Under Missouri law, employers with five or more employees must have workers’ compensation insurance for all their employees. This insurance provides financial help to any part-time or full-time employee who gets sick or injured while at work.
Here are four benefits covered by the state’s workers’ compensation:
Medical benefits
The insurance can pay for your medical expenses, including doctors’ visits, surgery costs, hospital stays and medications. However, it is important to remember that your employer can choose their own doctors.
If you visit a different doctor without your employer’s approval, you might need to pay for your medical bills on your own.
Disability benefits
Missouri provides wage loss support for four types of disability benefits. This financial aid can help cover for your lost wages while you are in active recovery. Additionally, if your injury has caused you a permanent total disability, your benefits will be paid for life or until your death.
Vocational rehabilitation benefits
If you need to seek rehabilitation for your work-related injury, you may file for this benefit. However, your employer and their insurer must first decide whether your injury is severe enough to require this benefit.
The maximum coverage for vocational rehabilitation is $5,000, unless the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation approves additional expenses.
Death benefits
If an employee dies from a work-related accident, their surviving dependents (wife and minor children) can file for death benefits. The deceased employee’s benefits are paid on a weekly basis and include financial help for funeral costs.
Your road to recovery awaits
Getting sick or injured while on the job is not your fault, and your recovery should not leave you with a pile of medical debt. By understanding how Missouri workers’ compensation laws work, you can file your claim and seek the benefits that you deserve.