Workers Compensation MANITOBA

[guyser]

One case, one example. I have seen many, many cases where charges have been pressed. And it is not technically the insurance company that presses the charges, rather it is the law enforcement officer that does.

MPIC (Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation) involves the Police and has fraud charges filed all the time. If someone files a fraudulent claim, then they are stealing. No different from any other type of fraud/theft.

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I am not about to question you but it is not as prevalent as you think it is, not even close . It is unlikely and rare for fraud charges to be laid.

How rare is rare? Would you say 10% ?..20%?...how about 2% ?

Rarer than that.

Sixty (60) charges laid on 253,000 claims. Less than one half of one percent. Or to be precise it is

.00023 percent.

Like I said and stand behind, it is very rare to have insurance companies press for charges.

[geoffrey]

Do people not get additional insurance? My company requires us to have additional ST and LT disability coverage, and my biggest workplace hazard is a paper cut.

Relying on the WCB is a terrible idea. Why people do it? Ignorance, lack of education on the topic?

[Hydraboss]

Geoffrey, keep in mind that in my experience health benefits will not pay when it is a workplace incident. They consider that the jursdiction of the WCB. I am aware of one plan obtainable through a Canadian chartered bank that pays out in any event, but our corporate plans through both SunLife and Manulife specifically state that workplace injuries are not covered by them when covered by another body (read: WCB). AD&D benefits are mandatory with most, if not all, companies that offer benefits but this does not cover loss of income due to workplace compensable injuries. Maybe your's is different.

There is additional WCB coverage that individuals can purchase, but in my years of dealing with the Board, I have seen exactly....0 cases of this (because now the worker would have to pay out-of-pocket for the coverage).

As for relying on the WCB, unless you are self-employed and sign the documents required, you are mandated by the Worker's Compensation Act of Alberta (W-15) to supply coverage for your workers. And then the merry-go-round begins again.......

[sideshow]

Geoffrey, keep in mind that in my experience health benefits will not pay when it is a workplace incident. They consider that the jursdiction of the WCB. I am aware of one plan obtainable through a Canadian chartered bank that pays out in any event, but our corporate plans through both SunLife and Manulife specifically state that workplace injuries are not covered by them when covered by another body (read: WCB). AD&D benefits are mandatory with most, if not all, companies that offer benefits but this does not cover loss of income due to workplace compensable injuries. Maybe your's is different.

There is additional WCB coverage that individuals can purchase, but in my years of dealing with the Board, I have seen exactly....0 cases of this (because now the worker would have to pay out-of-pocket for the coverage).

As for relying on the WCB, unless you are self-employed and sign the documents required, you are mandated by the Worker's Compensation Act of Alberta (W-15) to supply coverage for your workers. And then the merry-go-round begins again.......

Right on the money. I've dealt with Sunlife, Blue Cross, Manulife, and Greenshield and this is the case with all of them concerning coverage of a workplace injury.

[guyser]

Geoffrey, keep in mind that in my experience health benefits will not pay when it is a workplace incident.

The Provincial Health coverage responds before WCB. As is all other purchased health coverage and even auto accidents. These are all supplemental insurance coverages.

AD&D benefits are mandatory with most, if not all, companies that offer benefits but this does not cover loss of income due to workplace compensable injuries.

They are included in all coverages as they are considered almost as throw ins, they are cheap and easy to administer. (Auto carriers are "relieved" when there is a fatality--little payout)

There is additional WCB coverage that individuals can purchase, but in my years of dealing with the Board, I have seen exactly....0 cases of this (because now the worker would have to pay out-of-pocket for the coverage).

You are correct and will likely never see it. Far too expensive.

As for relying on the WCB, unless you are self-employed and sign the documents required, you are mandated by the Worker's Compensation Act of Alberta (W-15) to supply coverage for your workers. And then the merry-go-round begins again.......

Same goes across the country I believe.

[Hydraboss]

The Provincial Health coverage responds before WCB. As is all other purchased health coverage and even auto accidents. These are all supplemental insurance coverages.

True, but that is a matter of timeliness. When an injured worker is taken into a hospital, his provincial health care is billed initially but if his claim is accepted then the WCB pays back (reverse bills) the health authority and charges the costs to the employer's account. The same occurs in the case of auto coverage and/or section B benefits. They have not created an insurance company that lets so much as a dollar of money be paid unless they have to...they get it back.

I have had numerous injuries that were denied by the Board (the claims were not accepted as work-related) and they still bill my account for the initial visit to hospital. WTF? When I called to question these charges on my account, I was told that the WCB had accepted responsibility for the billing and "reverse billed" but even though it wasn't their responsibility to pay for the medical treatment it was too late. So they bill the employer. "Oh well".

[sideshow]

"The Provincial Health coverage responds before WCB. As is all other purchased health coverage and even auto accidents. These are all supplemental insurance coverages."

In Manitoba, if you are involved in a work related auto accident, you have to choose between MPIC (auto insurance) and WCB. Once your choice is made, you can't go back.

[guyser]

True, but that is a matter of timeliness. When an injured worker is taken into a hospital, his provincial health care is billed initially but if his claim is accepted then the WCB pays back (reverse bills) the health authority and charges the costs to the employer's account. The same occurs in the case of auto coverage and/or section B benefits. They have not created an insurance company that lets so much as a dollar of money be paid unless they have to...they get it back.

Methinks I am being schooled by you and sideshow.Thank you ! I understood it to be as I posted, second responder insurance. So, WCB pays back an auto accident claim for accident benefits (I assume while working?) to the Prov Health carrier? Wow. Yup, that is dumb, and a way for them to increase costs. It seems it should be challenged on the principle that one has paid for the health care already thru payroll deductions to the Prov Health Auth.

I have had numerous injuries that were denied by the Board (the claims were not accepted as work-related) and they still bill my account for the initial visit to hospital. WTF? When I called to question these charges on my account, I was told that the WCB had accepted responsibility for the billing and "reverse billed" but even though it wasn't their responsibility to pay for the medical treatment it was too late. So they bill the employer. "Oh well".

See above....thats f***ed big time !

I actually looked up WCB Alta and MAN,ya know, too keep you guys honest but after reading for a half hour I could find nothing even close to answering my queries. Talk about a frustrating endeavour. You are a better man than I to have to deal with that.