Getting hurt at work can be stressful, especially if you had a health issue before the injury. You might wonder how workers’ compensation deals with pre-existing conditions when you’re injured on the job. Understanding this can help you know what benefits you can expect.
What is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing condition means you had a health problem before the workplace injury occurred. It could be something like arthritis, a back injury, or a chronic illness. When an injury happens, workers’ comp looks at how much of your current disability comes from the new injury versus the old condition.
How does workers’ comp treat pre-existing conditions?
Workers’ compensation benefits usually cover injuries caused or worsened by your job. If your work injury made your pre-existing condition worse, you might still get benefits. The key question is whether the work injury significantly contributed to your disability or need for treatment.
Insurance companies might argue the pre-existing condition caused your problems, not the workplace injury. But if the injury aggravated your condition, workers’ comp should pay for treatment and benefits related to the worsening.
What should you do?
If you have a pre-existing condition and get hurt at work, report your injury right away. Document all your symptoms and medical treatments clearly. It helps to show how the workplace injury changed your health. Be honest and keep good records of your medical visits and doctors’ reports.
Know your rights
You have the right to claim workers’ compensation benefits if your job injury worsened a pre-existing condition. The system is designed to support workers facing injuries that affect their ability to work, even when other health issues exist.
Stay informed and make sure your medical providers explain how your work injury relates to your health problems. This can make a difference in how your claim is handled.
Workers’ comp laws vary, but many protect workers whose pre-existing conditions get worse because of their job.