Workers' Compensation Settlement

If you choose to settle your workers’ compensation case, you are agreeing to release your employer and its insurance carrier from the responsibility to pay for workers' compensation benefits in exchange for a sum of money, either a lump sum or a structured annuity. Should you accept a settlement offer, you are agreeing to close out the case, forgoing all future benefits. These funds typically represent the future value of ongoing benefits, including the cost of ongoing future medical treatment.

What is a Workers’ Compensation Settlement?

A Workers Compensation Settlement, is an agreement between an employer/insurance carrier and an injured worker for a set amount of money, either a lump sum or an annuity that will cover the injured workers’ lost wages, future earnings, and medical expenses for the rest of their life.

The Parts of a Workers' Compensation Settlement

Your settlement could be split into two benefit classes, an indemnity amount and a future medical care amount.

Future Medical Amount

The medical portion of your settlement is allocated for your future medical treatments for the rest of your life. This portion can obligate certain reporting requirements with Medicare, and, if it is a Medicare Set Aside (MSA) then it is only to be used for treatments related to your injury that would be Medicare-covered.

Indemnity Amount

The indemnity portion is for your lost wages or future earnings, and does not carry any restrictions or reporting requirements.

Workers' Compensation Settlement Process

States have different laws regarding workers’ compensation settlements. These can be found on your state workers’ compensation board website.

01.

Deciding to Settle

Freedom from utilization reviews and treatment denials are but a few reasons many injured workers choose to leave the workers’ compensation system behind in favor of a settlement. Once you settle, the MSA funds can only be used for medical treatment related to your injury and covered by Medicare but there is a lot more freedom to treat the way you would like without as many restrictions.

Deciding to Settle
02.

Considering the Impact to Government Benefits

It’s important to consider how the settlement could interact with other government benefits you could receive, including Medicare, Medicaid, social security, and short-term or long term disability. A trust account may need to be established to protect current benefits

Valuing the Case With All Variables
03.

Negotiating a Settlement Amount

Each workers’ compensation case has its own unique variables, so there is no one size fits all used to calculate your claim's future value. It’s important to understand what future medical treatment you will need going forward so that you can ensure the settlement funds are adequate to cover future medical care.

Negotiating a Settlement Amount
04.

Presenting Settlement to State Workers' Compensation Board

All workers’ compensation settlements need to be reviewed and approved by a state authority. Each state has specific worker’s compensation settlement requirement. Your state’s workers’ compensation board website usually provides guidance or their settlement requirements and process.

Presenting Settlement to State Workers' Compensation Board

Why Choose a Workers’ Compensation Settlement?

Settlement allows you to secure the treatment you want when you want it without potential denials or other barriers.


Less Restrictive Treatment Options

Settling can mean less restrictive treatment, the freedom to see any doctor, provider, or specialist, and use any pharmacy. If you have been having treatments denied through Utilization Review, settlement represents the opportunity to seek the treatment you would like outside of state treatment guidelines.

Treat with the Healthcare Provider You Want

In some workers’ compensation systems you can be required to see healthcare providers that you did not choose or that are not located close to your home. For someone with a significant injury, traveling to and from medical appointments can not only be a challenge, but also exhausting and frustrating.

Settling allows you to see and treat with the healthcare providers of your choice.

A New Perspective

Settlement can represent a fresh start. You leave the workers’ compensation system, begin to put your injury behind you, and move on with your life. You no longer have to attend independent medical examinations or court dates and can concentrate on getting your life back on track.

A Shift in Responsibility

Settling a workers’ compensation claim ultimately represents a major life event. It is a life changing process that will have numerous impacts on the way you live.

 

Potential Challenges After a Workers’ Compensation Settlement

With settlement comes a new set of challenges. The increased freedom often means increased responsibilities, and decreased support and resources.


Support After A Workers’ Compensation Settlement

One of the largest challenges you could face after settling your workers’ compensation case is a lack of professional support. Once a case is settled your adjuster, attorney, support from the regulatory system, and any nurse case manager steps away. This may leave you without the resources you once relied on to help coordinate your care or answer questions in an increasingly complicated healthcare system. A Professional Administrator can help answer your questions and provide you with support once you settle.

Keeping Network Discounts on Treatment

While in the workers’ compensation system, you are able to treat through the carrier/employer, and therefore get access to their volume discount networks for pharmacy, provider, and other medical treatments. Through the workers’ compensation system and vendors that are utilized, carriers/employers pay less than full price for the treatments and prescriptions – these discounts lead to dramatic savings that accrue to the benefit of the carrier/employer and the workers’ compensation system.

Once you settle your case, you must utilize your settlement funds to continue treatment, but you will not have access to the same medical discount networks you had while in the workers’ compensation system. Many injured workers who have settled their cases end up vastly overpaying for their treatments because they are charged full retail price. You could find that you are spending through your settlement funds at a much quicker pace than expected. For example, Celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory, might cost the insurance carrier around $3.82 per pill. Once you settle, you will be paying retail, around $7.58 for the exact same medication. One way to save treatment funds is by using a Professional Administrator who has access to network discounts.

Medicare Set Aside Reporting Requirements

Once you choose to settle, you are responsible for managing your own medical care, coordinating treatments, and, if you have a Medicare Set Aside (MSA), complying with the guidelines put forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Keep in mind that if you fail to comply with CMS’ guidelines, you risk having your future Medicare benefits denied.

How Ametros Works With Workers' Compensation Cases

We are the industry leader in post-settlement administration

Ametros brings a unique perspective to settlements in the workers' compensation industry. Our main focus is the injured worker. We become their resource and the point of contact after settlement. Ametros' Settlement Advisors can walk attorneys, adjusters, structured settlement brokers, and injured workers through the settlement process to make sure everyone understands just what it means to settle a claim. We also help our members by providing significant savings on all their ongoing medical needs.

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Support

Providing around the clock support, help with compliance and making sure the injured worker saves money on their healthcare expenses.

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Coordination

Coordinating all parties, including injured parties, employers, attorneys, annuity brokers, medical providers and Medicare.

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Reporting

Addressing the injured worker’s fears of settling their ongoing medical case and managing their own medical care as well as reporting their Medicare Set Aside.

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Accurate Pricing

Utilizing Ametros’ CareQuote service, which provides real pricing on future medications and medical equipment.

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Savings

We provide significant discounts & savings through our large network of providers and pharmacies. On average, we save our members 28% on their annual healthcare expenses!*

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Bridging the Gap

Having our team of settlement advisors assist in the settlement process and help bridge the gap between the two parties.

It is highly recommended that settlement recipients consider the use of a professional administrator for their funds.

- Medicare's WCMSA Reference Guide Version 2.7

*Disclaimer: Any potential discounts or savings for medical treatment, including but not limited to, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment and/or healthcare items and services, are not guaranteed. Ametros has made no warranties, promises, representations or guarantees whatsoever about potential cost savings or the level of potential discounts obtained on any item, service or prescription payment. There are no assurances that prior successes or past results as to cost savings will be applicable to a Member on any of Ametros’ platforms. For additional information, please see our Terms & Conditions Page.