Employees in Iowa have protection if they end up injured in workplace incidents or sickened due to their job functions. Workers’ compensation benefits can help diminish the financial harm caused by a job-related medical challenge.
Professionals who follow the right procedures by reporting the issue to their employer, seeing a physician authorized to provide care and complying with medical instructions may be eligible for both disability benefits to cover their lost wages and medical benefits that help pay for their treatment expenses. The no-fault coverage offered protects even those who may have made mistakes that contributed to their injuries.
Depending on the type of injury or illness acquired by an Iowa worker, the treatment they require could range from something as simple as a prescription to surgery followed by physical therapy. What types of medical care are eligible for workers’ compensation coverage?
Necessary, effective treatment is eligible
Generally speaking, the physician treating a worker has the authority to determine what treatment is necessary and what, if any, accommodations the worker may require to return to work safely. Provided that a physician deems the treatment necessary and likely to yield an improvement in the worker’s condition, workers’ compensation can cover it.
The medical costs eligible for workers’ compensation coverage include:
- Appointments with primary care/general practice physicians
- Appointments with specialists
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency trauma care
- Ambulance transportation
- Surgeries
- Hospital stays
- Physical therapy
Unlike health insurance, which imposes patient responsibility costs, workers’ compensation does not require that employees pay for any aspect of their treatment. They do not pay a copay, owe a 20% flat coinsurance or need to meet a deductible by paying out of pocket.
Workers’ compensation can potentially cover 100% of their eligible treatment expenses. In cases where there are disputes about the treatment recommended or where a doctor determines that a worker is unlikely to respond to additional treatment, professionals may need help navigating the workers’ compensation system to ensure that they get the benefits they require.
Retaining the assistance of an attorney can make workers’ compensation benefits more accessible to those dealing with an illness or injury caused by their employment. Professionals can rely on their lawyers to assist them with paperwork, review any controversies and help them maximize the benefits they receive.