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Benefits of workers compensation

Depending on the precise circumstances of the accident and/or any injury, employees might be entitled to one or more of the following benefits:

Medical Care: All medical treatment necessary to cure or relieve the effects of a job-related injury or illness would be paid either by the employer or the insurance policy company providing coverage. This includes physician services, hospitalization, physical restoration, dental care, prescriptions, X-rays, laboratory services, and almost all other necessary and reasonable care ordered by the treating doctor(s).

Temporary Disability (TD): Paid if a physician concludes that an injured employee cannot work because of a job-related illness or an injury. TD insurance benefits are not paid on the first 3 days of work missed unless the employee is on leave for more than fourteen days or he is hospitalized. The amount of TD insurance compensation is determined by California State law and is two thirds of the employee's wages with a minimum of $126.00 per week (or the actual weekly wage if it is less than $126.00) with a maximum of $490.00 per week. Insurance payments will be made every two weeks, for providing the employee who is really eligible for the insurance. TD insurance benefits would be stopped when the employee returns to work or the treating physician releases the employee for work or verifies that the injury has reached a point of maximum improvement.

Permanent Disability (PD): Paid if any injury or illness results in a permanent disability that reduces the injured workers ability to compete in the open labor market. The insurance amount the employee would receive depends on the level of the disability. Other factors that are considered when insurance company calculates PD include the date of injury, the age when injured, and also occupation. PD insurance benefit amounts are set by California State law. PD insurance benefits are paid in every two weeks until the benefit is completely paid to the worker or when the employee settles the case and receives a lump sum.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR): Paid if it is unlikely a worker is be able to return to his usual job prior to the injury and the employer does not offer other work. Vocational Rehabilitation Maintenance Allowance benefits (VRMA) are paid during the employee is actually participating in vocational rehabilitation. VRMA is normally paid in every two weeks for as long as the employee is eligible. The Division of Workers Compensation, Rehabilitation Unit, must give approval for the rehabilitation plan. The right to rehabilitation is voluntary; injured workers might accept or might not accept this benefit. For injuries occurring on or after January 1, 1994, there is a $16,000.00 limit on all the rehabilitation benefits.

Transportation Reimbursement: Paid by the insurance providers or employers for the reasonable cost of transportation incurred while obtaining medical care and the rehabilitation cost. The injured employee is very much entitled to mileage from their home to the place of treatment, examination or rehabilitation and back at the rate of 31 cents per mile.

Death Benefits: Paid to qualified existing dependents of a worker who dies from an occupational illness or due to any injury. These insurance benefits are paid generally at the same weekly rate as the maximum TD insurance benefit takes effect at the time of injury/illness. The maximum benefit would certainly differ depending on the number of total and/or partial dependents.

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