Many workers in Indiana have the benefit of employer-sponsored health insurance. Other workers pay for their personal health insurance policies entirely out of pocket. While you may have health insurance, that doesn’t mean you should try to use that coverage if you get hurt at work or develop a medical condition related to your job.
Making a claim against the workers’ compensation coverage provided by your employer may be a better decision for on-the-job injuries. Although the idea of filing a claim can make workers feel nervous, there are numerous benefits to requesting workers’ compensation benefits.
You have zero out-of-pocket expenses with workers’ comp
The issue with using your own health insurance coverage for a work-related injury is largely the patient responsibility costs. You may have a large deductible or coinsurance requirements that will force you to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for your medical treatment. You may also miss work during treatment, which can affect your pay or even your job security if your employer has strict attendance policies.
Workers’ compensation benefits will cover all of the necessary treatment costs for a work-related medical issue. The secondary benefit of turning to workers’ compensation instead of standard health insurance is that you may also qualify for disability benefits if you need to take time off of work while you recover, something that health insurance obviously won’t provide. You will also be in a better position to ask your employer for accommodations on the job so that you can keep working.
Learning more about the rules that govern workers’ compensation claims helps you make the most of the benefits available to you through your employment.
