A workers’ compensation policy CA that covers the statutory liability for a company against physical injury or death caused to the employees.
The rights of employees have in today’s highly competitive corporate atmosphere moved forward. A safe and secure workspace is one of the most crucial responsibilities an entrepreneur should maintain. You can’t deny the fact that workplace accidents are unfortunate. They are part of the business issues that need to be taken proper care.
However, to protect your business from highly-priced lawsuits and compensation amounts, it is imperative to get a workers’ compensation policy CA that covers the statutory liability of a company for physical injury or death caused to the employees.
Benefits of Workers Compensation CA
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated scheme that makes companies and organizations follow the law and provide benefits to their employees who come into contact with some illness or get injured while executing their work-related duties. Employers don’t need to propose workers’ compensation.
There is a law that ensures the employee is rightly compensated for the loss no matter whoever the at-fault party may be – whether the employer, or co-worker, or some customer. Employees only need to contact a lawyer to get the benefits.
The workers’ compensation policy pays for the injured employees as authorized by the relevant state law. Far all states globally offer four types of workers compensation benefits, i.e., rehabilitation, medical, disability, and death benefits. The category of benefits an injured employee may receive is usually consistent worldwide, but the amount of benefits workers may receive vary from state to state.
1. Medical Coverage
Most people living with work-related injury or disease receive medical coverage. The workers’ compensation claims grant them the cost of treatment for their occupational injury or illness.
The compensated amount here includes the charges for regular doctor visits, hospital treatment, medications, nursing care, diagnostic tests, medical equipment (if the employee requires the use of wheelchair or crutches), and physical therapy.
Usually, the medical coverage is not dependent on the additional payments, allowances, or the limit of the amount to pay. The workers can avail of the benefits until they are fully recovered from the injury. Indeed, some restrictions may be there on some treatments as imposed by the state laws.
For example, employees may get compensated for around 20 physical therapy visits. However, the therapy covered differs from state to state. In many countries, the paid medical services are based on the pricing structure.
Besides, many states allow workers compensation coverage benefits under a managed care plan. The law controlling the managed care plans significantly differs. The programs may, however, have some features like-
Provider Network – A team of healthcare providers, including doctors, contracted with the insurer or employer to offer medical help at discounted charges.
Utilization Management – A service specifically designed to ensure that the medical care provided to the employee is relevant, required, and reasonable.
Pharmacy Manager – A Person that is signed to control the cost. The manager confirms formulas, negotiates concessions with the drug manufacturers, builds contracts with pharmacies, and reimburses prescription drug claims.
2. Disability
The worker compensation benefits for disability replaces a part of the wages a person loses due to work-related injury. The disability compensation benefit is calculated based on four categories; which are-
Temporary Total – An employee is completely disabled by a work-related injury and is unable to perform his/her duty for a short period. The benefit is served during the entire span of the period when the worker is unable to work.
Permanent Total – An employee is living with an incurable occupational injury. The worker will receive some percentage of the average weekly pay as compensation for the remaining part of his/her life. The compensation benefits in some states end at the retirement age of the worker.
Temporary Partial – An employee is partly disabled by a minor injury and can work part-time for a couple of months. The person will receive a total amount of the reduced pay plus a percentage of the difference between the normal and the reduced salary.
Permanent Partial – An employee is permanently disabled with injuries like hearing loss, or any other that prevent him/her from working and earning the amount of income he/she made prior. This type of disability is divided into further two categories-
Schedule – It involves a permanent injury caused in a particular part of the body, i.e., eye, hand, leg, finger, etc. The worker living with an injury on any portion of his/her body can receive a disability payment for a specific number of weeks.
Non-schedule – When the injury is not listed under the schedule category the benefits are determined according to the specified state law. Indeed, the benefits will be based on the worker’s impairment, loss of wages or working capabilities, or any other similar factor.
Moreover, the amount employees receive for their disability hugely varies from state to state. The amount of compensation they receive depends on the type of disability. Usually, the workers’ compensation benefits are based on the employee’s weekly wages, i.e., the worker’s weekly median wages before the accident occurred. The benefits cannot be offered to the workers unless the disability extends a specific period of waiting, which usually is seven days.
3. Rehabilitation
Based on state law, employees can also get some vocational rehabilitation benefits if they are unable to return to their job due to the work-related injury. Also, if the worker is suffering from an occupational mental injury, he/she is eligible to receive psychological rehabilitation.
4. Death
If a worker dies after being affected with a work-related injury, the worker’s spouse, children (if minor), and whoever dependent receives the death benefits. Mostly the burial charges are also covered.
Wrapping Up
Once an employee receives the compensation, he/she no longer has the right to sue the employer for any disease or injury caused at the workplace. Many people are unaware of what type of claim they can file against their employer, whether a worker’s compensation or a civil suit. It becomes hard for them to take the right route. In such a case, it is good to contact an expert who will listen to your story and refer to the right lawyer for workers’ compensation in California.
However, workers’ compensation is essential not only for an employee but also for the employer. It offers several benefits to the employees to keep them motivated and reduce attrition, whereas to the employers, it helps them prevent costly liability lawsuits and compensation charges.
