What could cause workers’ comp benefits in Florida to suddenly stop?
El Portal, FL—Workers’ compensation benefits are provided to construction workers who suffer on-the-job injuries and require medical treatment. These benefits also reimburse for lost wages if an individual misses more than seven days of work.1 Benefits are provided for a specified period of time during which a recipient must meet certain requirements such as attending all scheduled medical visits or responding to requests sent by the insurance carrier.
If a workers’ comp recipient’s benefits end suddenly, it may be for one of the following reasons:
- The worker reached a point of Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI).
Workers’ comp benefits sometimes stop once a construction worker’s injuries are healed, or they reach a point of MMI. If an individual is considered to have reached maximum medical improvement, it means no further care will repair the damage that was done. The treating physician may decide to release the individual back to work and that is when certain benefits might cease.
For example, if no further care is needed, medical benefits may stop. However, if the injured party is only able to work part-time due to their condition, they may still qualify to receive wage replacement benefits, up until 107 weeks.
Important: If a construction worker reaches a point of MMI yet they still need additional care for pain management, they will want to speak with their treating physician to prevent from having their benefits cut.
- The employee failed to keep up with their doctor’s visits.
If a worker’ comp recipient fails to attend their previously scheduled medical visits, it may appear as though they no longer need care. The insurance company may then decide to stop benefits.
- The treating physician cleared the employee for work.
If an individual is able to return to their position without any limitations or restrictions, their wage replacement benefits may stop. If additional care is still needed, such as to help with pain management, medical benefits may still be provided. In the event no further care is needed, all benefits may end.
- The insurance carrier made a mistake while handling the claim.
On occasion, the insurance carrier might make a mistake while handling a claim that results in a person losing their workers’ comp benefits. If an individual believes an error was made on their claim and that they should still be receiving benefits, they will want to contact the insurance carrier to report the issue.
When the insurance carrier fails to reinstate benefits
If an injured construction worker’s benefits suddenly stopped and the insurer is refusing to reinstate them, they can contact Mario Trespalacios P.A. to discuss this with an El Portal, FL construction injury lawyer.
Construction workers are often required to work around dangerous and hazardous conditions and rely on Florida’s workers’ comp system to provide them with medical and wage replacement benefits should they get hurt. When the system fails a worker who sustained an on-the-job injury, the El Portal, FL construction injury attorneys at Mario Trespalacios P.A. are happy to step in and help.
Mario Trespalacios P.A. can be contacted at:
9495 SW 72 Street, Suite B-275
Miami, FL 33173
Phone: 305-261-5800
Website: www.mtpalegal.com
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