What
the Injured Employee Should Know:
- Workers’ compensation coverage
is paid by your employer at no cost to you.
- It is your responsibility to
report a work-related accident as soon as it happens.
- This coverage will pay for reasonably
necessary medical care you need if you get hurt or get sick
because of an injury on your job.
- Your employer or its workers’
compensation insurance carrier has the right to choose the
doctor who will treat you.
- Workers’ compensation coverage
will also replace part of your lost wages if your doctor says
you must be off work for a certain length of time because
of a work-related injury or illness.
How to get medical care and benefits:
- For you to begin getting benefits,
your employer must report the injury to its workers’
compensation insurance carrier by completing a First Report
of Injury or Illness.
- Go to the doctor chosen
by your employer or your employer’s workers’ compensation
insurance carrier.
- Be sure to do everything possible
to cooperate with your employer and its workers’ compensation
carrier. If you do not, your benefits may be stopped or delayed.
Be sure you:
- Complete all workers’
compensation forms in a timely manner.
- Report any earnings
you get after your injury to the workers’ compensation
carrier.
- Get approval from the
carrier before receiving treatment. If you are not satisfied
with the doctor first assigned, ask your claims handler
or carrier to approve another doctor. You may also write
to the Commission to request a Change of Physician.
- Return to work as soon
as the doctor says you can.
- Keep all records in
a safe place for future reference.
- Be aware that your right
to receive benefits and medical care may end if there has
not been payment made or necessary medical care provided
for a one year period.
What type
of benefits can you get?
Medical Benefits
Workers’ Compensation insurance pays
for all reasonably necessary medical care related to your on-the-job
injury or illness including:
- visits to an approved health care provider
- surgery
- hospital care
- physical therapy
- prescription drugs
- braces and crutches
- other medical supplies when ordered by
your approved physician
Before being treated, be sure you have the
approval of your employer’s workers’ compensation
carrier. You are not responsible for the doctor bills as long
as the carrier approves the doctor you are seeing. If you see
a doctor without the carrier’s approval, you may be responsible
for the bill. When you receive approved treatment, the doctor
will bill the insurance carrier directly. If you are billed,
send the bill to your employer or the carrier.
Payment for Lost Wages
If you have to miss work because of a work-related
injury or illness, you may be eligible to receive some cash
benefits (indemnity benefits). The waiting period for these
benefits is seven (7) calendar days and must be at the direction
of your approved doctor.
These payments can help you
through the period of time you are disabled from your workplace
injury or illness. Your coverage begins on the eighth day of
partial or total disability. You will be paid for the first
seven (7) days only if you are disabled for more than
fourteen (14) days. These days do not have to be continuous
calendar days.
Additional Information:
If you have further questions, please call
the Legal Advisor Division of the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation
Commission at the numbers listed below. We can send you our
Question and Answer brochure or you can speak
directly to a Legal Advisor, unless you are represented by an
attorney.
State of Arkansas
Workers' Compensation Commission
324 South Spring Street
P.O. Box 950
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-0950
Legal Advisor Direct 1-800-250-2511
Legal Advisor FAX 1-501-682-6761
Telephone 1-501-682-3930 / 1-800-622-4472
Arkansas Relay System TDD 1-800-285-1131
For information
or comments regarding this site
contact the AWCC Communications Liaison
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