Workers Compensation Commission

It just does not make sense to have a hearing to order the insurance company to pay for your prescriptions.

Usually you will have to make multiple telephone calls, and wait a long time to get your prescriptions approved.

The easiest way I have found to get prescriptions for injured workers is to go through a mail order pharmacy. The pharmacy will negotiate with the Workers’ Compensation insurance company directly to pay the bills and mail the prescriptions to you. At the end of the case the pharmacy bill will resolved with the insurance company.

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.

For instance, the back is worth 500 weeks.

This is an example of a settlement:

Assume you have a surgery that is worth 20 percent of the back. 20 percent of 500 weeks equals 100 weeks.

Assume your average weekly wage is $500 per week. The Work Comp Law says you are entitled to 60 percent of your average weekly wage or $300 per week in this example.

$300 times 100 weeks equals $30,000. That is the value of your settlement.

As we have discussed in other posts, the nature of your injury, the type of surgery, and your restrictions make a difference in the amount of your settlement.

If your work injury results in permanent restrictions and you cannot return to your old job, then a job search may be necessary.

The job search will show what jobs are available to you and what the job market will pay you.

This is a true test of how your limitations reduce your wages.

For instance, if you made $30 an hour before your injury, and $10 an hour after your injury then you are entitled to what is called a wage differential.

The only way to tell what you will make after your injury is to search for a job and get hired.

Questions about job searches, settlements and Workmans Compensation? Feel free to call Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Dirk May at 309-827-4371.

To do this you must request Vocational Rehabilitation from the Work Comp insurance company.

Vocational Rehabilitation is a fancy term for a job search.

The insurance company will hire a vocational counselor to help you put a resume together, find job leads, and prepare you for the interviews.

You must cooperate with the vocational expert and put your best efforts into finding a job that fits your restrictions.

The advantage for the injured worker is that you will continue to be paid Workers Compensation benefits, and the value of your case increases depending on the outcome of your job search.