3 expenses workers’ compensation covers

While no one wants a workplace injury to happen, they occur more frequently than people may think.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.6 million workplace illnesses and injuries occurred in 2021. Luckily, Massachusetts requires employers to have workers’ compensation insurance to help injured employees. The coverage includes three main benefits for the employee.

1. Medical care expenses

Once a person receives claim approval, workers’ comp covers medical expenses related to the specific injury that doctors consider necessary and reasonable for treatment. This includes doctor visits, medicines, hospital bills, physical therapy, required surgeries and prescriptions. Depending on the location, coverage may also provide reimbursement for travel mileage to obtain treatment. For long-term injuries, ongoing care also gets covered.

2. Lost Wages

When an illness or injury makes it impossible for a person to work, worker’s comp replaces some of the lost income. Injured employees receive indemnity benefits for each day of lost wages. While every situation may equate to different payments, in general, a person will receive approximately two-thirds of normal wages. For severe injuries, such as a loss of a limb, a person will receive disability benefits. The amount depends on whether the injury gets deemed a partial or total disability.

3. Funeral expenses

In some instances, a workplace incident leads to death. The employer or its insurance company helps to cover the costs of the funeral and may provide some death benefits to cover lost wages.

Even a seemingly minor workplace injury may have long-term consequences. Filing a claim helps ensure injured employees and their families get the compensation they deserve.