One of the main benefits that someone receives after filing a workers’ comp claim is the medical payment benefits. This covers for the costs of any medical treatment somebody undergoes while recovering from a work-related injury. That includes everything from doctor’s visits to medications to surgeries to physical rehabilitation. You could increase your odds of success by working with a trustworthy workers’ compensation attorney. Learn about the possibilities for medical treatment in Elgin workers’ compensation claims before you file.
The employer’s insurance company plays no role in dictating an injured worker’s medical treatment, which includes the choice of doctor. By law, the only thing that the insurance company can require of them is a Section 12 Exam, which is an independent medical evaluation that does not require actual treatment.
It is still common for the insurance companies to try and mislead an injured worker into believing they can only treat with one of their approved doctors. One provision in the law allows for certain types of companies to choose a provider on a specified list, called the preferred provider program, which must be approved by the state. However, this applies to few employers. A lawyer could inform a worker if this provision applies to them or not.
Despite medical treatment, some people who engage in a local workers’ compensation claim simply do not end up feeling much better. They may be under the impression that they can go in for an operation or for some medicine that will return them to perfect health in a few days, which rarely happens. This can be a difficult experience for them.
Injured workers can also encounter frustration when the insurance sends them to an Independent Medical Evaluation (IME). The evaluating doctor might order their treatment be cut off because, in their opinion, the worker has healed. This can happen even when the injured person continues to feel some pain or disability, which is why selecting a reliable doctor is preferred. If the worker is unsure of their options, a lawyer could make recommendations for seeing a different doctor.
Maximum medical improvement (MMI) means that an injured person has reached the plateau of their recovery. A doctor makes the opinion that the patient will no longer increase their functionality or reduce pain with further treatment, even though that might mean they are not 100 percent back to what they were like before the accident. However, it does mean that treatment can cease. This might mean that someone is left with a permanent impairment or disability, such as paralysis.
Practically speaking, there is no such thing as a medical-only claim in Illinois workers’ compensation, so benefits for disability or lost wages are likely. Medical treatment is only one part of the typical workers’ compensation claim in Elgin.
If someone has reached maximum medical improvement but is still unable to return to work due to a permanent disability, workers’ compensation is able to provide benefits. It is possible to secure weekly benefit payments to a person until they reach the age of 67 if they are able to find a lower-wage job that can accommodate their disability. If it will be impossible for them to work at all, then the weekly benefits can last for the rest of their life.
There are some limitations to medical treatment after a workplace accident but an injured person still maintains a certain level of control over their recovery. In order to prepare for any hurdles that might arise, you should work with a lawyer who specializes in these types of cases. To learn more about the medical treatment in Elgin workers’ compensation claims, place a call now.
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