In Florida, workers’ compensation benefits can cover the costs of medical treatment for injuries sustained in an on-the-job accident. However, there are strict guidelines and limitations that apply. Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate these rules and work toward a full and fair financial recovery for medical benefits.
Our St. Petersburg medical benefits lawyers have more than 300 years of combined experience helping injured workers in Florida. We’ve won hundreds of millions in benefits, settlements, and jury awards. If you’ve gotten hurt on the job, our law firm is here to advocate for you, too.
Contact our law office in St. Petersburg, Florida, to learn more. We offer a free case evaluation and are standing by to schedule yours today at (727) 796-8282.
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How Our St. Petersburg Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery For Medical Benefits
Since 1955, our award-winning workers’ compensation attorneys have been advocating for injured workers in Florida. We’ve seen, first-hand, the impact that having an attorney involved in the workers’ compensation claims process can have on a claim for benefits.
Don’t try to handle everything on your own. Let us lend a hand and guide you through this difficult time. Focus on getting better; we’ll take care of the insurance company and your fight for full compensation.
Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers will help by:
- Arranging an independent medical exam (IME) by an approved medical provider to confirm the severity and impact of your injury
- Working with leading injury experts and specialists to assess all of your medical needs – both present and future
- Gathering evidence and documenting the costs of your reasonable and necessary medical treatment
- Pushing back when the workers’ compensation insurance carrier attempts to deny payment for the cost of treatment or care
- Fighting to ensure that all of your medical expenses are covered by workers’ compensation insurance
We know how workers’ compensation insurance companies operate. The less they have to pay for your medical treatment, the higher their profits. Our workers’ compensation lawyers in St. Petersburg will fight to ensure that all of your medical expenses are taken care of.
What Medical Benefits Are Available to Injured Workers in St. Petersburg, FL?
While lost time, income, and permanent disability benefits might be capped, benefits for medical treatment are not.
Under Florida state workers’ compensation law, your employer (through its insurance carrier) must pay for “all authorized medically necessary care and treatment related to your injury.”
Medical benefits can cover the costs of:
- A primary care doctor
- Specialists
- Emergency room visit(s) (and transportation by ambulance, if applicable)
- Hospitalization
- Medical devices or equipment
- Prescription medication
- Over-the-counter medication
- Prosthetics
- Medical tests
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
You can also be reimbursed for the cost of traveling to and from your doctor or healthcare provider.
Can I See My Own Doctor After a Workplace Accident in St. Petersburg?
Yes, but beware: medical benefits under a workers’ compensation insurance policy are only available when you seek treatment from an “authorized provider.”
An authorized provider is a doctor or healthcare professional that’s been pre-approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier.
So, unless your doctor happens to be authorized under your specific workers’ comp policy, you might want to think twice before seeing them. You might find that your request for medical benefits is denied simply because you saw your own doctor who wasn’t approved by the plan.
Are Emergency Room Visits Covered By Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefits in St. Petersburg, Florida?
Yes, you can go to any emergency room and seek treatment, regardless of the hospital’s relationship with your employer’s insurer.
Your health and safety take priority over the insurance company’s desire to choose your treating physician.
Do I Need an Independent Medical Exam in St. Petersburg, FL?
An independent medical exam (IME) is used to assess your injury or medical condition to see if further treatment (and payment) is necessary.
You’ll likely be required to go for an IME if your injury is catastrophic and limits your ability to return to work. A doctor will assess the level of your injury, the scope of your disability, and whether you’ve reached MMI (maximum medical improvement).
The insurance company will hope that the results of the IME can be used to limit future payments for medical benefits and lost time.
You can also request an IME if you suspect that the authorized physician has underestimated the seriousness of your injury or disability. An IME can be helpful if you and the insurance carrier are in disagreement about the severity of your injury, its impact on your life, and the workers’ compensation benefits you should receive – now and in the future.
Call an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL For a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured while working in St. Petersburg, FL, you may be entitled to medical benefits through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance program. Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to get the full value of your medical treatment and care.
Contact our personal injury lawyers in St. Pete for a free consultation today. We’re available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer some of your frequently asked questions.
