Workers' Compensation Insurance(page 1 of 2)	
Workers' Compensation Insurance
What is workers' compensation insurance?
If you have work-related injury or illness, your employer is required by
 
law to pay you  workers' compensation benefits (money).  You could 
get hurt by:   a) One event at work — hurting your back in fall, getting 
burned by a chemical that splashes on your skin, or in car accident whil
e 
making deliveries.   b) Repeated exposures at work — hurt your wrist 
from doing the same motion over and over, or lose your hearing because 
of loud noises.  Also, you are covered if you are injured while traveling 
on business, doing work-related errand, or attending a business event.  
Injuries that may not be covered include:  a)  Self-inflicted injuries — such as those caused by person who 
starts a fight.  b) Injuries that happen when worker is  committing a crime.  c) Injuries that happen when 
worker violates company rules.  One state that does not require workers' compensation insurance is Texas, 
but many employers in Texas do cover their workers with workers' compensation insurance.
Five benefits of Workers' compensation insurance:
1)  Medical care: Doctor visits and treatment is paid to help you recover from injury —
 or illness caused 
by your work.  2) Temporary disability benefits:  Weekly money payments to you if your injury or illness 
prevents you from working while getting medical care.  Payments are usua
lly 2/3 of your normal pay.  
3) Permanent disability benefits:  Money payments to you for years if you do not recover from your 
injury — or illness caused by work.   4) Job displacement benefits:  Helps pay for school to learn new 
skills if you cannot return to same job because of the injury or illness
.   5) Death benefits:  Gives funeral 
money — and lump sum money or monthly money to your spouse, children 
or other dependents if you die 
from a job injury or illness. How do I know if I am covered by workers' compensation insurance?
Employees are covered by workers' compensation insurance, but 
independent contractors are not covered.  Employees are paid hourly or 
monthly wages by check with deductions (money taken out) for income 
tax, Social Security, and Medicare.  Independent contractors are paid for 
one job by check or cash with no deductions for income tax, Social 
Security, and Medicare.  Independent contractors may be graphic designer 
hired for one project, photographer hired to take photos at a wedding —
 and plumber, electrician, or 
carpenter hired for one job.  In the past, some employers tried to call 
all workers "independent 
contractors" to avoid paying workers' compensation insurance tax to the 
government.  To make companies 
pay for workers' compensation insurance, the Supreme Court and IRS (Int
ernal Revenue Service) set up 
laws that companies must follow to tell if a worker hired is an employee
 or independent contractor.
Can I be treated by my own doctor?
Some states require you sign a paper when you are hired (before you are
 injured or ill) to request the right 
to see your own doctor for work injury or illness.  In other states you 
have a right to see your own doctor.

Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  
1. For what is your employer required to pay if 
you have work-related injury or illness?
2.  Give example of:  a) One event at work.
  b) Repeated exposures at work.  
3.  List 3 injuries that may not be covered.
4.  Which state does not require workers' 
  compensation insurance?
5.  Describe what following benefits do for you:
  a) Medical care.  b) Temporary disability 
  benefits.  c) Permanent disability benefits.  
  d) Job displacement benefits.  e) Death benefits.
6.  a) Who is covered by workers' compensation 
and who is not?  b) How are employees paid?  
c) How are independent contractors paid?
7.  In the past, why did some companies try to call 
all workers independent contractors?
QUICK CHECK:	
Workers' Compensation Insurance (page 2 of 2)	
Find out what you need to do in your state to get the right to see your 
doctor.  Your employer may try to 
send you to a company's doctor who may have "conflict of interest" because the doctor is paid by the  
company's insurance.   Company doctor conflict of interest means —
company's doctor may downplay seriousness of your injury so that the 
company's insurance will pay less money to you.  Your doctor will give a 
fair evaluation  because your doctor is not paid by your employer.
How do I report an injury or illness caused by my work?
You cannot receive workers' compensation until you report your injury or 
illness.  States have strict deadline dates that you must meet to report
 an 
injury or illness.  If you miss the deadline to report,  your claim is denied.  Deadline is 90 days in Iowa, 30 
days in California, 4 days in Colorado, and 10 days in Maryland.  For il
lnesses caused by your work that 
happens gradually (such as carpal tunnel syndrome of wrists from typing
 or checking groceries),  deadline 
clock begins to run when you discover your condition — and that this  condition is caused by your work.  
Most states require you to give written notice -- or use Accident Report form.  Be sure to keep a copy of  your written notice or Accident Report for your records.  Written 
notice includes:  1) Your name and contact information.  2) Time and date of your 
injury — or time and date you discovered your illness or condition is
 related to your 
work.  3) Where injury or illness happened.  4) How you injured yourself — or 
what 
makes you ill.  5) Symptoms you are experiencing. 
To find out about laws, use the internet to search for " (Your state's name) Workers 
Compensation."  Call the phone number on your state's workers' compensation 
website.  A good question to ask is:  What do I need to do to get the right to see my 
own doctor after a work-related injury?	
8.  To stop that, what did the Supreme Court and 
IRS do?
9.  To see your doctor for injury or illness caused 
by work, what do some states require you sign?
10.  a) Describe what "company doctor conflict of 
interest" means.  b) Why will your own doctor 
give you a fair evaluation of your injury?
11.  a) What happens if you miss the deadline date 
to report a work injury?  b) When does deadline 
clock start carpel tunnel syndrome? 
12.  Why, do you think, you need to  keep a copy of 
the written notice or Accident Report? 
13.  List 5 types of information your written injury 
report needs to include.
14.  a) Use the internet to search for what?  b) What 
phone number do you call?  c) What is a good 
question to ask?