Medical Benefits

Illnesses or injuries that qualify to be compensated according to the applicable workers` compensation laws need prescribed medical benefits that should be paid to all injured workers. The benefit limits & duration actually differ by jurisdiction. However, every state in the U.S offers essentially the same 3 categories or classes of benefits. These classes include:

• Death Benefits

• Disability or Indemnity Benefits

• Medical Benefits

Medical Benefits

Usually, medical benefits are unlimited without any deductible. The payments are normally made to the extent that the injured worker is cured or get maximum relief. Service bills go straight to workers’ compensation carrier, and the payment is directly made to the provider of health care. The responsibility of the worker is just to follow the instructions that are given by the doctor.

Though the medical care offered & the billing are handled by the workers` compensation carrier and the treating doctor, the states differ particularly regarding the choice of the physician. Twenty-one (21) states require the worker to use then doctor that is picked by their employer or company from a list of authorized doctors. The remaining twenty-nine (29) states including the District of Columbia usually allow the worker to select his or her physician. However, nineteen (19) of the `employee-choice` states limit the worker`s choices to physicians that are within managed care type network.

Medical benefits that are basic are treated the same in all states. The law requires all medical costs, nursing care expenses, surgical fees, and medication expenses that are necessary to `effect a cure & give relief ` be totally paid by workers` compensation insurance firm. Extra medical benefits are similar in all states. But, with some jurisdictional nuances. An example is rehabilitative services. All states offer rehabilitation benefits. However, the benefits are not necessary for the same amount or to the same extent.

The rehabilitative services benefits might entail medical rehabilitation, psychological rehabilitation, and vocational rehabilitation. Other states include rehabilitation services costs within the medical benefits. This makes the coverage unlimited.

Travel costs to & from a medical treatment are also included in the medical benefits. Some states usually compensate the mileage driven in medical treatment pursuit for work-related injuries. However, other states require that the mileage should exceed some threshold in order to be considered (for instance, North Carolina requires that the round trip should be over twenty (20) miles before reimbursement)

The above is some crucial information that every individual should know. Indeed, there are various medical benefits for workers compensation.