Workman's Comp Survey

Tom McClintock's Home Page ^ | July, 2003? | Tom McClintock

[KittyKares]

Any California business owner who would like to voice his travail with high Workman's Comp premiums might want to complete the survey on McClintock's home page.

"Workers' Compensation Survey for Business Owners. What effect has a high workers' compensation premium had on your business? Click here to take the survey. [http://republican.sen.ca.gov/Survey/takeSurvey.asp?surveyID=34]

Senator McClintock has introduced SB 414 (Workers' Compensation Reform). The legislation is part of the Workers' Compensation Reform package being sponsored by the California Chamber of Commerce. The bill specifies that injury or disease arising out of employment must be certified by a physician using medical evidence based on objective medical findings. The workers' compensation system is currently on the brink of collapse, with workers' compensation costs now reaching 40 percent of payroll for some employers."

[KittyKares]

Go for it!

[mathluv]

Texas 'reformed' their laws - to hurt lawyers. The only problem is, it made it that much harder for injured workers, too. As much as I dislike lawyers and oppose fraud, true reform needs to take place.

[KittyKares]

What do you suggest as effective reform? We need all the ideas we can get.

[Prince Caspian]

How did people ever manage to survive their poor, meager, miserable lives before there ever was this wonderful thing called "Workers Comp"?

[mathluv]

I don't like most government programs. I was injured while working, with the result being damage I will have to live with for the rest of my life. I lost my very well-paid job - I can no longer do that work. I can only do some part-time work. I don't like having to have SSI - social security disability - but that was the only way to get long-term disability from my company.

Workers comp is a joke. The insurance company can pay a medical person to say there is nothing wrong with me, and I can do nothing to fight that. Few lawyers will handle WC because the law is written in favor of the ins companies.

I am now 61 yo. I had planned for my retirement. I used up much of my savings trying to get disability. My problem is that I am white and educated. The law is skewed to minorities - and being female does not count.

[mathluv]

Doctors are dropping WC patients like crazy here in TX, and lawyers that will take WC are few and far between. It is beginning to look like I will have to go to Dallas to find a doctor. That is a long way to travel (over 2 hours) when just going to the grocery store is hard.

[Rabid Dog]

Thanks for the heads-up KittyKares. Pinging Ventura County. If you want to be on/off the Ventura County Ping list - let me know.

[mathluv]

I wish I had an answer. With little or no money, doctors and lawyers won't take cases. I have learned the hard way that doing what is right is out the window when you get hurt on the job.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I have a neighbor who has filed a Workman's Comp claim against her former employer, a large school district. She asked me to move some boxes for her because she injured her back in a slip and fall accident at work. Around the same time she was fired from her job. I would think that if you're messed up enough to file a claim, you're too messed up to run around the neighborhood, or decide to clean out your neighbor's garage at 9pm at night. I mentioned her back and she snapped at me and said her back felt fine. I feel like turning her in for fraud. The only thing wrong with her is her messed up head.

[capitan_refugio]

No flame from here. I know what you mean. Workers Comp is a model for HillaryCare - imagine a nationalized, socialized health care system, just like Workers Comp, but much larger and much more bureaucratic!

Workers comp was, in theory, an insurence policy - but look what it has become.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[farmfriend]

Thanks. My husbands business is required to carry this insurance even though he has no employees and can't draw on it himself. What a wast of money.

[KittyKares]

I have read some difficult situations on this thread. The last thing I want is for the truly needy to be left out in the cold. The problem is that the dishonest ruin it for the rest of us--in all kinds of matters, not just Workman's Comp.