Whether you are a business owner that needs to insure employees or an employee making sure that your insurance needs are met, understanding rights and coverage under worker's compensation insurance is important. Follow these steps to know what's covered under worker's compensation insurance.
Instructions
1. Determine your status. The information you need to know varies depending on whether you are an employer needing to provide insurance to your employees, an employee wanting to find out about coverage, or an injured employee needing to file a claim for treatment. Have any pertinent employer identification numbers at hand before beginning your search.
2. Contact your employer. If you are an employee who wants to know what kind of coverage is offered by your employer, the first place you should seek information is from the employer themselves. With a few exceptions, most businesses are required to provide worker's compensation to their employees and to make information about this coverage readily available upon request.
3. Locate your local worker's compensation bureau. There is one in every state, and each of them will be able to provide you with information regarding your employer's status and your rights as an employee. They will also help you find out how and where to file claims if necessary. Most of this information can be found online or in the section of your phone directory that contains contact information for government offices.
4. Know your rights. In addition to being entitled to certain coverage through your employer, you may also have the option of purchasing worker's compensation insurance through a private insurer in much the same way you purchase insurance for your car or home. In some cases, this option may be a more economical choice or may offer more beneficial coverage in the event of an injury on the job.
5. Ask your local pharmacist or healthcare provider. Retail pharmacies handle worker's compensation claims and bill worker's compensation departments for medication on a daily basis. While they may not be able to provide specific information about your particular employer or coverage, they can tell you what information is needed to bill a claim. They can also provide you with customer service phone numbers to help you get more information.
6. Act quickly. If you are an injured employee, be aware that most claims must be filed according to a specific process and within a certain period of time. Depending on the business you work for or the status of your injury, this time period can range anywhere from a month to as few as 7 business days. Act quickly when filing a claim, and complete all the necessary steps.
