Many people count on the income from their jobs to support themselves and their families. An accident in the workplace can cause serious injuries that prevent workers from earning the income they need to survive. Fortunately, many workers who are injured at work are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.
Worker’s compensation generally covers both medical expenses (e.g., hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation) and, in cases of more serious injuries, lost wages.
State-fund employers v. self-insuring employers
Under Ohio law, employers must provide workers’ compensation insurance to their employees. If you are injured at work, the process will depend on whether your employer is defined as state-fund or self-insuring.
- If your employer is a state-fund employer, your employer pays an insurance premium to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), which will then pay you benefits if you are injured in a workplace accident and are eligible for benefits. A managed care organization (MCO) will evaluate your medical needs, approve treatments, and help you return to work.
- If your employer is self-insuring, the employer will directly pay injured employees workers’ compensation benefits. You will file a claim with your employer, and your employer will make decisions related to your medical treatments and benefits. The BWC will oversee any workers’ comp claims, but the employer will pay out the benefits.
How do I recover benefits?
The first step to recovering benefits is to report your workplace injury to your employer as soon as possible and file a workers’ compensation claim. You must provide any medical information that is requested and fill out a C-101 form (Authorization to Release Medical Information) so that your medical providers can provide the necessary information.
Once your claim is reviewed, it will be either approved or denied. If your claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision.