You may not love your job, but you depend on your paychecks to help make ends meet. Being injured at work can be financially devastating. Not only are you probably missing out on paychecks, but you’re also dealing with unexpected medical costs—even a quick trip to the ER can cost thousands of dollars.
Thankfully, employees can usually turn to their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance like Concentra. However, filing a claim can be challenging. To help make the process easier, here are some tips for recovering compensation through Concentra.
Steps for Filing a Compensation Claim with Concentra
Concentra provides healthcare services to businesses, similar to the federal workers’ compensation program. The primary difference is that Concentra is a private company, but it’s also the largest provider of healthcare services for businesses in the U.S. In comparison, workers’ compensation is a federally run program.
Since Pennsylvania law requires most businesses to carry workers’ compensation insurance, Concentra gives organizations another option outside the federal program. The only exception to the state’s employee insurance requirements may be for small, family-owned and operated businesses with only a handful of employees.
In other words, if a company has more than three or four employees, chances are they’re legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Now that you have a better idea of what Concentra is, it’s time to look at the steps for filing an injury claim.
The Reporting Process
Your employer should be the first person you inform after suffering a workplace injury. Don’t worry if the injury is severe enough to prevent you from strolling into the manager or boss’s office. Chances are, they’ll notice when emergency personnel arrive. You can also send a co-worker to deliver the news to your boss.
Failing to notify your supervisor can affect your ability to file a claim through Concentra. Your supervisor is responsible for completing and submitting your accident report. If they aren’t aware of the incident they’re not going to be able to start the claim process.
You’ll also need to provide details about the accident. If your injuries require immediate hospitalization or you’re otherwise unable to answer any questions, this part of the reporting process can wait until you’re able to participate.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
Any time you file a claim with Concentra, you need to provide medical documentation of your injuries, and this means making an appointment with an approved healthcare provider. Obviously, head to the hospital if your injuries are severe or life-threatening.
Even if you don’t think you suffered any injuries and aren’t planning on filing a claim, you still want to be proactive about your health. Not all injuries display immediate signs and symptoms. You may have internal injuries and these can quickly lead to additional health problems. When it comes to your health, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
We mentioned making an appointment with an approved healthcare provider, which usually doesn’t affect which physician you can visit after an appointment. You may be able to speed up the claim process by visiting a Concentra Clinic.
However, these are clinics and not hospitals. Concentra clinics can diagnose and treat minor injuries but they’re not equipped to handle medical emergencies—this is something to think about before making a doctor’s appointment.
Save all of your documentation relating to your injuries. You’re going to need to submit the paperwork with your Concentra claim. Your medical records show proof of your injuries, along with the recoverable costs.
Inform Concentra
Your employer is responsible for taking care of this step. They need to contact their Concentra insurance agent and give them a heads-up about your accident and subsequent injuries, which lets the insurance adjuster get started on the claim process. Under workers’ compensation laws, your employer has 24 hours to report your accident.
Depending on the industry and type of accident, your employer may also need to alert OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) typically gives employers 3 days to report any injury that can’t be treated with a simple first aid kit. Failing to report an incident to OSHA can result in hefty fines and other penalties.
Potential Issues with Concentra
While Concentra can provide treatment for employees injured on the job, it also has potential problems. These can potentially impact your health and your ability to return to work.
Pushing an Early Return to Work
Concentra often pushes injured employees to return immediately to work. These occupational health clinics tend to work in the employer’s best interest and not those of their employees. A visit to a Concentra clinic after a workplace accident may result in the healthcare providers urging you to return immediately to work.
If your employer receives notification from the clinic that you’re cleared to return to work, they may force you to return before your injuries are healed. Why does Concentra care when you get back to your job? As we mentioned, they tend to place your employer’s best interests over yours.
When you’re back at work, it saves your employer money on hiring temporary replacements and helps keep their insurance premiums low.
May Not Treat All Injuries
Another potentially troubling issue with Concentra is the affiliated clinics may not treat all of your injuries. For example, a heavy box fell off the shelf, hitting your neck.
However, you also sprained your wrist trying to block the impact. The clinic may only treat your bruised neck, ignoring your wrist injury, and unfortunately, you’re probably also cleared to return immediately back to work.
Now your only option to receive treatment for your sprained wrist is to file another injury claim. This can also be complicated since you can only file one claim for the same accident.
Ensuring You Recover Compensation Through Concentra
While Concentra offers some benefits, there can also be a few downsides that may complicate your ability to recover full compensation for your workplace injuries. These challenges can impact the outcome of your claim and the support you receive.
To help ensure you recover fair compensation, it’s a good idea to consult with a workers’ compensation attorney. They can guide you through the process, protect your rights, and advocate for the best possible outcome regarding your workplace injury.