Workers’ compensation insurance coverage, also known as workers’ comp can give benefits to employees who suffer from a work related injury or illness. Workers’ compensation can protect your business and employees and also provide benefits to employees who are injured. Workers’ comp can help cover missed wages, medical expenses, vocational rehabilitation, or in extreme cases death benefits.
In Massachusetts, the claims reporting process requires an injured employee becoming eligible for weekly compensation benefits when they are physically unable to attend work for 5 or more calendar days as a result of injury or illness at work. The five days do not need to be consecutive. After missing work days, the employer is required to electronically fill out the Employer’s First Report of Injury / Fatality. If the injury or illness results in missing less than 5 full calendar days, then it is considered a “medical only” claim and does not have to be reported to the DIA.