Workers’ compensation is designed to cover any financial burden incurred by being injured at work. Because the injury would not have happened outside of your workplace, employers should be responsible for any medical bills, lost wages, and other financial necessities associated with your injury.
Employers usually use a third-party insurance company and pay workers’ compensation without taking money from employees. If your company has failed to secure coverage, the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) has a special reserve for workers’ compensation benefits.
If granted workers’ compensation, your benefits should cover all reasonable and necessary medical bills concerning your injury or illness. You should not have to pay out of pocket for medical care. In addition, these benefits should pay you for lost wages and any long-term disability care.
You may also qualify for temporary benefits if you cannot work for more than a week. Known as “lost time benefits,” you should get paid for time you are unable to work. These benefits are two-thirds of your monthly income determined by the month before your injury or illness.
Notify Your Employer
After your injury, notify your employer of the incident as soon as possible. Your employer will need to report the injury to the insurance company and the ICA.
Visit the Doctor
You should visit the doctor as urgently as necessary for your particular injury. Even if it is not an emergency, visiting the doctor soon after the incident is essential so you can begin the claim process. At the doctor’s office, you can fill out a Worker’s and Physician’s Report of Injury instead of an individual Worker’s Report of Injury form. Your doctor will then submit this to the ICA.
Filing a Claim & Receiving a Decision
After both necessary claims have been filed, you should receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the ICA within two weeks. From there, your employer’s insurance company will decide whether or not to grant or deny your benefits. This process typically takes up to 21 days.
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