When you get hurt on the job in Alaska, you may sometimes think you are entirely responsible for your care. However, you usually have access to workers’ compensation and it is important for you to know what these benefits are and how they can help you.
Most of the time, your employer is legally obligated to give you certain benefits if you incur an injury while performing your job. According to the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, employers generally have to make sure you receive disability and medical benefits. This means they have to pay all of the medical expenses associated with treating your injury. In some situations, you may have to give the name of your insurance company to your care providers in order for your employer to cover these expenses. In other situations, you may be responsible for your medical bills. If this is the case, it is a good idea to keep all of the receipts associated with your care so the insurance company can reimburse you. You may want to look over your company’s workers’ compensation policies so you know how your company handles these payments.
Workers’ compensation also includes disability benefits. You might receive partial disability benefits if you can work while receiving treatment for your injury but cannot perform your job for a full day. If you are unable to work while recovering, your company may provide total disability benefits. Both of these benefits are typically temporary and you usually do not receive them once you are back at work and have recovered from your injury.
Sometimes a work injury may be so severe that you cannot return to work. In this situation, you may receive permanent total disability benefits. Your eligibility for these benefits generally depends on the kind of injury you sustained and whether you can learn to do another type of work.
This information is general in nature. It should not be used in place of legal advice.
