What does my workers comp letter mean?

Workers comp letters people paste most

• A denial letter. The insurer says it will not pay the claim or part of it. Look for the reason and the date you have to challenge it. See what to do after a denial.
• A notice that checks will stop or drop. It usually points to a doctor's report, a return-to-work date or a missed form. See when payments stop.
• An IME report. The opinion of the doctor the insurer chose. It can say you can work or that you are done healing. See the insurer's doctor.
• A rating or MMI letter. It gives a percent and starts the permanent part of the claim. See impairment ratings.
• A settlement offer. A price to close some or all of the claim, often with a release you sign. See settlement offers.

What to find in any workers comp notice

Start with the date at the top and who signed it: the insurance company, your employer, a doctor or the state agency. Then find the one sentence that says what was decided.

Next, look for a number of days. Many letters give you a set time to object, ask for a hearing or send a form. That window usually starts on the date of the letter, not the day you opened it.

Last, check what they want from you: a signature, a form, a doctor visit or a return to work. If the letter asks you to sign something, read it with an attorney first.

What the letter reader does and does not do

It reads only the text you paste. It does not see your claim file, your medical records or the rules of your state beyond what the letter itself says, so it never quotes a rule it cannot see.

It gives you plain words, not legal advice. When a deadline is close or the letter asks you to sign, a call with an attorney is the safer next step.

The text is discarded once read you paste. Leave out your Social Security number and claim number if you like; the reader does not need them.