May an employer directly pay medical bills for a workers compensation claim?
A non-self insured employer is not permitted to directly pay for medical treatment required under the Nebraska Workers Compensation Act. In essence, this would be an attempt by the employer to self insure its liability for such treatment without first being approved by the court for self insurance as required in the Act and rules of the court. In addition, the Nebraska legislature has addressed the issue of payment for small medical claims and specifically determined that payment must be made by the insurer, rather than the employer. This is included in 48-146.03, which provides for a medical deductible option for workers compensation insurance policies. That section first establishes such a deductible but then states that the insurer shall pay the entire cost of medical benefits for each claim irrespective of the deductible provision. The insurer is then to be reimbursed by the employer for any deductible amounts paid by the insurer. For a related opinion regarding this matter, select
Related Questions
- Are there any provisions in the law with respect to the total medical costs that an employer can pay in a workers compensation case that is not used in adjusting the experience modification factor?
- How long will my employers workers compensation insurance company be required to continue to pay for my medical bills?
- May an employer directly pay medical bills for a workers compensation claim?
