Some Workers’ Compensation Insurance companies give the impression or expressly tell you that you must go the doctor they send you to.
In Illinois, the Workers’ Compensation Law provides that the injured worker is allowed to go to 2 doctors of her choice and unlimited referrals.
When the insurance company sends you to a doctor this does not count as a doctor of your choice.
For example, say you get hurt at work and your supervisor calls an ambulance to take you to the local hospital. The hospital visit is not your choice.
If work wants you to see an occupational doctor, then this is also their doctor. You can choose to see a neck specialist to examine your injury. This is your first choice of doctor.
Assume that the neck specialist thinks your shoulder is also injured. He then refers you to a shoulder specialist. This is not your second doctor because your first doctor has referred you to the shoulder specialist. You still have a second doctor choice if you need it.
As you can see it can complicated. The main thing to remember is that you are not stuck with the insurance company doctor.
Questions about medical care and Workmans comp? Feel free to call Illinois Work Comp Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.