Many who have been injured at work know that in Tennessee, the law provides for lifetime medical treatment for an injury from an approved doctor. What does this really mean and what is it worth to you?
Basically, anyone who has received treatment under worker’s compensation knows that insurance companies and employers offer a panel of three doctors to choose from. This doctor then becomes your authorized treating physician (ATP).
The ATP is paid by the workers’ compensation insurance company and his waiting room is filled up by the insurance company. Under these circumstances, it’s very hard to get a fair assessment regarding your treatment. This same doctor remains your ATP even after you settle your case and your future treatment will depend upon what he thinks you need.
Related: Dealing With Insurance Adjusters After an Accident
If your injuries are serious enough, your ongoing treatment can be considerable and if you apply for Social Security or Federal Disability (meaning you can no longer work), you will be eligible for Medicare. However, Medicare does not want to pay for treatments you need for a work injury if you have lifetime medical treatment under workers compensation.
Related: Social Security Disability
You do not have to be on disability to qualify for a buy-out option, so even if you are still working, you may be able to “sell” your future medical benefits for a cash settlement.
There is a way we can arrange for Medicare to agree to cover all of your medical needs. Workers compensation can buy their way out of providing treatment for your injury (no more fighting over treatment) and you will get a lump sum, tax-free cash payment to boot! Sound too good to be true? It’s not and in fact, we’re doing it more now than any time in the past 30 years.
So what does it cost you? The attorney fee under Tennessee Worker’s Compensation law is 20% of the settlement you receive, and if there is no settlement, there is no attorney fee.
Not every case will qualify and more serious injuries are worth more because workers compensation wants out. They must set aside (thus the name, Medicare set aside) a certain sum for your treatment, which Medicare requires and we will negotiate all of it to maximize your settlement.
Want to know more? Call Stillman and Friedland Attorneys for details. Remember, you pay nothing unless we recover for you!
