What Types of Benefits Does California Workers’ Compensation Pay?
California employers must utilize state-mandated employee insurance programs to cover on-the-job injuries. This form of coverage is known as workers’ compensation. California workers’ compensation provides injured employees with benefits related to medical expenses and lost wages if they incur injuries while at work.
Through this system, it can be a challenge to ensure you are receiving the maximum coverage you deserve after an accident. If you are filing a claim or currently receiving benefits, you may find it helpful to speak with a California workers’ compensation lawyer. He or she can assert your rights while advocating on your behalf.
Here are a few types of workers’ compensation benefits California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) requires employers to purchase through their insurers:
Medical Benefits
Minimum workers’ compensation insurance benefits require California employers to cover medical expenses related to an on-the-job injury. State statutes only stipulate that medical care must be necessary and reasonable.
Workers’ compensation covers medical expenses for the following treatments:
- Medical and surgical
- Chiropractic
- Acupuncture
- Hospitalization
- Prescriptions, orthotics, and supplies
It is important to note that workers’ comp does not cover cosmetic procedures. Therefore, a request to diminish the appearance of scars and burns may be denied by your employer’s insurer.
Lost Wage and Temporary Disability Benefits
Temporary disability benefits pay for lost wages if your injury prevents you from working. Disability benefits become available to individuals disabled for more than three days or hospitalized overnight for any length of time. Workers’ comp temporarily pays lost wages to employees expected to recover and return to work.
Lost wage benefits do not cover your entire salary. Workers’ compensation pays you an amount roughly equal to two-thirds of your regular pay. Injured workers can find themselves in a frustrating situation in which they take a considerable income hit and yet cannot return to work.
Permanent Disability Benefits
Benefits for permanent disability are paid to workers who are totally physically or mentally disabled. The amount of compensation for which an employee is eligible is contingent upon the nature and overall prognosis of the injury and patient.
Insurance companies determine your level of disability by reviewing reports from the doctor who workers’ compensation assigns to your claim. From there, an adjuster assigns your application a disability rating.
Benefits are paid according to your rating and unique health needs for a set period or indefinitely. The term length you receive depends upon the insurance adjuster’s decision for your given situation.
Supplemental Benefits
Aside from medical coverage and lost wages, workers’ compensation offers additional benefits to workers significantly impacted by their work-related injury. Supplemental benefits helped injured workers to be retrained when they cannot return to their old jobs.
You can qualify for supplemental benefits if the following conditions are true:
- You are eligible for permanent disability, and
- You are not allowed to return to work, or
- You do not return to your former position
If you qualify for this benefit, you receive a voucher that you use for job retraining and professional skills development. You can use it to pay for any expenses related to your education.
Consider Hiring a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in California
A large part of your workers’ comp claim rests on the shoulders of an insurance adjuster and an approved workers’ compensation doctor. If you feel like the odds are stacked against you in this situation, you are not alone. Working with an experienced attorney gives you the peace of mind knowing you are benefiting from the best possible outcome.
At Deldar Legal, our team of California workers’ compensation lawyers work tirelessly to make sure families and injured workers receive the benefits they deserve. You can schedule a free consultation in one of our offices located throughout the state by calling (844) 335-3271 or sending us a message through our request form.
Tagged with: What Types of Benefits Does California Workers’ Comp Pay?
Posted in: Workers Compensation