What is workers’ compensation- Washington?

Workers’ compensation is a type of insurance that provides healthcare benefits and wage replacement to the workers if they get injured or disabled on duty. It is a Government mandate program; hence the employer pays for it, and no deduction from employees’ wages. Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) in Washington pays compensation to injured workers regardless of who caused the injury. 

The amount of compensation depends on the severity of the damage and whether the injured worker must take time off from work; read more.

However, the benefits vary from state to state in the U.S, as the states operate the workers’ compensation individually. Texas is the only exception wherein there is no compulsion of maintaining workers’ compensation.

What does the insurance entail?

• The insurance entails medical expenses such as hospital stay, medications, surgery, and other medical bills. It even covers immediate and ongoing care like ambulance, emergency visits, medication course, physical rehabilitation, etc.

• A severe injury may refrain the worker from returning to work for an extended period, even months. Workers’ compensation pays a share of the outstanding wages that weren’t paid to the employee when he was in the recovery phase.

• Suppose any worker is deceased during their office hours at work. Workers’ compensation provides death benefits to the deceased worker’s family that cover funeral expenses and related expenses.

Types of Workers’ Compensation

Coverage A: It covers a person’s right to receive all of the statutory benefits that they can receive from an employer’s insurance. It includes compensation for medical care, salary replacement, rehabilitation, and death benefits, as applicable. Except for Texas, every state offers such benefits. Although they vary greatly from state to state, some states exclude certain employees from eligibility.

Coverage B: Coverage B pays benefits that exceed the minimums required by Coverage A. It usually only occurs when the employer is found to have been negligent or acting improperly.

Who is excluded from Workers’ Compensation?

States cover mostly all salaried workers under this insurance. Some exceptions are:

• Business owners
• Independent contractors
• Farmhands and farmworkers
• Railroad employees
• Casual workers
• Volunteers

How can a worker claim it?

The injured party should visit a healthcare facility to gather medical reports from a doctor to support the claim. Then they can then start the claims process with Nationwide, ensuring they provide any state-mandated forms. When the claims are approved, the party will receive their compensation payments and will be able to return to work when they are ready.