I have no idea what WC is or what to do? Advice please!!

[Hferna]

Well, let me give you some background. I am 20 years old and I live in Louisiana. I'm studying to be a vet tech. I started working for a large chain pet/supply store where pets and supplies are sold about 2 and half weeks ago. I noticed after my first few days a few red, itchy bumps but thought nothing of it since ive never had an allergy to anything before.
A week and a few days into working there, while working with the small animals, I had a full scale allergic reaction that resulted in anaphalaxis(sp) and had to leave work and have my father rush me to the er.
The er doctor told me point blank that it was an airborne allergy to the things at my job (feed,bedding,animals,environment,etc). When i told him where i worked and what i was studying, he said "not anymore".
I had to make an appt with a specialist but since I cant afford much, it is at the low cost hospital in a month. I was told by my manager that i cant come back to work until im "medically released". The er doctor refused to sign off on a medical release because he felt it was "too dangerous". He also gave me an epi pen and several other medicines that i will be on for at least two weeks because the reaction was so severe. He also told me not to go back into the store if i could avoid it. I was unable to even leave my home for 6 days after the reaction because of swelling and lethargy.
This has NEVER happened to me before. A few days after the reaction, I received papers saying to contact a claims Rep for workers comp. I know nothing about workers comp, how it works, or what to do. Ive called the claims Rep but she is out of her office for a few days and hasn't called me back. Can someone please explain workers comp to me. I honestly didnt even know what it was and called my employer to find out, but they said the claims rep would tell me. After an internet search i came here. Does it matter that I was only there for a short while? What's going to happen if I cant go back to work there? I don't want to quit because I loved the job, but I'm scared to go in. What happens if I stop breathing again? Ive been to another pet store since the reaction but had NO REACTION at all, but when I went into my job to get my stuff, I immediately had trouble breathing again. I'm so confused on what all this means . Some advice please?

[hurt back]

(07-13-2012 02:24 AM)Hferna Wrote:  Well, let me give you some background. I am 20 years old and I live in Louisiana. I'm studying to be a vet tech. I started working for a large chain pet/supply store where pets and supplies are sold about 2 and half weeks ago. I noticed after my first few days a few red, itchy bumps but thought nothing of it since ive never had an allergy to anything before.
A week and a few days into working there, while working with the small animals, I had a full scale allergic reaction that resulted in anaphalaxis(sp) and had to leave work and have my father rush me to the er.
The er doctor told me point blank that it was an airborne allergy to the things at my job (feed,bedding,animals,environment,etc). When i told him where i worked and what i was studying, he said "not anymore".
I had to make an appt with a specialist but since I cant afford much, it is at the low cost hospital in a month. I was told by my manager that i cant come back to work until im "medically released". The er doctor refused to sign off on a medical release because he felt it was "too dangerous". He also gave me an epi pen and several other medicines that i will be on for at least two weeks because the reaction was so severe. He also told me not to go back into the store if i could avoid it. I was unable to even leave my home for 6 days after the reaction because of swelling and lethargy.
This has NEVER happened to me before. A few days after the reaction, I received papers saying to contact a claims Rep for workers comp. I know nothing about workers comp, how it works, or what to do. Ive called the claims Rep but she is out of her office for a few days and hasn't called me back. Can someone please explain workers comp to me. I honestly didnt even know what it was and called my employer to find out, but they said the claims rep would tell me. After an internet search i came here. Does it matter that I was only there for a short while? What's going to happen if I cant go back to work there? I don't want to quit because I loved the job, but I'm scared to go in. What happens if I stop breathing again? Ive been to another pet store since the reaction but had NO REACTION at all, but when I went into my job to get my stuff, I immediately had trouble breathing again. I'm so confused on what all this means . Some advice please?

Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence.

When you do get ahold of the claims rep and then they will give you a list of normally 3 Dr's to see and you pick one from that list. If you are already seeing a Dr then you can suggest that one and see if they will accept. The MAIN thing a/b W/C is that you must obey by what they tell you on treatments, appointments, etc. For example you have an appt on Friday but your family reunion is that day, well tuff luck go to the appt. and not the reunion.. W/c Ins. is a WHOLE different world than regular insurance, the only good thing is that you don't pay for your treatment your employer does.

Also since you cannot work you may be entitled to TTD payments ( Temporary Total Disability ), it all depends on the Dr's notes / restrictions.

Well I'm sure others will chime in but that gives you an idea..

[1171]

workers comp is employer purchased insurance that protects them from an employee's injury claim.
it pays both medical and disability.
each state has their own rules and court system to handle disputes. comp insurance prevents employees from filing a civil suit in most cases and generally provides reduced benefits without a court fight and long wait that comes with civil litigation.

more on Louisiana's system here:
http://www.laworks.net/WorkersComp/OWC_WorkerMenu.asp