Workers Compensation Insurance

Every state has workers compensation law to provide for medical treatment and financial compensation for workers hurt at work. To protect injured workers from insolvent, bankrupt employers or employers that would not pay, state's require employers, who are subject to the workers compensation law, to have workers compensation insurance.

Employees do not take out workers compensation insurance and they do not pay for it. Instead, employers take out and pay for workers compensation insurance to provide benefits required by state workers comp law.

Not every employer is required to comply with state workers compensation law. Most states have a requirement that an employer employ more than a certain number of employees before the employer is subject to workers comp law. For example, state workers comp law may require four or more employees. If an employer employed only three workers, then the employer would not be subject to workers compensation law and would not be required to have workers comp insurance.

Employees who suffer a work related injury, and who work for an employer subject to workers comp law, are entitled to current and future medical treatment. In most states, the employer chooses the doctor who will treat the employee. Then the employer's workers compensation insurance carrier will pay the doctor directly. The same is true for other medical treatments such as hospital and therapy.

Employees who are injured at work and who are directed, by the doctor, to stay out of work are entitled to receive some payment. In most states, employees must be out of work for a certain number of days before they are entitled to payment and the payment is generally a portion of the employees' normal pay. The payment to the employee is paid by the employer's workers compensation insurance carrier.

Employees who suffer a work related disability or disfigurement (such as a scar) are entitled to be compensated. Again, the employer's workers compensation insurance carrier pays the compensation to the employee. The employer does not pay the employee the compensation.

The above is general information only. If you have any questions about workers compensation, talk with a lawyer licensed in your state.

Stop! Wouldn't you like to know more about workers compensation and what workers compensation benefits you have? Get more information here on Workers Compensation. And click here for more insights on How Does Workmans Compensation Work.

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