Alternatives to Worker’s Comp
Is there a policy available to cover a sole proprietor (very small business) in the event of an accident on the job? We are looking for an alternative to Workers Comp, as the business earnings on which premiums are calculated are far less than the required minimum. Our entire family is covered under a family plan at my wife’s place of employment. My only concern relates to accidents on the job.
We are not experts on worker’s comp regulations but we suggest that you check with the health insurance policy through your wife’s employer. Worker’s comp typically acts as the primary insurer for work related injuries, but this does not necessarily mean that your wife’s health insurance policy will not cover work related injuries if you do not have worker’s comp insurance as a sole proprietor. They will typically coordinate payment of benefits with the Worker’s Comp carrier. Your health insurance company should be able to tell you if they do not cover work related injuries if there is no worker’s comp coverage through the workplace. Most insurance companies do not exclude work related injuries from your policy. If you are uncertain of this, review your current health insurance contract or contact the customer service department for your insurance company.
That is why we were checking into this. Our health insurance company is telling us that we are not covered for work related injuries
Comment by Steve — November 7, 2006 @ 8:55 am
In April 2009 I suffered a sprained ankle at work and then went straight to the hospital and the emergency room. The hospital then asked me to fill out an workers comp form which I agreed to. I do have medical health insurance through my job, so I never really thought that was an issue anyway. I didn’t know that I was meant to give the workers comp form to my employer, so I just kept it. I had X-ray and bandages done at the hospital. The first bill then came in at 85$ which I didn’t pay, because I thought the hospital was going to contact my employer and ask him to settle it. Then some time later I got a letter from a collection agency saying that the hospital had called it as bad debt and that I had to pay them now. I told them, as I told the hospital, that it was a work related accident. This apparently made them stop contacting me until a few days ago when I got a huge bill in the mail for 1,302$! Now I really don’t know what to do? Should I try to my medical health insurance to pay for this or what else is there to do?
Comment by Christopher — June 6, 2009 @ 5:49 am