| Many business owners are confused about what | | | | the job when he was involved in his daily routine, so |
| group health insurance and workers' compensation | | | | workers' compensation will defray his medical costs |
| insurance will cover. If you can offer both types of | | | | and lost wages until he can return to work. |
| coverage as part of a comprehensive benefits | | | | Situation #3: Your employee suffers a closed-head |
| package to your employees, you will be offering the | | | | injury due to a car accident. |
| best combination of products your company can | | | | In this situation, it depends entirely on the |
| provide. In addition, you will be staying within the law | | | | circumstances surrounding the accident. If your |
| and protecting your bottom line. | | | | employee was driving to the mall on the weekend |
| Following are three situations. We will describe which | | | | and suffered an accident in his personal vehicle, then |
| kind of insurance your employee will need to use. | | | | group health insurance will defray his medical costs |
| Situation #1: Your employee is home sick with strep | | | | until his personal insurance company can file a claim |
| throat. | | | | against the driver who struck his car. |
| In this situation, your employee has contracted a | | | | If this happened on the job in a company vehicle, |
| bacterial infection that is commonly passed from one | | | | your employee can file a workers' compensation claim |
| person to the other. He will need to visit a doctor to | | | | to defray his medical costs and lost wages. |
| get antibiotics and will probably be out of work for | | | | Offering workers' compensation insurance is required |
| 5-7 days. | | | | by law in every state, no matter what your |
| In this case, your employee will use his group health | | | | company size. Group health insurance is not a |
| insurance when he visits the doctor and fills his | | | | requirement, but it does go far in attracting high |
| prescription. Since this is not a work-related injury, | | | | quality and loyal employees to your company. As |
| group health insurance will defray these medical costs. | | | | medical costs rise, most people are looking for a |
| Situation #2: Your employee lifts a heavy object and | | | | cost-effective solution to their personal medical |
| suffers a back injury. | | | | charges. A group insurance policy is the perfect |
| In this case, your employee may have been negligent | | | | solution; because it's inexpensive and pre-existing, |
| or careless when lifting. He may not have used | | | | conditions do not apply. |
| proper lifting procedures, and he may not have been | | | | A specialized insurance carrier can work with you to |
| wearing a back belt when the injury occurred. But he | | | | develop a competitive benefits package for your |
| needs to see a doctor, may be out of work on bed | | | | work force that is still reasonable for your company's |
| rest for a few weeks, and may need to start | | | | budget. Since workers' compensation coverage |
| physical therapy before he can return to work. | | | | usually eats up 50% of the company insurance |
| If this happens, your employee will be able to file a | | | | budget, working with a carrier to find cost-effective |
| workers' compensation claim. This injury occurred on | | | | solutions is critical to your bottom line. |