If you’ve been injured while working, you most likely will be able to obtain workers’ compensation benefits that will provide you with a percentage of your lost wages and medical expenses.
However, to ensure that your out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed, you must use the healthcare providers pre-approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance company. If you visit a provider that’s not approved, you may have to pay the cost of services out of your own pocket.
What is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a program that provides employees who have been injured on the job with wage replacement benefits and necessary medical care. Employers pay for the insurance and are not permitted to require employees to contribute to the compensation cost.
Workers’ comp provides injured workers with medical treatment and allows injured workers to recover a portion of their medical costs and wages if they’re unable to work because of their injuries without having to file a lawsuit against their employer, saving both parties valuable time and money.
What Expenses Are Covered Under Workers’ Comp?
Expenses that are directly related to the injured employee’s accident or work-related illness are covered by workers’ comp and may include:
- Hospital bills
- Laboratory and medical testing
- Doctor visits
- The costs of prescription drugs
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Death benefits for the employee’s surviving family members due to a fatal workplace accident
What Should I Do if Workers’ Comp Will Not Pay My Medical Expenses?
Typically, after you’ve visited a doctor or provider and the service has been billed and submitted, the workers’ comp insurance provider will decide to either pay or deny the payment. However, if you’ve submitted medical expenses and workers’ comp has denied them, this can be the first warning sign there may be issues with your claim.
If you’ve submitted a medical bill that has been denied, you may have to take legal action to protect your financial well-being. It’s never a good idea to let denied bills pile up, as non-payment can lead to other legal issues.
Sometimes, the medical provider may bill the injured worker’s private insurance company if worker’s comp refuses to pay. In addition, if the worker does not have health insurance coverage, the medical provider may demand that they pay for services out of their own pocket.
For these reasons, you must obtain qualified legal representation by a Workers’ Comp attorney immediately so that the attorney can get to work on your case. A knowledgeable Workers’ Comp attorney can assist you with filing a claim to recover the workers’ comp benefits you deserve after being injured.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Attorney After Being Injured on the Job?
If you’ve been injured on the job, consulting with a skilled Workers’ Comp attorney who can protect your legal rights is always in your best interests. Unfortunately, in many instances, the workers’ comp insurance provider may try to deny claims by asserting the injury did not occur at work or was due to a pre-existing injury or horseplay on the job.
A workers’ comp attorney, like the experienced workers’ comp lawyers at RTRLAW, can fight for your rights and help you obtain the workers’ comp benefits you need to pay your living and medical expenses.
If you’d like more information about getting the workers’ comp benefits you’re due and reimbursement for the expenses you may have to pay out of pocket, contact RTRLAW today for a free, no-obligation case review or call toll free 1-833-HIRE-RTR (1-833-447-3787) to discuss your case and legal options.