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Idaho’s Worker’s Compensation program

May 1st, 2006 Posted by Jane

Idaho’s workers’ compensation insurance is a no-fault insurance policy, which provides wage loss and medical benefits to employees with a job-related injury or disease. Nearly every working Idahoan is protected by workers’ compensation insurance, as state law requires most employers to have workers’ compensation insurance.

I understand that if an employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, the worker is covered from their first day of work. If a worker suffers a job-related injury or disease, he should:

Tell the employer immediately when, where, and how the injury happened. If possible, help fill out the “First Report of Injury or Illness” form. The employer should file this notice with the Industrial Commission.
Seek first aid and medical care, and tell the medical care provider that the injury or disease is job-related. The employer may have a designated physician for treating all work-related diseases or injuries except for emergency care. Ask the employer before seeking medical treatment.

My research shows that as part of the compensation plan, workers can expect to receive:

“Reasonable and necessary” medical care to treat job-related injury or disease. Such care usually includes, but is not limited to, payment for emergency medical care, doctor bills, x-rays, medications, hospitalization, crutches, and some travel expenses required for medical care.
Temporary or total disability benefits until they are released to return to work. If an employee is able to return to part-time or modified work while still recovering from an injury, they may be entitled to temporary partial disability benefits.
If a worker dies of a job-related injury or disease, their surviving spouse usually receives benefits for 500 weeks, and children (up to a maximum of 3) ordinarily receive benefits until they are 18 years of age.

Idaho’s Workers’ Compensation Law does not require an employer to hold an employee’s job or rehire him after he recovers from injury or disease. However, Rehabilitation Consultants with the Idaho Industrial Commission can provide return-to-work assistance.

I understand that every employer who has obtained workers’ compensation insurance must post and maintain a notice stating that he has complied with the law in his place of business. The notice must contain the name and address of the insurance company with which the employer has secured payment of compensation. Failing to post and keep such a notice conspicuously displayed may be grounds for a misdemeanor charge. The Idaho Complete Labor Law poster is available with an area specifically for this information.

The Idaho Industrial Commission is the state agency, which administers the Idaho Workers’ Compensation Law.