In a recent study, it was found that Illinois’ workers’ compensation claims are higher than in most other states. A May 20 news report describes the reasoning behind Illinois having some of the highest workers’ compensation costs in the United States: The state has one of the highest legal-medical expenses for each claim and the highest number of claims leading to medical and legal expenses.
The study also looked into things such as the value of benefits paid by the workers’ compensation insurance. Illinois’ weekly benefit was higher than other states, and it was over 133% of the statewide weekly wage. That’s around 33% higher than in other states.
For workers, one of the things to take note of is that Illinois ranked with a few other states as having the highest percentages of claims where workers lost at least seven days of work and then went on to receive settlements. Medical and legal expenses are higher in Illinois than in a typical state.
Costs may continue to increase for businesses as a result of changes in the state, too. The governor will be signing a measure to lift a 25-year statute of limitations on those who suffer work-related injuries later in life. This should help people who previously developed latent diseases but were beyond the statute of limitations. Business owners worry that it will push insurance costs higher, but the change was designed to protect victims’ rights long after they have left their positions.
Workers’ compensation is a right for many workers. If you are hurt on the job, you should make sure you file a claim as soon as you can.