When you make a workers’ compensation claim, there is a lot that occurs behind the scenes. Your employer gets workers’ compensation insurance through an insurer, and it is the insurer who handles all the details and the process of ensuring your get your benefits.
One of the most important coverages offered through workers’ compensation is medical benefits. These benefits ensure that your employer’s insurance pays for every cost associated with your medical care for the injury you sustained at work. The insurer will also handle all your medical bills.
Legal requirement
California law states that a medical provider cannot send you any bill for services rendered to care for a workers’ compensation-covered injury. You should never get any invoices or anything from your doctors or health care facilities that treat you for your injury. These should go directly to the insurer, who will pay them for you.
Responsibility
Keep in mind that for your treatment providers to know they must send the bills to someone else, you must make sure they know this is a workers’ compensation injury. If you fail to tell them, then they may bill you. It can get quite confusing and could even cause you some financial headaches if you do not alert the providers that care is under workers’ compensation.
You should not pay bills if you receive them. You will need to contact our claim administrator to have it handled through the system. If you pay a bill, you may not be able to recoup that money. In addition, you have to be sure to follow all guidelines for care. Make sure you use the doctor approved by workers’ compensation. If you do not use the right provider, you could end up with bills the claims administrator does not get or will not pay.
The idea is to keep things very simple for you. You focus on getting better, and the insurer handles all the financial aspects.
