Once your doctor establishes that your diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome is related to your job duties, your employer has a legal obligation to provide you with workers’ compensation benefits. 

Your employer's  role in filing a workers’ compensation claim is simple.  Your employer should complete an accident report form and submit it to its workers’ compensation carrier.  Your employer should provide you with the contact information of the carrier (Your employer, by law, should have this information prominently posted in your place of employment.  That’s it. That is all your employer has to do.

You employer, however, may try and direct you to use your group health insurance plan instead.  Your employer is fully aware that you should be filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits instead of using a health insurance plan.  Many employers believe that their premiums will go up if too many people file claims.  While the insurance company does take that into consideration, an employees’ wages are also used in determining insurance premiums.  Truth be told, your employer is required, by law,  to carry workers' compensation insurance. Besides, if no claims for workers’ compensation benefits get filed, the premiums will go up anyway. 

Here are some things to consider when using your group health insurance plan instead of filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits:

Group health plans DO NOT cover 100% of all your medical expenses. Most plans require the payment of a co-pay.  You may have to meet a deductible before your expenses are fully covered.

• Group health plans DO NOT pay you for any time lost from work.

• Group health plans DO NOT provide vocational retraining.

• Group health plans DO NOT pay a wage differential if you have to take a lower paying job because of your injuries.

• Group health plans DO NOT pay lump sum settlements for your injuries.

Some group health plans won’t cover injuries sustained at work, unless you agree, in writing, that your injuries are not work related.  While this may seem like a good idea at the time,  by stating that your injuries are not work related, you could lose all the benefits provided by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.  

Below is a side by side comparison of the benefits provided under the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act and most group health insurance plans.
Workers' Compensation Rights & Benefits	Worker's Compensation Insurance	Group Health Insurance
MEDICAL EXPENSES 100% of all reasonable & necessary medical expenses No deductibles No co-insurance payments No pre-set limits	YES	NO Requires a deductible Requires co-payment Pre- determined limits on treatment
TREATMENT - CHOICE OF DOCTORS Provides treatment by a minimum of 2 doctors of your own choosing Treatment can be received at any medical facility of your own choosing	YES	NO Must choose doctor on plan's "list of doctors" Must receive treatment at plan facilities Requires approval for referral to specialist
LOST WAGE BENEFIT Pays a weekly tax free benefit while you are off work recovering & under active medical treatment No specified time limitation	YES	NO NOT PROVIDED BY ANY GROUP PLAN
LUMP SUM SETTLEMENT OR AWARD Compensation for residual effects of CTS even if you return to your prior profession All monetary benefits are tax-free	YES	NO NOT PROVIDED BY ANY GROUP PLAN