|  | Public Health Safety | Work Safety

Information on California Workman's Compensation Insurance

Workers' compensation insurance pays money to employees who sustain injuries while working for an employer. Claims are also paid to a worker's dependents if the worker dies from job injuries. According to the California Workers' Compensation Institute, most people who work for employers in California receive this type of insurance coverage; the main exception is a worker who is self employed.

  1. No Fault

    • Workers' compensation is a no-fault insurance policy. An accident that a worker causes does not make the worker ineligible to receive worker compensation, as it is not necessary to prove that the injury is a result of employer mistakes. Since the employer pays for this insurance, and the employer's insurance premiums rise when workers receive injuries, the employer may challenge the workers' compensation claim.

    Scientific Treatments

    • Workers' compensation covers standard medical treatments. The state of California provides information on common treatments for work injuries which medical and scientific experts claim are effective. If a physician prescribes a treatment which California does not recognize according to its Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule, it is acceptable to use other generally accepted treatments which are nationally accepted by other physicians. An insurance company may contest nonstandard treatments which are not supported by scientific evidence.

    Utilization Review

    • Employers examine the medical treatments that a worker receives. According to the state of California, an employer must establish a utilization review program to make sure that the medical treatments are acceptable. Utilization review is a requirement for any worker who receives treatment, even if the injury occurred before the establishment of this law in 2004.

    Permanent Payments

    • Permanent coverage applies when a worker receives severe injuries that prevent him from performing work at the same pay rate. The state of California publishes permanent disability rating schedules which insurers use to determine the payments, based on the body part, the severity of damage and the worker's occupation.

    Temporary Payments

    • Temporary coverage assists a worker until a physician clears the worker to return to her job. The California Worker's Compensation Institute states that temporary disability payments are around two-thirds of the worker's income, and the California state legislature sets minimum and maximum temporary disability payments. The legislature links the payment range to the average wage in California.

    State Support

    • California provides assistance to workers who need assistance applying for workers' compensation, or who need legal help dealing with an employer or an insurance company. The state provides 24 information and assistance offices throughout California. A worker can also argue his case in front of the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board of California, and may wish to hire a lawyer with experience in worker's compensation.

Work Safety - Related Articles