There are countless ways for workers to get hurt on the job. A cook could cut themselves while prepping a dish and damage a tendon in their hand. A delivery driver could end up in a crash that causes a traumatic brain injury. Workers in all different professions are at risk of repetitive strain injuries that can permanently compromise their functional capabilities.
Some injured employees fully recover after getting hurt on the job. They need time off to rest and proper medical care, but they can eventually return to the same job. Others may forever have bothersome symptoms or functional limitations related to an injury sustained on the job.
Workers’ compensation benefits can help those dealing with job-related medical challenges by limiting their financial losses. Those benefits can be particularly important for those with permanent or career-ending injuries.
What options do workers have when they may not ever fully recover from their on-the-job injuries?
Full medical benefits
Workers’ compensation provides medical coverage for those with work-related injuries. Those medical benefits can pay for all the treatment necessary to help a worker recover. Unfortunately, treatment coverage may end once a doctor determines that a worker’s condition is unlikely to improve any more than it already has.
After achieving maximum medical improvement (MMI), workers may not be eligible for treatment coverage that won’t improve their conditions. However, they may still be eligible for medical benefits related to symptom management. They may also be eligible for additional treatment if their condition worsens again in the future.
Permanent partial disability benefits
Workers’ compensation can cover lost wages when employees need time off to recover. Those benefits usually end when a worker returns to their employment. Those unable to return to the same job at the same wage they previously earned may be eligible for permanent partial disability benefits. Workers’ compensation can help cover the difference between their prior earning potential and what they earn now that they have functional limitations.
Understanding the different types of coverage available can help workers recognize why they need to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Employees who file benefits claims can cover both their care costs and their lost income when an injury affects their ability to work.