Georgia Workers Compensation: An Overview
Workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that provides benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. Georgia, like every other state in the US, has its own workers’ compensation laws and program. The Georgia workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees by providing medical treatment and wage replacement benefits for injuries that happened at the workplace. In this article, we will discuss all the important aspects of Georgia workers’ compensation program, including its history, laws, benefits, and procedures.
History of Georgia Workers’ Compensation System
The workers’ compensation system was first introduced in Georgia in 1920, following the US Supreme Court’s ruling in New York Central Railroad Co. v. White, which held that state workers’ compensation laws do not violate the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. Georgia’s workers’ compensation program was created to replace the common law system of liability and to provide a no-fault system for workers’ compensation claims. The workers’ compensation law was amended several times since its inception to improve its effectiveness and benefits for workers.
Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws are codified in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) Title 34, Chapters 9 through 11. The Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) is the agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Georgia workers’ compensation laws. Some of the key provisions of the Georgia workers’ compensation laws include:
Eligibility: All employers in Georgia with three or more employees are required to provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees. All employees, including full-time, part-time, temporary, and seasonal workers, are covered by the Georgia workers’ compensation program.
Coverage: The Georgia workers’ compensation program covers injuries and illnesses that occur as a result of a worker’s employment. The injury or illness must have been caused by a specific event or exposure, or it must have arisen from the worker’s job duties. Injuries that resulted from horseplay, willful misconduct, or intoxication are not covered under the workers’ compensation laws.
Benefits: The workers’ compensation benefits include medical treatment, wage replacement, and disability benefits. The injured worker is entitled to receive reasonable and necessary medical treatment to cure or relieve the effects of the injury or illness. The employer is required to pay two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, up to a certain cap, during the period of disability. Disability benefits are paid for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability. Death benefits are also provided to dependents of workers who died as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
Procedures: The workers’ compensation claim process begins when the injured worker notifies the employer of the injury or illness. The employer must report the injury or illness to the SBWC within seven days of receiving notice from the worker. The injured worker must file a claim with the SBWC within one year of the injury or the last date of medical treatment. The SBWC will then investigate the claim and make a determination of whether the injury or illness is covered under the workers’ compensation program.
Recent Changes to Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
In 2013, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law several changes to the state’s workers’ compensation system. The changes were aimed at reducing the costs of workers’ compensation insurance for employers and improving the efficiency of the workers’ compensation administration. Some of the key changes included:
Adopting a fee schedule for medical treatment: The fee schedule set maximum amounts that healthcare providers can charge for medical treatment under the workers’ compensation program.
Limiting the duration of medical treatment: The law limited the duration of medical treatment for injured workers, except for catastrophic injuries and other specified conditions.
Establishing an appeals process: The law established an appeals process for workers’ compensation claims that were denied by the SBWC.
Reducing benefits for partial disability: The law reduced the benefits for workers who suffered partial disability due to a job-related injury or illness.
Benefits of Georgia Workers’ Compensation System
The Georgia workers’ compensation system provides several benefits to workers who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. Some of the key benefits of the Georgia workers’ compensation system include:
Medical treatment: The injured worker is entitled to receive reasonable and necessary medical treatment to cure or relieve the effects of the injury or illness.
Wage replacement: The employer is required to pay two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage, up to a certain cap, during the period of disability.
Disability benefits: Disability benefits are paid for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability.
Death benefits: Death benefits are provided to dependents of workers who died as a result of a job-related injury or illness.
Legal protection: The workers’ compensation system provides legal protection to workers by allowing them to claim benefits without having to prove fault or negligence on the part of the employer.
Costs of Georgia Workers’ Compensation System
The costs of workers’ compensation insurance for Georgia employers vary depending on several factors, including the nature of the business, the payroll size, and the employment classification. Georgia workers’ compensation insurance rates are determined by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), which is a private consulting firm that analyzes workers’ compensation data and sets rates for most states in the US.
As of 2021, the average cost of workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia is $1.52 per $100 of payroll, which is lower than the national average of $1.73 per $100 of payroll. Small businesses with low-risk operations can expect to pay lower premiums, while businesses with high-risk operations can expect to pay higher premiums.
Conclusion
Workers’ compensation is an important insurance program that provides benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. The Georgia workers’ compensation system is designed to protect employees by providing medical treatment and wage replacement benefits for injuries that happened at the workplace. The Georgia workers’ compensation laws provide legal protection to workers and establish procedures for filing claims and resolving disputes. Recent changes to the Georgia workers’ compensation laws aimed at reducing costs and improving efficiency have had mixed results. The benefits of the Georgia workers’ compensation system include medical treatment, wage replacement, disability benefits, death benefits, and legal protection. The cost of workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia varies depending on several factors, but the average cost is lower than the national average.
Quick Guide to Georgia Workers’ Compensation LawsÂ
Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
All matters on workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia are regulated by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.  All of the information on Georgia workers’ compensation laws and procedure in this article is provided by the SBWC.  For more information, visit the website at the link.
Information for Employers on Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Georgia
The FAQs provided below are provided by the SBWC and extended upon.  If you have any more questions about the Georgia workers’ compensation laws for employers, visit the SBWC’s official website:
How many employees do I need to provide workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia?
In the state of GA, an employer must regularly employ 3 or more people in order to provide insurance, and this coverage includes part-time employees as long as they regularly work.
Where do I purchase WC Insurance?
The SBWC does not sell workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia.  An employer should contact an agent at the Independent Insurance Agents Association (770-458-0093) or the NCCI (800-622-4123).
How does an employer become self-insured?
According to Georgia workers’ compensation laws, an employer can complete an application and return it the Board with a $500 processing fee.  The form can be obtained by calling (404) 656-4893 or downloading the document off of the SBWC’s website.
For more answers to FAQs about Georgia workers’ compensation laws, visit the following link.
Information for Employees about Georgia Workers’ Compensation Laws
It’s imperative that an employee know all of the facts provided below, as well as the full list of FAQs provided by the SBWC.  Knowing this information could be the deciding factor in whether you receive workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia one day.
When should I report an accident?
Since a regular employee is covered on the first day, the accident or injury needs reported to a supervisor immediately. Â If the accident is not reported for 30 days, an employee will not be covered by insurance.
What do I do about a doctor?
An employer is required to post a traditional panel of physicians with one orthopedic physician; post at least ten physicians in part of a conformed panel with at least one chiropractor and general surgeon; or post the name of a Workers’ Compensation Managed Care Organization and its 24 hour toll free number.
What benefits do I receive?
All medical bills will be covered by workers’ compensation insurance in Georgia, as well as two-thirds of an average weekly wage not to exceed $500.00 per week for an accident after July 1, 2007.
According to Georgia workers’ compensation laws, a person incapable of working will receive benefits for up to 400 weeks or permanently if the injury is catastrophic.  If an employee can still perform a limited amount of work, the person will receive benefits up to 350 weeks and no more than $344.00 per week for an injury after July 1, 2007.
For more valuable information for employees, visit the following link.
