Benefits of Workers Compensation in Missouri
The worker's compensation statute provides various benefits following a compensable injury in Missouri. Here are some benefits of workers comp in Missouri.
A workers' compensation policy provides benefits to injured employees per state law.
Almost every state offers four types of benefits: medical coverage, disability benefits, rehabilitation benefits, and death benefits. While the types of benefits received by injured workers are consistent across the country, the benefits provided and how they are delivered vary by state.This article highlights the big four benefits of workers compensation Missouri.
Benefits of Workers Compensation
1.Medical Coverage
Most injured employees who file compensation claims receive medical coverage as the first workers compensation benefits Blue Springs MO. This coverage covers the cost of treating workers for occupational illnesses or injuries. It includes charges for doctor visits, hospital treatment, nursing care, medications, medical diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and durable medical equipment (like crutches and wheelchairs).
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Medical coverage is not subject to dollar limits, deductibles, or copays. Benefits are paid until the worker has fully recovered from their injury. However, the state laws restrict some treatments. For example, the law may allow maximum 24 visits for physical therapy or chiropractic care. Missouri state laws also govern whether so-called alternative treatments, such as biofeedback or massage therapy, are covered.
Managed Care
Missouri allows employers or workers' compensation insurers to provide workers compensation benefits Blue Springs MO through a managed care plan. A few states require insurers to offer such a plan to employers. The laws governing managed care plans vary greatly. Most programs include one or more of the following features
Provider Network
A group of doctors and other healthcare providers contracted with an insurer or employer to provide discounted medical services. The providers are (or should be) skilled in occupational medicine.
-9Management of Utilization
A procedure designed to ensure that the medical care provided to employees is necessary, appropriate, and cost-effective.
Disability benefits intend to replace a portion of an employee's wages while disabled due to a work-related injury. The classification of disability is as follows:
-Temporary Total
The worker is disabled by the injury and cannot work for an extended period. For example, a worker injures her back and cannot work for six weeks. She has returned to duty after a six-week absence.
-Temporary Partial
A short-term injury only partially disables the worker. For example, suppose an employee breaks his arm on the job and has to work part-time while it heals.
-Permanent Total
The worker has suffered a permanent injury that cannot get cured. As a result, the worker will be unable to earn future income by performing the type of work he did when the injury occurred.
-Permanent Partial
The worker has sustained a permanent injury, such as hearing loss, which prevents him from earning as much as he did before his injury.
-Disability Payments
The amount workers receive for disabilities varies significantly from state to state. If two workers sustain similar injuries but live in a different state, one may receive more disability payments than the other.The nature of the disability determines the benefits a worker receives. Benefits are typically calculated based on average weekly wage (the worker's average weekly wage before the injury). The calculated amount may be subject to minimum and maximum thresholds. Unless the disability lasts longer than a certain amount of time, no benefits are provided (often seven days).
-Temporary Total.
Benefits are paid during the period of disability. They are based on a percentage (such as 66 2/3) of the worker's average weekly wage. For example, a worker earning $1,000 per week is out of work for two months due to a broken leg. He will receive $667 per week for the next eight weeks.
-Temporary Partial
Workers typically receive their reduced pay (for work that can be performed) plus a percentage difference between their regular and reduced pay.
-Permanent Total.
A permanently and totally disabled worker typically receives 66 2/3 (or some other specified percentage) of his average weekly wage for the rest of his life.
-Permanent Partial
Some states divide permanent partial disabilities into two categories: scheduled and non-scheduled. Schedule injuries involve a specific body part, such as a finger, hand, or eye. A worker who sustains a permanent injury to a body part listed in the schedule is eligible for a set number of weeks of disability payments.
3.Rehabilitation
Missouri offers some form of vocational rehabilitation to workers who cannot return to their previous job due to an on-the-job injury. The state also provides psychological rehabilitation if a worker has suffered a work-related mental injury.
4.Death
If an employee dies due to a work-related injury, death benefits are paid to the worker's spouse, minor children, and other dependents. Burial expenses are also covered under death.
To Conclude:
Employees in Missouri who get injured on the job are frequently entitled to workers' compensation. If you or a loved one got injured on the job in Missouri, make no delays in contacting an expert attorney near you with expertise in workers compensation Missouri.
