Did Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits Get Cut Off Too Soon?

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Did Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits Get Cut Off Too Soon?

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

With the majority of financial obligations that arise in life, there are serious consequences that you have to deal with if you do not pay your bills. For example, if you do not pay your apartment rent, your landlord can take steps to try and have you evicted. Similarly, if you do not pay your electric bill, the power company will probably take steps to have your electricity turned off. 

In contrast, there are some instances when an insurance company can legally stop paying you your workers’ compensation benefits. The good news, however, is that when the benefits stop, you may be able to file issues and make attempts to have your benefits reinstated. 

If you feel that your workers’ compensation benefits have been cut off too soon, the Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers at Malman Law may be able to assist you. Our legal team can file issues with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission to help get your benefits reinstated. Please call us today at (312) 629-0099 or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you with pursuing the benefits that you deserve. 

The Temporary Nature of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

The first thing that you need to understand about workers’ compensation benefits is that in many instances, they are supposed to be temporary. The main purpose of these benefits is to offer you the compensation you need to address immediate concerns following your accidental workplace injury. Those immediate concerns often include doctor visits, physical therapy costs, diagnostic testing (such as MRIs and X Rays), along with lost earnings. Moreover, the main goal of these benefits is typically to get you working again in as short a period of time as practical. 

Although not every workplace injury results in some form of permanency, at some point, a health care provider may determine that you have reached a level of maximum medical improvement and that you are entitled to permanency benefits. The same may hold true if your accidental workplace injury resulted in some permanent loss of bodily function. 

Common Reasons Why Insurance Companies Cut Off Workers’ Compensation Benefits

There are numerous reasons why an insurance company might cut off your workers’ compensation benefits. Some of those reasons include the following:

• The doctor hired by the insurance company makes a determination that you suffer from a medical condition that is pre-existing
• A healthcare provider finds that you have reached a level of maximum medical improvement (i.e., that you are not expected to get any better and that no amount of additional treatment is going to help)
• A healthcare provider writes a report stating that you can return to work full duty
• Your employer’s insurance company makes a determination that you did not suffer your injury while you were on the job or while you were in the course of your employment

If your benefits are cut off, you may be able to file issues with the Workers’ Compensation Commission challenging the insurance company’s decision. Once issues are filed, the Commission will set a hearing date on the contested issues. 

Call a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

If your workers’ compensation benefits have been unexpectedly cut off, the legal team at Malman Law is ready to help. To schedule a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a Chicago workers’ compensation attorney, please call us at (312) 629-0099 or contact us online to learn more.