No. Often an employer will encourage their injured workers to apply for group health insurance benefits instead of Workers’ Compensation benefits. However, it is advisable not to apply for group insurance benefits for the following reasons:
Most group health insurance policies do not provide for lost time or Temporary Total Disability benefits (T.T.D.).
Most group health insurance policies usually require that the injured worker pay a portion of the medical expenses, whereas, Workers’ Compensation pays 100% of any injured worker’s reasonable and necessary medical expenses.
The extensive rights and benefits an injured worker is entitled under the Act (T.T.D., P.P.D., rehabilitation, etc.) are not provided by group health insurance plans.
Finally, and most importantly, group health insurance policies frequently exclude the payment of any benefits for work-related injuries and therefore, might require the injured worker to indicate, in writing, that the benefits being provided are not a result of a work-related injury. Such an admission could jeopardize their Workers’ Compensation claim.