If you have been diagnosed with an occupational disease, or if you were hurt in a workplace accident, you might be prescribed medications by your treating physician. As an example, if you have been diagnosed with a lung condition from inhaling dust, you might be prescribed an inhaler, antibiotics and steroids. An injury might result in prescriptions for anti-inflammatory medications and pain pills. These prescriptions, of course, are an added expense. When you file a claim for workers’ compensation, you get access to medical benefits. Medical benefits cover the cost of your medical expenses. What is Covered by Medical Benefits? Medical benefits cover the cost of your care while you are recovering. Those costs can include hospital stays, physician visits, medical devices such as braces or casts, physical therapy, surgical procedures, and prescriptions. Depending on where you work, you might be told to go to a specific pharmacy and to tell them it is a workers’ compensation claim. The insurer might pay the pharmacy directly, or you might have to pay and then provide a receipt for reimbursement. You should not bill workers’ compensation prescriptions under your own medical insurance. Instead, be sure you keep all prescription records in support of your workers’ compensation claim. Getting Prescription Medication For a prescription to be covered, it must be prescribed by your workers’ compensation medical provider. In most states, your employer or their insurer can select your medical provider. They will only take diagnosis, opinions, and referrals for other care from one of those approved providers. You will need to get care from a provider that is on that list. Failing to use a physician off that list could result in you being responsible for your own medical costs and losing access to workers’ compensation benefits. The same goes with prescriptions. Only prescriptions from one of those approved providers will be covered by the workers’ compensation insurance. You do need to make sure you get all prescriptions filled in a timely manner, keep the prescription records and receipts, and take the prescription as directed. Your employer and their insurer will look at all these things when determining if your claim is approved. You will need to show that you are following doctor’s orders and working toward recovering. Consult with a Workers’ Compensation Attorney If you have been hurt while working, you should consult with a workers’ compensation attorney who is licensed in your state. Workers’ compensation claims are challenging and negotiating with an insurance company requires extensive knowledge and experience. Don’t risk losing access to much-needed workers’ compensation benefits. A strict statute of limitations applies, so make sure you get your claim on the right track today. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page, so an attorney in your area can review your case and determine the best way to proceed. You have nothing at all to lose, so talk with a lawyer today about your workers’ compensation claim and your current medical situation. Additional Resources Workers' Compensation Attorneys by State Can My Workers’ Comp Settlement Pay My Medical Bills?
