Effect of Pre-existing Health Conditions on Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Workers’ compensation is a system that helps working-class people financially and medically. It will cover only the illnesses and injuries that are job-related, so having pre-existing conditions complicates the claiming process. Injured Workers Law Firm will tell you the effects of pre-existing diseases on worker’s compensation.

What Are Pre-existing Health Conditions?

It basically refers to the diseases you had before you started working your current job. They can vary from injuries to major diseases like diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.

When Can You Get Worker’s Compensation?

It is crucial to know when you will be eligible for the worker’s compensation. It is designed to cover your expenses recurring from an injury you got in your current job.

•  If the injury can not be determined, whether that is from your old job or your current job, it will make the claiming process difficult. 
• If an accident aggravates an injury from the old job, then you can still claim the worker’s compensation. Generally, you will be provided with the extent of the injury from your current job.
• If it is found that a pre-existing condition provoked this injury or illness, you will be only given compensation for the injury from the current job.

It is very important to find out the link between your current injury and pre-existing injury for the successful claim of the compensation.

What Are The Exclusions And Limitations of This Compensation?

Some things exclude and limit the compensation, like:

1. Self-inflicted injury and injury inflicted upon you because of your mistake will not be compensated. If a worker acts recklessly and does not follow safety instructions may be denied it.
2. Injuries inflicted outside the workplace and during work hours are not work injuries; they will not get compensated as they are personal injuries.
3. If you are drunk or under the influence of some other substance And get hurt or infected, Worker’s compensation will not be of any use to you.
4. If you get injured, and you do not report it immediately and your injury worsens, you will only get partial compensation for not reporting it on the earliest basis.

You Need To Report Pre-existing Injury

If you are suffering from a disease or injury, you are to report it to the management at the time you are getting this job, or else you will have to face complications in claiming workers’ compensation. Furthermore, make sure to have an experienced attorney by your side who can assist you during the process.