How Much Is Workers Compensation In California?
Sometimes hardworking people can find themselves in positions where they are unable to work for sometime; due to injury or illness, or due to having lost a job. For workers on minimum wage that could be a death sentence because the low earnings mean little savings, and little savings means the real possibility of not being able to afford the basic necessities of life including food, or the treatment necessary to recover.
In order to avoid such unnecessary suffering, there are certain provisions put in place by the government to help provide some form of compensation to workers and help them get through those tough times. Therefore, every worker will do himself some good by learning about the worker’s compensation so as not to get caught without any safety if anything happens.
But let us curate the information in the proper order; starting from what kinds of workers compensation are available in California.
What are the Workers Compensations in California?
California workers are entitled to the following forms of compensation by law:
Medical care – this compensation involves treatment for the injury,
Temporary disability – this compensation involves payment for loss of wages,
Permanent disability – this compensation involves payment for permanent loss of function.
Job displacement benefits – this compensation involves payment for job retraining.
What medical treatment is covered?
California workers’ compensation benefits include the cost of medical treatment for an injury sustained on the job. However, the stipulation is that the injured worker must be treated by a doctor in a special network, called a Medical Provider Network (MPN), which is a collection of medical services providers chosen to provide specialized care to ailing workers.
Please note that the injured worker cannot determine how he will be treated; there are standardized regimens for the care. All treatment in workers’ compensation is based on medical treatment guidelines that determine such things as duration, frequency, and method of all treatment given.
Much will depend on the treating doctor- he will treat the person until he believes that further will not produce any different results. Then the treating doctor will write a report called a Permanent and Stationary Report. This means the person may be permanently disabled, and due for permanent disability compensation. One important part of medical compensation is mileage reimbursement.
This includes transportation to go for tests, scans, and any other things relating to the treatment he is receiving.
Mileage reimbursement
Mileage reimbursements are payments made to an injured worker who is receiving treatment and therefore has to travel to and from the doctor or hospital. This Mileage reimbursement helps the injured worker to pay for his transportation to and from the hospital, during the course of his injury.
This includes transportation to go for tests, scans, and any other things relating to the treatment he is receiving.
What Is The Maximum Worker’s Compensation In California?
In California, if you are injured on the job, the law entitles you to receive two-thirds of your pretax gross wage. This is set by state law and also has a maximum allowable amount. That means you can work it out depending on your weekly wage, but keep in mind that there is a maximum amount in place which is the limit to how much you can receive.
The maximum amount receivable by an injured worker in California right now is $1,356.31 per week. Please note that this figure is adjusted every year, and it is usually updated upwards.
An important piece of information is: under Labor Code Section 4659(c), workers who suffered an injury on the job which has left them permanently disabled on or after January 1, 2003, and who are receiving life pension (LP) or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are also entitled to have their weekly payments increased to the present standard.
If you have not had your weekly LP or PTD rate adjusted based on the SAWW, then please contact your employer or the nearest labor office.
How much is the Average Workers Compensation in California?
The average workers’ compensation rate for California in the year 2018 was $2.25 per $100 of payroll according to information from the state’s rating bureau. This means that a business with $100,000 in payroll would pay a base premium of $2,250 annually to worker’s compensation.
Related:
- Can I Lose My Health Insurance While On Workers Compensation In California
- How long Can You Receive Worker Compensation Benefits in California?
Conclusion:
Please note that the information contained in this article is not comprehensive. It is intended for general information only, and can be substituted for professional advice. Please contact a lawyer, your insurance provider, or any other professional for advice before making any moves. Furthermore, please keep in mind that medical compensation is not the only form of compensation available in California.
Benefits are the focus of the California workers’ compensation system. The purpose is to ensure that there is fair compensation to workers who have been injured during the course of their lawful work. Because Insurance companies are set up as profitable companies first and providers of benefits second, it is possible for them to overlook a valid claim for compensation. Therefore, if you know you have a valid claim, please do not shy away from getting a lawyer.
