Will Workers’ Compensation Cover My Medical Bills?
By Pyle Law, March 03 2020 3:26 pmAccording to the Kansas Department of Labor, employers in the state pay about $158 million per year in workers’ compensation benefits to injured employees. This money goes toward helping employees who were hurt while performing job duties, but what does it cover? If you have been hurt at work, it’s important to understand the types of benefits to which you are entitled.
If you’re hurt at work, you should quickly try to find out if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. This depends on the nature of the incident and your employer’s insurance status.
If your injury is the result of work-related duties or happened at your job site, you should be entitled to workers’ compensation. However, workers’ compensation does not cover injuries that are the result of:
A Kansas workers’ compensation attorney can help you decide if your injury qualifies under state law.
Most employers in Kansas must carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, employers do not have to carry this insurance if they are independently contracted realtors, firefighters in certain situations, sole proprietors, partners, or certain types of vehicle operators. These individuals may need to use other methods to recoup the costs of being injured at work.
If you qualify for workers’ compensation, the benefits should cover all reasonable medical care related to the injury. However, injured workers often have to jump through some hoops to get this coverage. First, employers can choose the doctor for the employee to see who will have to sign off on treatment.
Secondly, employees and employers may disagree over what kind of treatment is “reasonable.” This especially becomes a problem if the doctor gives the patient more than one option for treatment. A Kansas workers’ compensation lawyer can help you get the treatment you need covered by the workers’ compensation insurance company. Generally, covered treatment – when warranted – might include:
If an insurance company is fighting coverage of the treatment you need, it is important to seek help from an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer who can fight to have your medical bills paid. You should not be responsible for the costs of treating your workplace injury.
In addition to the medical bills, workers’ compensation benefits pay for a portion of lost wages. Typically, this means two-thirds of your average weekly wage. However, Kansas caps this benefit at $587 per week. Furthermore, employees do not get paid for the first week they miss work due to injury.
The workers’ compensation process is difficult. Worse yet, it can feel especially isolating when the insurance company, doctors, and employer are all working against you. That’s why it pays to have someone on your side who knows all about this system. If you need someone to fight for your rights, contact Pyle Law today or call (888) 381-1155.
