2.19.21 – Workers’ Compensation

Friday, February 19, 2021

Workers’ Compensation

Sedgwick administers Injury on Duty (IOD) claims with applicable Workers’ Compensation laws for the state in which the injured worker is based. Rules vary by state. All claims are administered and subject to approval by the Company’s Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier Sedgwick.

How am I paid while on an IOD?

A Flight Attendant who becomes injured or sick due to an occupational injury or illness shall receive Workers’ Compensation benefits by individual State laws providing the claim is compensable.

What if my Benefits and Treatment are Denied?

If your Workers’ Compensation claim is denied, Sedgwick is required to notify you of the reason(s) for the denial. Suppose you believe that the claim was wrongfully denied and wish to dispute the decision. In that case, you should contact the Workers’ Compensation Commission in the state where your claim is for information regarding the proper dispute procedures. You may choose to consult with a Workers’ Compensation attorney or, in some states, you may be advised by the workers’ comp commission to do so. Here are some examples of problems that may also necessitate a Hearing:

• Authorization for medical treatment – The claims administrator refuses to pay for your approved medical treatment.
• Authorization for surgery or tests – Your treating doctor requests authorization to perform surgery or tests, such as an MRI, and the insurance company refuses to authorize it.
• Refusal to provide benefits – The treating physician says that you are entitled to benefits, such as vocational rehabilitation services, and the insurance company refuses to provide them.
• Insufficient benefits – The insurance company pays temporary disability at a lower rate than your earnings justify.
• Inadequate medical care – You believe the quality of medical treatment you are receiving is insufficient, and the insurance company refuses to send you to another doctor.

In Solidarity,

Bellia Peckson
APFA National Injury on Duty Chair
[email protected]