An injury can take a major toll. You may suffer physically, mentally, and financially. An injury can lead to missed work, lost wages, and hefty medical bills. If you are injured on the job, you will likely be entitled to recover compensation. Read on to learn more about filing for workers’ compensation in Illinois.
How is a Claim Classified?
Illinois workers’ compensation claims are broken into two categories. These categories are as follows:
- Medical-only: The injured worker missed seven or fewer days of work due to their workplace injury. They can receive treatment and/or benefits while they can still report to work.
- Lost-time: This claim means that the employee missed more than eight days of work due to their injuries.
How do I File a Claim?
In the state of Illinois, the injured party can file a claim for workers’ compensation, but other parties, such as the injured party’s employer or spouse, can file as well. Even the doctor treating the employee can file as well. In order to do so, they can submit the claim online, through a First Report of an Injury (FROI) form, or by phone. If a doctor files the claim, he or she can submit it to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) or the managed care organization (MCO). This must be done within 24 hours of the injured party’s visit.
Can I Appeal a Claims Decision?
Once a claim is filed, it will be reviewed and it will either approved or denied. The decision will be made by a Claims Service Specialist. Once this is done, either party involved in the process has 14 days to file an appeal if they wish to do so. This means if the injured employee or their employer disagrees with the decision, they can fight to overturn it. This process can be difficult, so it is important to retain the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.
If you have sustained an injury on the job in Illinois, our firm is here to advocate for you. Reach out today to speak with a dedicated attorney.
Contact AllianceMeds
If you have become the victim of an on-the-job injury, it may be beneficial to speak with an attorney and the doctor that is treating you to determine how to make the process as easy as possible. AllianceMeds understands that a workplace accident can be challenging and is here to help. We will deliver your medication to your door using overnight delivery and cover any out-of-pocket expenses that may arise. If you have any questions about how we can help, contact AllianceMeds today.