Questions for the Policy Services Department:
Q: Will you please send me a certificate of insurance?
A: You will need to contact your agent and they will forward the certificate for you.
Q: If I do not have any payroll do I still need to send in my monthly form?
A: Yes, your account will need to be updated to avoid a cancellation notice.
Q: Do I need to join the HBA to keep my Workers' Compensation coverage?
A: Yes, you will need to provide us with proof that you have joined the HBA in order to retain coverage.
Questions for the Claims Department:
Q: Can I terminate an employee who is out on Workers' Compensation?
A: If an injured worker is terminated while out on workers' compensation and does not have a job to return to, it will affect the total cost of the claim.
Q: What happens if I use un-insured subcontractors?
A: Those subcontractors' payrolls will be included in your final premium
calculations when year-end audits are completed. Additionally, you may become
liable for the costs of any Workers' Compensation benefits owed to an injured
employee of an uninsured subcontractor, and these claims costs become a permanent
part of your loss experience.
Q: What will happen if I am unable to return to the same type of work once released by my doctor?
A: Once released by the treating physician, an impairment rating is normally assigned. This will determine whether or not an injured worker is due an award for permanent disability. When settling a claim, we take into consideration the fact that an injured worker is unable to return to his or her normal job.
Q: Why is prompt reporting of claims so important?
A: Prompt reporting allows the SIF Claims Management staff to gain control of the claim in its early stages; to make critical contacts with the injured worker, the employer and the medical provider. Prompt communication with the injured worker is important because it allows us to explain his rights under South Carolina's Workers' Compensation statutes, and answer any questions he may have regarding benefits, medical treatment, or return- to- work options. It also provides the SIF staff with the opportunity to investigate claims promptly and to gather information and evidence that helps us to determine the compensability of the claim.