As both an employer or an employee, it is crucial to be familiar with the workers' compensation laws of your state. Workers' compensation insurance is a great way to protect your employees and business from injuries such as falls on ice, moving furniture or car accidents. Here are the top 10 workers' compensation questions.
What is Workers' Compensation?
Workers' compensation insurance protects employees and employers from financial loss if an employee is injured on the job or becomes ill from work-related causes. Workers' compensation can also be called workman's insurance, workers' compensation, or workman's pay. All terms refer to the same thing. They help workers avoid potentially costly work-related injuries. Employers are also protected from possible damages that could be caused by workers' compensation claims. Learn more about workers' compensation insurance.
What does Workers' Compensation cover?
A common question is about workers' compensation insurance. Workers' compensation insurance from Hartford covers medical expenses, lost wages and ongoing care costs as well as funeral expenses for employees who are injured, become sick, or die as a result of a work-related accident.
What is not covered by Workers' Comp
Workers' compensation insurance is a great way to protect your employees and business in the event that you are injured or lose your job. However, there are some circumstances that may not be covered by the insurance. These are determined by state laws and may vary from one state to the next.
Here are some examples of what most worker's compensation plans don't cover:
Employees who were involved in a fight that ended in injury
Employees are inflicted with injuries from being intoxicated at work
Employees are at risk of inflicting injury on their own.
Emotional injuries not associated with a workplace injury
Who pays for workers' compensation benefits?
Employers that do not pay benefits often purchase workers' compensation insurance to protect their employees. With the exception of New Jersey and Texas, most states require workers' compensation insurance to be carried by businesses. These states offer coverage that is optional.
Workers' compensation benefits are not the responsibility of employees. This coverage's cost varies depending on several factors.
Laws of the state
Size of your business
What type of work do employees do?
There are always risks on the job
What should an employee do if they are hurt on the job?
Employees who are injured while on the job should immediately report it to their supervisor. The injury report must include details about the incident, including the date, time, and circumstances. Although each state has its own requirements regarding when an injury should occur, it is best to report it as soon as possible.
Work-related illness that gets worse over time should always be reported to the employer as soon as a diagnosis is made or when the employee learns the injury or illness has a connection with their job.
How do I file a workers' compensation claim?
It is crucial to file a workers' comp claim as soon as you can. If you are a victim of an injury or illness at work, please report it to:
An employee of your company is the injured person
Because of their work, your employee fell ill.
An employee is injured as a result of their job duties
If an employee is hurt at work.
If your employee is injured while on the job, ensure they get the right medical treatment. Call the ambulance and take your employee to the emergency department if necessary. Approve their request if they require time off work for their recovery.
You will need to gather lots of information before you file a claim. You will need different information depending on where you live. An employer and an employee might need to provide the following information when filing a claim:
Information about the company (account number, location, policy number)
Information about injured employees (name, date, address, phone number and Social Security number, as well as gender, age, etc.
Information about the incident (date, type, injury, exact body part, cause, time lost, expected return date, witnesses, etc.
Once you have collected all the information, it is time to file a claim with your insurance company. This process will vary depending on where your business is located. States might impose time limits on when business owners must report the matter to workers' compensation insurance carriers. New York, for instance, requires that reports be submitted within 30 days.
How does Workers' Compensation Insurance work?
Another common question is how workers' compensation works. Workers' compensation insurance from Hartford covers wages and medical benefits for employees who are injured or become ill at work. Our goal is for your employees to be as healthy as possible and get back to work as quickly as possible.
Employees have access to experienced, caring professionals throughout their recovery process. Additional benefits include:
Employees can access the Preferred Medical Provider Network, which consists of over 1 million providers across the country.
Nursed back to Health: Hartford has nurse case managers who can help coordinate care and treatment.
Prescription Drug Features: There are more than 65,000 pharmacies across the United States that can fill prescriptions. Employees do not have to pay extra for prescriptions. You can also request a mail-order service.
Hartford offers workers' compensation insurance. Get a quote for your business today.
What if an employee is receiving Workman's Comp benefits? Are they eligible for disability, unemployment, or social security benefits?
Workers' compensation income benefits do not automatically make them ineligible to receive the above benefits. Workers' compensation benefits can affect the number of benefits that are due under other programs. For more information about eligibility for long-term disability or unemployment insurance benefits, contact your company's benefits department.
Do I need Workers' Compensation Insurance?
Employers with more than one employee are required to have workers' compensation insurance in most states. Texas is exempted from this requirement. Although large employers can insure themselves, they must also apply to their state and comply with strict self-insurance requirements.
This type of insurance does not cover all workers. Workers' compensation does not typically cover independent contractors, domestic employees in private homes, or volunteers. Seasonal workers are also exempted by some states if the work isn't part of an employer's regular business, profession, or trade. Certain agricultural businesses, construction companies, charities are exempted from workers' compensation.
You have two choices when it comes to purchasing workman's compensation insurance. There is a choice between private insurance companies or state-funded programs. Only three states require that businesses only obtain workman's comp insurance from the state: Wyoming, Ohio, Washington and Washington.
How do I get Workers' Compensation Insurance?
Workers' compensation insurance can be purchased online, through an agent or over the telephone. Your state determines the requirements for your workers' compensation policy. There are many factors that could impact the amount of workers' compensation coverage you require and the price you pay. Before you buy a policy, here are some things to consider:
How many employees require coverage?
Your business's number of employees
What type of work will employees do
The size of your payroll
Private insurance companies and state-funded programs can be purchased by business owners to provide workers' compensation insurance.
Important to remember that not all insurance companies sell this coverage directly. It may only be available through an agent.
