Movie - Sicko!!

[Kodilynn]

Well, being one who works workers comp cases (on rare occasions, as they require a metric ton of paperwork) yeah they suck. They suck really badly.

Getting either side to pay for anything, approving medications (yeah we have to approve meds through their employer if they're returning to work), insurance paperwork out the ass, dealing with the employer, having major restrictions on what we can do and to top it all off we have to suspect that the person we're taking care of isn't tampering with their case or, as the last case showed us, giving us someone elses pee. Yeah, that actually happened once.

Usually takes us in the ballpark of 60-90 days before we get anywhere with healthcare, and surgeries? Shit, if... IF the employer will pay for it, and that's pulling teeth, we have to fight tooth and nail for how much they will pay for and that determines what we can do. Usually we fight for months on end for them to pay for something in full since it's their employee.

It's a headache. I hate workers comp, I hate seeing it, dealing with it, i'm just glad we do it on a case by case basis and only for well-established patients. I would sooner be rid of it completely.

[elric]

Originally Posted by JimJohnson

For a person who does not think anyones opinion but his own matters you seem to take offense to my comment. Then attack me because of it.

Why is it you feel the need to explain your situation to me but just point and laugh at Dracho ? Seeking my approval or just defending yourself? Either way its kinda silly

Why did you feel the need to respond to me not once but twice yourself JJ? To defend Dracho? To defend Worker's Comp? Your comment seems a bit hypocritical to me. I didn't really explain anything to you JJ, that would have taken ages. You mistake 45 seconds worth of typing as some kind of emotional connection to you. Not really the brightest thing to do. I mean you can if it really makes you feel better about yourself probably not the most mentally healthy of ways to boost your own self worth...but don't expect me to agree with it.


- Kodi - I know it has to be a pain in the neck to deal with it from your end too. I don't blame the Doctors really, it's the Worker's Comp system that's really broken right now...the second anyone hears those two magic words the entire attitude changes. I can't imagine what kind of a headache it is on that end.

[JimJohnson]

Originally Posted by elric

Why did you feel the need to respond to me not once but twice yourself JJ? To defend Dracho? To defend Worker's Comp? Your comment seems a bit hypocritical to me. I didn't really explain anything to you JJ, that would have taken ages. You mistake 45 seconds worth of typing as some kind of emotional connection to you. Not really the brightest thing to do. I mean you can if it really makes you feel better about yourself probably not the most mentally healthy of ways to boost your own self worth...but don't expect me to agree with it.


- Kodi - I know it has to be a pain in the neck to deal with it from your end too. I don't blame the Doctors really, it's the Worker's Comp system that's really broken right now...the second anyone hears those two magic words the entire attitude changes. I can't imagine what kind of a headache it is on that end.

I just enjoy antagonizing people at times. If you fail to grasp this tough shit.

[elric]

Originally Posted by JimJohnson

I just enjoy antagonizing people at times. If you fail to grasp this tough shit.

*points and laughs*

[Dracho]

Well, my point was that the fact we can even file for it is a good thing. Sure it is flawed but what system isnt that a large portion of it is scammers (false claims).

Elric - Do you have any idea what companies/small businesses pay per year on Workers Comp? ANY idea? Not rying to call you out or offend you, I just dont think you understand how much workmans comp cripples the small to medium business owner. Heck, and my company was a no labor company. WC rates for construction companies and business like that are freakin robbery.

If I have a loyal worker that is honest and hard working and he or she gets hurt... I am MORE than happy to pay for that person if it was a work related injury. I had 5 claims in one year - 3 were mental stress claims and 2 were overworked claims. I spent a lot of hours and a lot of money fighting them by paying a lawyer. But the fact those pieces of sh## could even file that is rediculous. So in reality, it ended up costing me quite a bit and that is less money I could put back into the business.

And I know this is another topic, but I had 7 black people working for me at that time, and 5 of them were the ones that filed workers comp. In 7 years of business I had 20 or so cllaims, and not one was by a white person (with an 75%+ white work force). Hard not to play the race card when hiring huh? Just pointing out facts

[Kodilynn]

Sure it is flawed but what system isnt that a large portion of it is scammers (false claims).

This is what drives up our costs and turns most people away for it. I can't even fathom a percentage of what are scams vs. what are real claims anymore.

Do you have any idea what companies/small businesses pay per year on Workers Comp?

I do! The fact that they are required to provide it makes it even harder on them. Except for family owned... never seem to see them with it. Usually 15%-20% of total gross income goes towards WC Insurance (on average that I've seen/heard from talking to the owners anyway). Small companies are easier for us to deal with. As Dracho pointed out they are usually more than happy to get things going so they can get their employee back. It's the larger companies that are a bitch. Between the scams and their unwillingness to cooperate (oh you can't go to that specialist, it HAS to be this one! ugh) yeah. I would rather abolish WC all together.

[elric]

Dracho, I do have an idea as to how much it costs. That's just one more reason why I think Worker's Comp is so broken in it's current state. They charge an incredible amount for Worker's Comp, the assumption from that is that in case of something serious they can pay for it. That's just not the case though...they fight tooth and nail to hang onto every cent they have. I can understand that there are people that take advantage of it...I can even sympathize with it, my problem was very clearly defined as being caused by my job and that it needs to be fixed. They're not paying for it, because it's an expensive procedure, and pain pills are just a cheaper alternative until the Dr. comes back to them with a different plan. I'm not just assuming it either, that was literally what I was told by my case worker.

I agree that we're fortunate to have something in place to protect worker's. The concept of Worker's Comp is fantastic...the reality of it falls short though. It does do a fantastic job though at making you want to hunt down and kill the people that made it the way it is.

[GnobodyGnows]

Originally Posted by elric

The concept of Worker's Comp is fantastic...the reality of it falls short though. It does do a fantastic job though at making you want to hunt down and kill the people that made it the way it is.

You hit the nail on the head with this statement. Let me offer one minor change to make it a more complete statement:

The concept of Socialized Medicine is fantastic...the reality of it falls short though.

Government agencies, of any stripe, are just not very adept at effectively managing other people's medical care - at least in the US. Part of this stems from our history, part from the way that our government was (and is) set up, and part from the fact that we have a flourishing private insurance system in place.

[PRWraith]

sparta was the answer

-no handicapped parking spots
-no weak/maimed, only the strong/hearty
-lots of war
-hot women
-no workers comp

[GnobodyGnows]

Originally Posted by PRWraith

sparta was the answer

-no handicapped parking spots
-no weak/maimed, only the strong/hearty
-lots of war
-hot women
-no workers comp

Been there, done that. I enlisted in the Marine Corps 25 years ago. Didn't particularly care for the life, so I didn't reenlist.