Workers Compensation

Small businesses in the state of Montana are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance.  This is one requirement that is in the best of interest of the business owner.  Without worker’s comp, an employee who is injured on the job has the right to ask the owner to cover any medical expenses and legal fees resulting from the injury.  Also, the owner can be held liable for covering the expenses an employee incurs by missing work for an extended period of time.

There are 3 types of worker’s compensation insurance ranging from medical expense benefits to missed wages to death benefits.

Medical-Only Coverage

As the name states, this coverage is used to cover an employee’s medical costs after an injury on the job.  Many times, a Medical-Only policy will also cover an employee’s wages while recovering from the injury. 

Temporary Disability

There are times when an employee suffers an injury or illness due at the workplace which forces the employee to miss work for an extended period of time.  The Temporary Disability policy pays the employee’s wages until the employee returns to work.  Once the employee is released by a physician, the temporary disability stops and the employee must return to work.

Permanent Disability

Some workplace injuries suffered by an employee can be permanent and prevent the employee from returning to the job.  This type of benefit kicks in once it’s determined the injury will never improve and the employee will not be able to perform the job duties performed prior to the injury.

In some cases, an employee may receive what’s called partial total disability.  This means the employee cannot return to the position held prior to the injury, however, is capable of working in some form.

We understand workers’ compensation insurance can be confusing. The last thing we want is for you to not have the proper coverage if an employee is injured while working for you.