Mt. Vernon Workers' Compensation Insurance

From the 48-acre Continental Tire facility to the Walgreen distribution center, there are many employers in the city of Mt. Vernon, IL.  With any job, there are risks of employee injuries. If a worker is hurt on the job, workers’ compensation insurance can cover the treatment costs and time off work so that both the employee and the employer can avoid large financial losses.

An independent insurance agent can help you find the best and most affordable workers’ compensation insurance policy to cover your Mt. Vernon business. Contact a local insurance agent to learn more.

Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance Required in Mt. Vernon?

Mt. Vernon businesses must be in compliance with Illinois state laws regarding workers’ compensation insurance.  In this state, all employers are required to cover their employees. This is true even if you only have one employee who works part-time.

There are a few exceptions. It is not necessary to purchase coverage for sole proprietors who have no employees, nor is it necessary to cover family members who are corporate officers, or direct family members who live in the same household as the employer. These exceptions do not apply to workers in hazardous jobs like construction or trucking.

If you fail to carry workers’ compensation for your employees, you can face a felony conviction that is punishable by up to three years in jail and fines of up to $25,000. You can also face a monetary penalty for every day that you were uninsured.  In other words, it’s not worth it to try to skirt the law.

How Much Does Workers’ Compensation Insurance Cost in Mt. Vernon, IL?

Workers’ compensation costs are based on the types of jobs your workers do and your company’s overall payroll. Every job is assigned a designated classification code, and rates for each class code are regulated by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The more likely it is that a worker will suffer a serious injury, the higher the cost for coverage will be.

Insurance providers are required to use the state’s assigned rates as guidelines when assessing costs for coverage. Experience modifiers, claims histories, and worker safety records can influence rates and make them higher or lower. The following are the average rates paid per every $100,000 in employee payroll for three of the top industries in Mt. Vernon, IL:

Workers in the health care and accommodation & food services industries have higher injury risks than those who work in educational services. A nurse may injure her back while transporting a patient, or a cook in a restaurant may suffer a significant burn. It therefore makes sense that these industries have higher coverage rates than the educational services industry.

Of course, these are just averages. There is a wide range of jobs under each industry umbrella and costs can vary accordingly.  Talk to your independent insurance agent to learn more about how much workers’ compensation insurance will cost for your particular business.

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Mt. Vernon Workers’ Compensation Covers the Cost of Medical Treatment

Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to ensure that employees who suffer occupational illnesses or on-the-job injuries will be able to receive appropriate medical treatment, follow-up care, and medications without facing any out-of-pocket costs.

As an employer in Illinois, you are permitted to designate a list of authorized physicians that your workers may go to for their medical care following a work-related injury. Exceptions to the requirement to see one of these doctors are made during medical emergencies or if specialized care is needed and recommended by an authorized physician.

Your business is not required to participate in the preferred provider program. If you do not participate, your employees will be able to go to the doctor of their choosing.

Mt. Vernon Workers’ Compensation Insurance Provides Disability Coverage

If an injured employee needs to take off more than three consecutive work days to recuperate, workers’ compensation insurance can ease the financial burden by offering disability coverage. Through this coverage, disabled employees can receive a weekly benefit of two-thirds of their average weekly wage.

Sometimes, treating physicians will release injured workers to return to work, but only in a light-duty capacity. If so, employees must comply or risk losing their benefits. If a recuperating employee is earning less money than before, either because the light-duty job pays less or they are working fewer hours, workers’ compensation insurance can help to bridge the difference in income.

If a work injury leaves an employee permanently disabled or disfigured, workers’ comp can provide compensation in an amount based on the employee’s previous earnings. The number of weeks the employee may collect this benefit depends on the type of injury sustained and the degree of impairment the injury caused.  Disfigurement can also entitle the employee to a single lump-sum payment.

Workers’ Compensation Covers Fatal Work Injuries in Mt. Vernon

Unfortunately, some workplace injuries are severe and may result in fatalities. Workers’ compensation insurance can help surviving family members manage the financial difficulties of this loss by providing them with death benefits, also called survivor benefits.

These benefits include up to $8,000 in burial costs and a weekly payment to the employee’s spouse and dependents. The payments are in the amount of two-thirds of the deceased employee’s previously earned wages and can be distributed for 25 years or up to $500,000, whichever is greater.

How to Appeal Workers’ Compensation Claim Denials

There are a number of reasons why workers’ compensation insurance companies may deny coverage. Insurance companies will not honor claims if they believe that:

If you feel that a workers’ compensation claim was unjustly denied, you can file an appeal through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. They will initiate arbitration hearings.  

Find the Best Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Mt. Vernon, IL

If you are looking for an ideal workers’ compensation insurance policy to cover your Mt. Vernon business, an independent insurance agent can help. These agents can match you up with an insurance provider that specializes in covering businesses in your industry. Your agent can also help you compare rates so that you can be certain premiums come at a competitive rate.

If you are interested in learning more about the many benefits of working with a local, independent professional, contact an insurance agent with an office in Mt. Vernon.