Getting Your Workers' Compensation Insurers To Pay For Your Medical Bills In 3 Steps
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that is provided to employees who are injured on the job. Workers' compensation pays the employee every few weeks and it is designed to pay for the employee's medical bills. This compensation plan is meant to prevent employees from suing their employers for damages. However, it is not uncommon for workers' compensation insurers to avoid paying your medical bills. They may decide to do this for a number of reasons and this often becomes a nightmare for the injured employee to deal with. As a result, if your insurer refuses to pay for your medical bills, there are a few steps you should take.
1. Make Sure Your Claim Is Approved
In order, to receive anything from your workers' compensation insurer you need to ensure that you have a valid claim. Medical bills are one of the few workers' compensation benefits that begin immediately. However, if your claim is denied then your insurer will eventually stop paying them. Your claim can be denied for a number of reasons, including:
- You were injured away from the job.
- Your medical issues resulted from a pre-existing condition.
If you believe that your claim was wrongly denied then it is important to contact a workers' compensation lawyer. A lawyer will be able to look at the specifics of your case.
2. Notify Your Insurer That You Will Take Action
Notify your workers' compensation insurer that you will file a lawsuit against them if they decide not to pay for your medical bills. If you have a valid claim, then there is a high chance that they will decide to take care of your medical bills in order to avoid a lawsuit. However, not every insurance company will respond positively. Therefore, be prepared to take your claim to a workers' compensation attorney.
3. File a Lawsuit Against Your Workers' Compensation Insurer
If you are approved for workers' compensation and your insurer still refuses to pay your medical bills then you can file a lawsuit against your insurer. A workers' compensation attorney, such as Ball & Ferrari, will help you to bring a case against the insurance company based on "bad faith". This means that the insurer has wrongfully withheld the benefits of this particular insurance. Individuals who win these types of cases usually are awarded a high amount in damages and benefits.
While recovering from a work injury, the last things you want to deal with are medical bills. As a result, use these tips to ensure that your workers' compensation insurer pays your medical bills.
Share