Are You on Workers’ Compensation and Still Getting Medical Bills? Here’s What To Do
At times, workers suffer injuries while doing their jobs. Unfortunately, some employees sustain injuries that require medical attention. The good news, however, is that after suffering a work injury and seeking medical care, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer is responsible for paying any reasonable, necessary, and related medical expenses. This is true regardless of fault. So, even if you did something that contributed to your injury, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurer is required to cover your medical expenses. When you have an accepted workers’ compensation claim in Vermont, you are not supposed to receive bills for medical treatment, medications, or supplies. However, sometimes, workers get billed for various reasons. In this article, we discuss some of the reasons you may receive medical bills while on workers’ compensation and what to do in each situation.
#1: Workers’ Compensation Is Not Receiving Your Medical Bills
One of the reasons medical bills get sent to injured employees or their health insurance is that workers’ compensation is not getting the employee’s medical bills. So, first, you need to contact your healthcare provider and let them know that you have a valid workers’ compensation claim, and they should send your bills to the workers’ compensation insurance company. If you don’t speak to your healthcare provider, they might assume that you are refusing to pay up. They might send your unpaid bills to collectors, which can, in turn, affect your credit score.
#2: Workers’ Compensation Is Paying but There Is Another Issue
Injured employees sometimes receive medical bills even if workers’ compensation is paying their medical expenses. This might happen for various reasons. For example, your healthcare provider may not have updated information or mistakenly sent the bill to you instead of sending it to the insurance company. Another reason for receiving medical bills, even if workers’ compensation is covering the expenses, is delays in processing the claim. If there is a delay in processing the claim, it could result in you receiving bills before the insurance company has had time to pay.
#3: Workers’ Compensation Is Not Paying Your Medical Bills
You may get medical bills while on workers’ compensation because the workers’ compensation insurer is not paying your bills. Insurance companies refuse to pay medical bills for several reasons, including denial or dispute, documentation errors, pending investigations, communication gaps, and policy coverage. If, for example, you receive a type of treatment that is not covered under the workers’ compensation policy, the workers’ compensation insurer might not pay your bills.
You should contact a qualified attorney if you continue receiving medical bills while on workers’ compensation, and the good news is that workers’ compensation attorneys typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they receive their legal fees if and after they resolve a case. An attorney can help determine why you are getting medical bills despite being on workers’ compensation. They can guide you on how to remedy the situation. If, for example, the insurance company is refusing to pay your bills, an attorney can advocate on your behalf to ensure you receive the benefits you are entitled to.
Contact a Vermont Workers’ Compensation Attorney
To schedule a free consultation with a Vermont workers’ compensation attorney at Sluka Law PLC, call 802-457-1000 or fill out our online contact form.
