Q. WHAT IS WORKERS' COMPENSATION?
A. A State Required Program to Provide: Medical care and part of your lost pay to an employee injured as a result of a work-related activity. All benefits are set by Florida Law. Workers' Compensation is provided at no cost to you.
Q. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I'M INJURED ON THE JOB?As soon as you can, you must tell your supervisor, (employer) you have been injured at work.
Go to a medical provider authorized by your employer.
Give your doctor as many details about your accident as possible.
Follow your doctor's instructions.
Ask your doctor when you may return to work.
Let your employer know how you are doing.
Under certain circumstances, you may be required to take a drug test.
WHAT SHOULD MY EMPLOYER DO?
Your employer is required to provide you the medical care needed to treat your injury or condition, so you can return to work.
Complete an accident report.
If you cannot work for more than seven days, due to your injury or condition, you will receive a portion of your normal pay according to a state determined scheduled.
These benefits may be paid by your employer or your employer's insurance carrier.
Q. DO I HAVE TO PAY ANY OF MY MEDICAL COSTS?
A. No. But if you were injured on or after 1/1/94, you must pay $10 per visit for treatment after your doctor release you and you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Q. WHAT KIND OF MEDICAL TREATMENT CAN I GET?
A. Medically necessary visits to an authorized health care provider (chiropractic visits may be limited), surgery, hospital care, dental, prescriptions medications, braces and crutches, mileage to and from the doctor, and any other medical supplies order by your authorized physician.
Q. CAN I CHOOSE MY OWN DOCTOR OR CHANGE DOCTORS?
A. You can choose a doctor from the list of physician provided by your employer's managed care arrangement. If you go to a doctor other than one authorized by your employer's managed care arrangement, you may have to pay your own medical bills.
Q. IF MY INJURY MAKES ME LOSE TIME FROM WORK, WILL I BE PAID FOR THE PAY I LOSE?
A. You will not be paid for the first seven days you lose from work unless your injury is serious enough that you may lose more than 21 days from work.
Q. WHEN WILL I GET MY FIRST CHECK?
A. The earliest you can expect your check is within three weeks of your injury. This can only happen if your report your injury to your employer immediately.
Q. HOW MUCH WILL MY BENEFIT CHECK BE?
A. In most cases, your weekly pay will be 66 2/3 percent of your average weekly wage, subject to a state maximum.
Q. CAN MY EMPLOYER FIRE ME IF I FILE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS?
A. By law, you cannot be fired for filing or attempting to file a workers' compensation claim.
Q. WILL MY EMPLOYER KEEP MY JOB FOR ME?
A. Not necessarily. You and your employer need to work together to get you back to work as soon as you are able.
Q. IF I AM UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE TYPE OF WORK I DID BEFORE I WAS INJURED, WHAT CAN I DO?
A. Bureau of Rehabilitation and Medical Services at (850) 488-3431 for information.
BE AWARE:
YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE BENEFITS AND MEDICAL CARE MAY END IF THERE HAS BEEN NO PAYMENT FOR LOST TIME OR NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD.