With approximately 60,000 cases filed each year, the industrial commission has only 28 arbitrators to settle disputes. After the pending caseload increased by 4,000 cased per year for 12 straight years, the commission instituted procedures to speed up settlements. The commission needs more arbitrators and support staff. Besides additional funding, changes are needed to protect workers rights. Too often, insurers collect premiums, then shirk their duty to the people who become disabled.
Insurance companies love delay-after all, they re holding the workers money.
One way to keep workers money is to terminate benefits for no reason, leaving workers without income or access to medical care. The commission should require insurers to show cause for terminating workers benefits. Reforming the commission s funding mechanism could make needed changes painless for taxpayers. Most states fund the commissions counterparts through assessments on insurance companies. By stopping the insurers free ride and instituting a few reforms, Illinois finally could have a high quality Industrial Commission.