At BWO Insurance, we serve lots of businesses in and around Kenosha and Racine, WI. We do everything possible to find our customers high-quality workers comp at competitive rates. At the same time, we’ve found that preparing our clients to make claims also enables them to get more value from their policy and to avoid significant rate hikes in the future. Is your business prepared to make a workers comp claim? Also, have you done everything you can to improve safety and reduce the chance of claims?
What Wisconsin Businesses Should Know About Workers Comp Claims
These workers compensation claims tips will help you get the most protection from your policy:
- Make claims promptly: If you have a claim to make, be sure to submit it within 24 to 48 hours to ensure the best outcome for your company and your employee. Wisconsin’s adjusters have a limited time to make payments under certain conditions. Since adjusters typically work on many claims at the same time, your prompt claims will give the adjuster plenty of time to process the claim efficiently.
- Avoid paying claims yourself: Some businesses make a habit out of paying smaller claims out of their own pocket. The problem is that it’s not always possible to know when expenses will grow until an amount serious enough to claim. Also, medical expenses paid through insurers generally earn a discount. It’s important to know which claims to report and which to handle.
- Work with insurance adjusters: Instead of viewing insurance adjusters as adversaries, it’s important to work with them as valuable partners. Adjusters have the experience and training to give you timely and acceptable outcomes, but sometimes, they may need your cooperation. If they call with questions, it’s generally in your company’s best interest to get those calls returned quickly.
- Have light-duty options available: Sometimes, workers will injure themselves and must heal before they can return to a physically demanding job. At the same time, they may be eager to return to a temporary or part-time position that doesn’t have the same physical demands. Perhaps your company has some filing or sorting that you’ve been putting off that would work perfectly in these cases.
Hopefully, you will never need to make a worker’s compensation claim because an employee got sick or injured on the job. One of the best ways to minimize hazards is to work with your insurance agent and insurer’s loss-control services. Very often, they can point out hazards to lower risks and even to help you earn discounts on your premiums.
Worker safety programs, knowing when to file claims, and other actions can improve your business while help you save money. Numerous studies have found that businesses earn fabulous returns on any money that they invest in safety. Your documented efforts to improve safety will generally save you money by preventing claims and lower insurance rates. Your business, your insurance agent, and your insurance company should work together as partners to help keep your business as safe as possible.
Work With Experienced Wisconsin Workers Comp Agents
At BWO Insurance, we will work with your business to improve worker safety, prepare to get the best outcome from claims and to enjoy the most value out of your worker’s compensation policy. Contact us today to learn how we can help. We can work with you to earn lower premiums, and we’ll also offer you support when you must make a claim.
