibility for benefits.
Thanks to The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt for their insight into workers compensation and paid days off for an injury.