Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, income replacement, and death benefits.

Workers’ compensation insurance is required in most states, and employers are typically responsible for carrying out the policy. Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to be a “no-fault” system, which means that benefits are paid regardless of who was at fault for the accident or injury.

This blog post will discuss what’s covered and what’s not covered under workers’ compensation insurance.

What is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of insurance that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill due to their job. Benefits can include medical expenses, income replacement, and death benefits.

Medical expenses: Workers’ compensation will typically cover the cost of medical treatment related to a work-related injury or illness. This can include the cost of hospitalization, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and other medical expenses.

Income replacement: Workers’ compensation will typically provide benefits to replace a portion of your lost income if you cannot work because of a work-related injury or illness. The amount of income replacement benefits you receive will depend on your state’s laws and the severity of your injury or illness.

Death benefits: Workers’ compensation will typically provide death benefits to the worker’s surviving dependents if a worker dies due to a work-related injury or illness.

What is Covered in Workers’ Compensation?

To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, an injury or illness must be “work-related.” This generally means that the injury or illness must have occurred while the employee was working and that the injury or illness must be a result of the employee’s job.

An injury or illness may be considered “work-related,” even if it occurred outside of the workplace. For example, an injury that occurred while an employee was off work but was still performing job-related duties (such as attending a work-related training seminar) would typically be considered work-related.

Workers’ compensation does not cover some injuries and illnesses. These include injuries that are self-inflicted or that occur while the employee is intoxicated. In addition, mental health conditions that are not caused by physical damage are typically not covered.

What is Not Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?

Some injuries and illnesses are not covered by workers’ compensation. These include injuries that are self-inflicted or that occur while the employee is intoxicated. In addition, mental health conditions that are not caused by a physical injury are typically not covered.

Workers’ compensation is also not designed to cover injuries outside the workplace. For example, if you are injured in a car accident while on your way to work, your injuries would not be covered by workers’ compensation.

In addition, some types of jobs are not covered by workers’ compensation. These include jobs that are considered “dangerous” (such as jobs in the construction industry) and jobs that independent contractors perform.

Are Pre-existing Injuries Covered Under Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

In general, pre-existing injuries are not covered under workers’ compensation insurance. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

For example, if an employee’s pre-existing injury is aggravated or exacerbated by their job, the workers’ compensation insurance may cover the injury’s treatment cost. In addition, if an employee is injured while performing a job-related task that they would not have been able to perform without their pre-existing injury, the workers’ compensation insurance may cover the cost of treatment for the injury.

In conclusion, workers’ compensation insurance covers various workplace injuries. However, some types of injuries are not covered by workers’ compensation. If you have been injured at work, you must contact an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to discuss your case. At Gaylord and Nantais Attorneys at Law, we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of injured workers. Contact us at (562) 561-2669 to schedule a free consultation.