If one of your employees suffers a work-related accident or illness, Ohio workers' compensation insurance can support them. Workers' compensation insurance provides them with the following benefits:
Ohio is a monopolistic state; be cautious. This implies you must obtain coverage from a state-run program, not a private insurer.
Ohio's workers' compensation insurance differs from that of most states since it utilizes a monopolistic fund. This means that workers' compensation insurance can only be purchased through a government-run fund.
In Ohio, businesses with several employees are required to have workers' compensation insurance. Unless they are volunteers for a charitable organization, the state regards company officers to be employees. There are further exclusions to the employee definition in Ohio. This includes cooks and gardeners who make less than $160 per quarter as domestic workers. The majority of volunteers do not require coverage.
In Ohio, workers' compensation insurance protects businesses and employees from workplace injuries and illnesses. If your employees become injured or ill on the job, this insurance provides the following benefits:
The death benefits provided by workers' compensation insurance can help pay for an employee's funeral expenses if they pass away due to a work-related injury or sickness.
Workers in Ohio are also eligible for change of occupation (COA) awards if they experience specific injuries or illnesses and are medically recommended to switch professions, such as:
After being diagnosed with a cardiovascular or pulmonary ailment, firefighters and police officers can also get COA benefits if they are medically recommended to change careers.
In Ohio, employees must file workers' compensation claims through the BWC. State claims are divided into two categories:
The workers' compensation claim process requires 30 days. The approval process can take up to four weeks and decides whether a claim is approved or denied. Employers and employees have 14 days to seek an appeal once the BWC issues a ruling. The Industrial Commission of Ohio hears the matter if an appeal is filed.
Even the most careful and experienced workers in a good working environment cannot completely rule out the possibility of work-related injuries and illnesses. Accidents and injuries may still happen anytime. Workers might also develop illnesses because of their work conditions.
The effects of work-related injuries and illnesses don’t only affect a worker’s physical health. It may also affect their income, lifestyle, mobility, and mental and emotional well-being.
A work-related injury or illness may also harm the business if it isn’t handled correctly. There are cases wherein such incidents resulted in reduced productivity, lower profitability, decreased morale, and damaged reputation. In worst-case scenarios, businesses might have to face closure.
Below are data and statistics that can help Ohio businesses determine the right amount of coverage for their workers’ compensation policy:
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about workers’ compensation in Ohio:
The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation accepts claims from injured workers, their employers, authorized representatives, and designees. Medical providers and managed care organizations can also file claims.
Injured workers can look up information about workers’ comp claims by using their SSN. Your representatives, designees, employers, and medical providers can also view claims information using your SSN. For data privacy purposes, they can only view claims they’re associated with.
If you have combined claims, you may only view the surviving claim.
Occupational disease claims must be filed six months after a physician’s diagnosis, two years after the disease-related disability began, or two years after death due to the occupational disease.
The date of disability begins on the most recent date among these circumstances:
Note that the state will not pay medical or pharmacy expenses until a claim has been approved and all appeal periods have passed.
