Once a Michigan workers’ comp claim happens to be approved, the insurance carrier or self-insured employer is legally required to provide benefits. Eligible injured workers immediately receive coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment and, if unable to work for more than 7 consecutive days, weekly wage-loss benefits.
What is workers’ comp?
Workers’ comp is a safety net for people who are hurt on-the-job. It covers lost wages and medical bills regardless of fault.
Employers are responsible for purchasing workers’ comp insurance and paying the premium. Employers who fail to purchase required insurance can still be held liable for payment of benefits.
What benefits are a available when workers’ comp happens to be approved in Michigan?
If workers’ comp happens to be approved in Michigan, you may be entitled to several benefits depending on the nature and severity of your job-related injury. These benefits can include payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, wage-loss benefits if you are unable to work, mileage reimbursement for travel to medical appointments, vocational rehabilitation services, and benefits for permanent disabilities in certain cases.
The specific benefits available will depend on your medical condition and ability to return to work. Work injury benefits may also include survivor benefits to certain family members when a work-related injury results in death. Once a claim happens to be approved, the insurance company or self-insured employer is generally responsible for providing the benefits required under Michigan workers’ comp law.
Wage loss benefits
When workers’ comp happens to be approved in Michigan and your work-related injury prevents you from performing your job, you may be entitled to wage-loss benefits. These benefits are intended to replace a portion of the income you lose while you are unable to perform your job because of your injury. In most cases, wage-loss benefits are calculated based on your average weekly wage before the injury and generally equal 80% of your after-tax average weekly wage, subject to state maximum benefit limits.
Wage-loss benefits may continue as long as your work injury prevents you from returning to your job and you remain eligible under state law. If you are able to return to work in a limited capacity and earn less than you did before the injury, you may still qualify for partial wage-loss benefits. Because eligibility and benefit amounts can be affected by factors such as medical restrictions, employment status, and available work, it is important to keep detailed records and follow your treating physician’s recommendations throughout your recovery..
Medical treatment
In Michigan, when workers’ comp happens to be approved, you may be entitled to payment of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury. This can include emergency room care, doctor visits, hospital stays, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, diagnostic testing, and medical equipment. Unlike wage-loss benefits, medical benefits are generally paid directly to healthcare providers, so injured workers typically do not have to pay out of pocket for covered treatment.
Medical treatment benefits may continue for as long as the care remains reasonably necessary to address the effects of the job-related injury. However, the workers’ compensation insurance company may review the treatment being provided and, in some cases, dispute whether certain procedures, medications, or services are medically necessary. To protect your right to benefits, it is important to follow your treatment plan, attend medical appointments, and maintain records of the care you receive.
Vocational rehabilitation
When workers’ comp happens to be approved in Michigan, you may be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services if your injury prevents you from returning to your previous job. These services are designed to help injured employees develop new skills, receive job training, or transition into a different type of employment that fits their medical restrictions. In some cases, this may also include career counseling, job placement assistance, or retraining programs.
Vocational rehabilitation benefits are typically provided when a treating physician determines that you cannot safely return to your prior position due to lasting physical limitations. The goal is to help you reenter the workforce in a role that accommodates your condition while still allowing you to earn income. Eligibility and the scope of services can vary depending on the severity of the injury and your long-term work capacity.
Survivor’s loss benefits
When workers’ comp happens to be approved in Michigan and a job-related injury results in death, certain family members may be entitled to survivor’s loss benefits. These benefits are designed to provide financial support to dependents who relied on the deceased worker’s income. Eligible survivors may include a spouse, children, or other dependents, depending on the circumstances.
Survivor’s loss benefits may include weekly payments that replace a portion of the worker’s lost wages, as well as coverage for reasonable funeral and burial expenses up to the limits set by state law. The amount and duration of benefits depend on factors such as the number of dependents and the worker’s average weekly wage prior to the injury. These benefits are intended to provide ongoing financial stability following a fatal job-related accident.
What happens if you cannot return to work after workers’ comp is approved in Michigan?
If it happens that you cannot return to work after workers’ comp is approved in Michigan, your wage-loss benefits may continue as long as your treating physician confirms that you remain medically unable to perform your job. These benefits are intended to replace a portion of your lost income while you are recovering and may continue until your condition stabilizes or you reach what is called maximum medical improvement (MMI). At that point, your eligibility for ongoing wage-loss benefits is reassessed based on your medical restrictions and ability to earn wages.
If your injury results in permanent restrictions that prevent you from returning to your prior job, you may still qualify for partial wage-loss benefits if you are able to perform lower-paying or modified work. In some cases, vocational rehabilitation services may be offered to help you transition into a different type of employment that fits your limitations.
If returning to any suitable employment is not possible, the claim may shift toward long-term disability considerations under state law, which can include ongoing wage-loss benefits based on your reduced earning capacity.
What happens if workers’ comp benefits stop after being approved in Michigan?
If workers’ comp benefits happens to stop after being approved in Michigan, it usually means the insurance company has determined that you no longer meet the eligibility requirements for ongoing payments. This can happen if a doctor reports that you have recovered enough to return to work, if you are released to full duty, or if the insurer disputes continued medical necessity or disability status. In some cases, benefits may also stop if you refuse reasonable work restrictions or fail to attend required medical evaluations.
If your benefits are discontinued, you still have rights under Michigan workers’ compensation law. You may challenge the decision by requesting a hearing through the Michigan Workers’ Compensation Agency. An independent medical evaluation or additional medical evidence from your treating physician can be used to support your claim for reinstating benefits.
If benefits were stopped in error or prematurely, they may be reinstated retroactively, depending on the outcome of the dispute. Because benefit terminations are often based on medical and vocational assessments, the specific reason for the stoppage will determine the best way to respond.
What happens after a workers’ comp settlement is approved in Michigan?
After a workers’ comp settlement happens to be approved in Michigan, your claim is typically resolved in exchange for a lump-sum payment or structured agreement that closes out certain benefits. In most cases, a settlement will end your right to ongoing wage-loss benefits and may also limit or close future medical treatment coverage, depending on the terms of the agreement. Once approved, the settlement becomes binding, meaning both you and the insurance company are generally required to follow its terms.
After approval, the insurance carrier issues the settlement payment according to the agreement, often within a set timeframe outlined by the Workers’ Compensation Agency. If the settlement includes closure of medical benefits, future treatment for the work injury will usually no longer be covered, except in rare circumstances specifically carved out in the agreement.
Because a settlement can permanently affect your rights, the terms of what is being closed—wage-loss benefits, medical care, or both—are critical to understanding what happens next and what future support, if any, remains available.
Have more questions about what happens when your Michigan workers’ comp benefits stop after being approved?
If you are unsure on what happens when work injury benefits are approved and stop call now (855) 221-2667, or fill out our contact form for a free consultation to speak with an experienced Michigan workers’ comp lawyer. There is absolutely no cost or obligation. We’re here for you.
Our attorneys have been exclusively helping injured employees statewide for more than 40 years and can help you better understand Michigan workman’s comp laws and explain what happens if you or a loved one has been hurt on the job.
To see what our own clients have to say about the caring, compassion, and communication they received from us, you can read in their own words about their experience here on our testimonials page from clients we have helped.
Michigan Workers Comp Lawyers never charges a fee to evaluate a potential case. Our law firm has represented injured and disabled workers exclusively for more than 40 years. Call (855) 221-2667 for a free consultation today.
Related information:
Can Workers’ Comp Stop Paying Without Notice?
