worker compensation?

Question

Is it true that worker compensation only pay 66% of gross pay if you get hurt at work?

When you get hurt at your work even if its your fault can you still get worker compensation????

Can you go to your doctor or yo have to go to the doctor that the worker compensation insurance select?

In state of Michigan what is max that your claim can be left open?

Now if you go back to work before 4 days and have more than $500 in medical expense is that consider loss in time claim?

do you I actually make a few dollars more on worker comp than your normal take home pay.

by when do you have to report injury by?
is there a time limit

Answer 1

Workers Comp laws vary from state to state.

Here is where all of the answers are:

http://www.michigan.gov/wca

Poke around the website, but also call them.

Your First Question:

The 66% thing has a very complicated answer. Benefits are never that simple. They take a lot of things into consideration - how much you make, tax filing status, dependents - just for starters.

Your Second Question:

If it's your fault, yes you are still eligible for Workers Comp benefits. Everybody makes mistakes. Pretty much the only way that you would not be eligible for benefits would be if you injured yourself intentionally, with the plan to receive Workers Comp benefits as a result.
If there was a post-accident blood test done that showed drugs or alcohol, that might make you ineligible also.

Your Third Question:

Regarding the selection of doctors. That is another question for the State of Michigan. There is no quick answer to that. Workers Comp will only pay a doctor certain fixed amounts for different procedures - so a good number of doctors won't take patients whose bills are being paid by workers comp. They feel that workers comp does not pay enough.

Your Fourth Question:

Potentially, the claim could be open for the rest of your life. If someone was permanently disabled or needed medical treatment for the rest of their life as a result of work-related injury or illness, the claim would be open as long as they continued to receive money for lost wages and/or have their medical bills paid.

The rest of your questions, including the other 50 you will have when you get the answers to these: Ask the State of Michigan.

Here is another useful site:

http://www.workerscompensation.com/regulations/reference/category.php?state=michigan&category=EE

Talk to the State of Michigan. Do it, do it, do it.

They make the rules and enforce the rules. The insurance companies have to do what the State tells them. The State calls the shots. So go to the source.

We can all speculate on what could / should / would happen. None of that really matters. What the State of Michigan says is what matters.

We don't call the shots or know everything either - but we can send you in the right direction.

If you have any other questions, shoot me an email: [e-mail]

Answer 2

Workers' Comp laws are different in all 50 states.

Your benefit rate will be in the 66% range. There is a max and min rate, so if you are a high wage earner, you won't get near as much as you are used to making.

Workers' Comp is no-fault, so if you made a mistake (lifted with your back, caused a MVA, used a saw improperly, etc.,) you would likely be covered. There are some standard exclusions, such as horseplay, intentional acts, non work-related things that happen to occur while you are at work (ex: if someone comes by and beats you up for personal reasons.) Also, if you are intoxicated (by drugs or alcohol) your claim is not compensable.

You generally have the right to choose your own doctor, but be advised that not all doctors take workers' comp. Some states also have networks of health care providers, so you will need to check with your carrier.

As for the reporting, yes, there is a deadline in most states by which time you must report your injury. In Texas, you have to notify your employer of an injury (a verbal notification is ok) within 30 days, and you must file your claim with the insurance carrier within a year.

Some states settle claims, and some have lifetime medical coverage- I'm not sure where Michigan falls. Should you choose not to settle, your medical coverage would continue. The treatment has to be directly related to your injury, though- if you have a back injury, they are likely going to give you 6 weeks- a couple of years of treatment, and not take care of your back pain for the rest of your life, if you have any pre-existing back conditions.

Only in the case of extreme low wage earners would you ever receive more money on a workers' comp claim than your normal salary.

Hope that makes sense!

Answer 3

The exact number varies by state, but there's a MINIMUM amount, and a MAXIMUM amount, so it's not always 2/3, but if you make more than the min, and less than the max, it's about 2/3. That's because 1/3 of your paycheck goes out in taxes - and you don't PAY taxes on workers comp benefits. If you were to get MORE than that, you'd bring home more money on workers comp than you would working - which is not the point of insurance.

No, not every "injury" at work is compensable. Typically, if you're involved in a fight, and fighting isn't in your job description, the injury from the fight is not going to be covered. If you have a heart attack because your arteries are clogged, it's not going to be covered.

Which doctor you can see depends on which state you live in. Some require you to see a panel physician, and if you're still being treated after 90 days, you can see whoever you want. BUT, Workers Comp medical benefits are paid on the Medicare scale, and doctors can't bill you the difference, so some doctors won't take wc clients.

I don't think there's a hard timeline with how long your claim can be left open. Most companies try to get them closed within a year for medical only claims, and within 3-5 years for serious claims.

Just saw your extra questions. There's a WAIT before lost wages kicks in. Typically, it's five days - you have to MISS more than 5 consecutive days, then lost wages pay retroactive to day one. If you miss four days - no lost wages coverage. If you miss four days, go back for three days, then the five day count begins again. Medical bills have NO bearing on lost wages - it's purely about days of work missed.

Regarding the injury time limit - the EMPLOYER has three days to report the injury to the department of labor and industry, AFTER being notified by the employee. The longer an employee waits to report an injury, the harder it is to prove the injury happened - the more likely that they'll be declined. MOST injuries are reported within an hour, but they SHOULD be reported within a day. If you go back two weeks to try to report an injury, you'll be flagged as a potential fraud case.

Answer 4

. PA. 2/3 rd of gross. is about right. (It is tax free) so it will be approx what you are used to taking home.

Yes, even if your fault.

The co posts a list of preferred providers, You must go to one of these. If it's an emergency and speed in getting care is important, then go anywhere.Same thing, if, say at 2AM and their doctor is obviously closed.

Usually your case is closed when you go back to work and are discharged from medical care.

To collect for loss of time you must be out more than a week. Then it s retroactive.
You must report any on the job injury immediately, without fail.
.

Answer 5

http://www.michigan.gov/wca