Many workers may have the wrong impression in regards to qualifying for Workers’ Compensation due to an injury at the workplace. Many believe if they experience any injury while at work, the benefits available through the state will cover Medical expenses and time=off work. Unfortunately, this is not always true. In order to qualify for Worker Comp, you must have suffered the injury while performing your job. If a worker should fall and sustain an injury while on break, the benefits would not be awarded. Another misconception is in regards to those who are considered sub-contractor. Even though these individuals my attend work daily, and be treated as though they were a “regular” employee, the state would not approve benefits in case of injury.
The benefits paid to injured workers in the state of Maryland include Medical expenses, Physical therapy costs, any rehab. Expenses, lost wages and vocational training if necessary. In addition injured employees can receive Educational training. There is, of course, benefits paid should the worker experience injury which would impact his or her ability to work in the future.
Just as with any Government administered program, there are times when the decision made does not agree with the claimant’s point of view. Workers’ Compensation is not an exception. When an employee is injured, a claim must be filed in writing, or online, requesting benefits be paid. On occasion, workers are denied benefits by the Insurance provider. There is a procedure in place designed to handle disputes between the Insurance carrier and the worker. Simply, if refused benefits, the worker can file a dispute with a Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation. Upon receiving the dispute, the Commissioner will schedule a hearing to consider the case.
In general, states do not require employers of agricultural workers to provide Workers’ Compensation coverage. In the state of Maryland, the law pertaining to these workers is more involved than in other states. Maryland states any employer of agricultural workers who has three or more full-time workers, or has an actual payroll of full-time workers must provide Workers’ Compensation coverage.
The Medical expenses covered by Maryland Workers’ Compensation is not subject to a dollar amount limitation. Nor are these expenses subject to time constraints. In Maryland the employee has the right to select his or her treating physician, although the employer can do so in certain situations. As with other states, payments of lost wages are calculated at two-thirds of the workers average weekly earnings.