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What is the difference between workers’ compensation vs. disability insurance?

Worker Compensation Insurance in Houston

Workers’ compensation insurance and disability insurance both provide financial help to sick and injured workers who are unable to work.

Most states require businesses with employees to provide workers’ compensation insurance. It pays for medical expenses if an employee suffers a work-related injury or illness. It can also help offset an employee’s lost wages if they’re unable to work for a period of time.

Disability insurance offsets an individual’s lost income if they’re disabled and unable to work because of an injury or illness that happens outside of work. While this coverage is typically not required, some states such as California have state disability programs that require coverage for all eligible employees.

Is disability a form of health insurance?

Disability insurance is often thought of as health insurance that covers disabilities, though in reality, it’s a type of income insurance that offers financial support when someone is unable to work because of an injury or medical condition.

The income support could range from 50 percent to 70 percent of someone’s lost income, and can be used for any purpose by the recipient, although it’s often used to cover living expenses and medical bills.

There are two kinds of disability insurance:

Short-term disability

Short-term disability provides disability benefits from three to six months. Many employers offer this coverage as part of a group insurance plan, with either the employer or the employees paying the premiums.

Long-term disability

Long-term disability offers disability benefits for multiple years, and is reserved for longer lasting or even permanent disabilities. This is typically purchased by individuals on their own from an insurance company, although some employers offer it as optional coverage paid by the employee through payroll deductions.

How are workers’ compensation benefits and disability benefits different?

Workers’ comp covers work-related illnesses and injuries, usually without co-pays and deductibles. It also partially offsets an injured employee’s benefits if they’re unable to work. If an employee dies from a work-related mishap or illness, their workers’ comp benefits can provide a cash benefit to the employee’s dependents.

A disability insurance policy may cover things like physical impairments after an accident outside of work, mental illness, pregnancy complications, or diseases such as muscular dystrophy and muscular sclerosis. Disability insurance benefits do not include criminal activities or an act of war.

Many employers offer disability coverage, even when it is not required, because it can be a cost-effective way of keeping a medical mishap from turning into a financial burden for their employees.

How do workers’ comp and disability help employers and employees?

Workers’ compensation does more than just help employees with medical care and income loss, it can protect employers from having to pay out-of-pocket for this type of care, while avoiding lawsuits at the same time.

When employees accept payment via a workers’ comp settlement, they give up the right to sue their employer for covered incidents. This helps the employer avoid costly litigation, and allows employees to get the help they need right away as a workers’ compensation claim can be processed much faster than waiting for a lawsuit to work its way through the court system.

Many employers offer disability coverage, even when it is not required, because it can be a cost-effective way of keeping a medical mishap from turning into a financial burden for their employees.

Another thing to consider is the income replacement benefits from workers’ comp may not be enough for some higher income earners. Many states limit the amount of income replacement available in workers’ comp insurance, so some employers and employees buy disability coverage to make sure they’re financially protected.

30 Truck Insurance in Houston

Source: insureon

Golden Hill Insurance works to provide the best care. Jennifer Aguiluz founded Golden Hill Insurance to provide the best customer service in the commercial transportation insurance industry. Our passionate team is direct and fluent in Spanish. We understand the needs of trucking business owners and always strive to offer a wide range of competitive insurance quotes.

Worker Compensation Insurance in Houston

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