ANU (Australian National University) PhD researcher Daryl Wesley suffered serious injuries during a fall in the Northern Territory, while researching Aboriginal rock art. The ANU private injury insurance left him short by > K10,and Mr Wesley warned PhD researchers were being left out on a limb because, unlike staff, they do not have access to [...]
Archive | Insurance claims RSS feed for this section
The importance of an accurate injury claim form
We have said it many times, the best and only ways to preserve evidence of your work injuries are by reporting all of them promptly to a doctor or other medical provider (i.e. hospital), by accurately filling in the injury claim form, and by photographing any visible marks, cuts, bruises, swellings, including any casts (plaster), [...]
Workcover claim accepted – but surgery, procedures, imaging, specialists and treatment denied
Workcover insurance companies quite often tell us and our treating doctors that they will not pay for procedures that the doctor, even the most expert of experts, says are medically appropriate and necessary. In Victoria this is in accordance with Division 2B of Part IV of the Act aworkcovervictimsdiary often hears from injured workers whose [...]
Narrow minded case managers:10 red flags of a bogus workcover claim
A couple of weeks ago, workcovervictim stumbled upon a bizarre and utterly narrow-minded write-up by a large workers comp insurance company (name omitted for obvious reasons) featuring a “sample workcover claim” to “assist case managers to recognise the bogus workcover claims”, which are, of course so rampant. 10 red flags of a bogus workcover claim [...]
There is a case to answer for bullying in Workers Compensation Systems
There is a case to answer for bullying in the Compensation Systems, in my opinion. In fact, back in July, I argued this point in front of the national inquiry committee. Here’s my statement: Statement by John McPhilbin to the National Inquiry into Workplace Bullying I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long [...]
Q-Comp: a totally disgusting,unjust legal case
This totally sick Q-Comp workers compensation appeal case, kindly shared by Statesman on our public forum, is a must read. As Statesman rightly states “getting out of paying an injured worker by finding a loophole in the act these are the stories that need to have light shed on to show the injustice”. Q-Comp: a [...]
The Scheme: Film-maker wants to bring WorkCover policies and its insurers into the 21st century by exposing issues in a documentary
According to studies still being conducted at RMIT University, Australia’s worker’s compensation scheme is fast becoming one of the worst in the developed world. We received an interesting email from RMIT film student and WorkCover Victim, Kris Vanston, who was responsible for putting together a great piece on‘toxic’ WorkCover Systems. Kris is now seeking stories from [...]
Dear Insurer, I don’t like doing business with vultures…
Insurance companies have fingers in many pies, and the same pack of vultures who are making a killing off the plight of injured workers will stop at nothing to win your business. They have cover for all occasions such as house, house contents, CTP Green slips, comprehensive vehicle insurance, income protection etc. We have listed [...]
Ten deadly sins of workcover claims-handling
My partner has been a member of the Yahoo risk management forum called RiskList: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/RiskList. which he highly recommends as a lot applies to workcover. Around May this year, an interesting discussion was kicked off, calling for nominations of the “7 Deadly Sins” of claims handling. And although the discussion was predominantly California-based, some good [...]
Insurance doctors falsify injured workers X-ray and MRI results
We received a shocking email overnight from an injured worker claiming he has evidence that certain Workcover insurers are going as far as to use “Medical Image Consultants”, IMEs as well as their own “insurance doctors” to blatantly falsify injured workers X-Ray and MRI results! In this sickening case, the injured worker has the insurer’s [...]
Bullied by the system: Injured worker shares nightmare
We don’t know which is worse, being the target of bullying in the workplace or being bullied in the workers compensation system. For those who enter the system as a result of serious injury other than through bullying the shock of being treated with hostility is very confronting, however, for those who’ve entered as a [...]
One of the worst workcover claim handling we heard of
We received an email from a former case manager who shares with us a candidate [case manager] for the worst claim handling she ever saw. This claim also turned up in a workers compensation claim file audit. A case manager was handling claims for a statewide private hospital chain. And oh Boy, all of the [...]
Non-existent epilepsy used to decline my claim: Injured worker
This is quite and amazing story from a recently injured worker who had her claim declined because an insurance company quack claimed her injury resulted from of an epileptic fit. Sarah writes: Sarah has since undergone brain scans by a competent medical specialist who can find no evidence of epilepsy It is no secret [...]
The culture of zero lost time injury and team safety bonus – a gutting story
I would like to tell you what has happened recently, writes an injured worker . As I now have time to write this account of what happened, I apologize if it may be long winded , but letter writing is not a strength that I normally exercise. But I now must, in pursuit of my [...]
Supported by Erin Brockovich
-
Dan: I've had a hip injury sustained by manually loadi...
-
carefactor0: Thanks Pugsley, I am glad I have finely found a pl...
-
-
John McPhilbin: These rulings and legal speak can be confusing - i...
-
At A Loss: Hi Workcover Victim, Unsure if this story has e...
-
Carol: Karma will get them or their loved ones in the end...
-
Angela Morgan: Injured Workers pay their lawyers so much money, u...
-
-
HuntingWorkcover: Something others may want to follow: A DISABL...
-
WorkcoverVictim: Proposed amendment to Fair Work Act to provide “...
-
workcovervictim3: Employers, return to work coordinators and any one...
-
-
Madame Zena: @HuntingWorkcover & @At a Loss - I agree. I ha...
-
-
NC: Hi Thank you for your reply. I'm not sure how it ...
-
NSW injured workers can still make a further claim for impairment for that same injury – new legal case
-
NSW Court rules workcover amendments affecting lumpsums do not apply retrospectively
-
WorkCover NSW average premiums cut by 7.5 per cent
-
Workcover case managers listen to background noise when phoning injured workers – WTF
-
Faulty assumptions only adds insult to injured workers
-
Government plan to make Comcare best practice model
-
Deed of release often used in settling workcover cases- what are they?
-
Barry’s reform adds insult to the injured
-
Vic Premier Naphtine called building workers safety march a disgrace
-
Assault on injured workers – more evidence and concern S.I.A
-
Employers incl RTW Coordinators are not allowed to attend doctors appointments
-
Workcover compensation schemes impede recovery from injury
-
Recoveries of money under workcover
-
International Day of Mourning: remembering those injured workers who have died
-
Judge criticises law firm about rejection of more generous settlement offer
-
Reckless injured worker’s common law damages reduced by 70%
-
Report condems “untouchable” police officers amid bullying claims
-
Vexatious “injured” worker blocked by the courts – again
-
The huge cost of workplace stress and depression
-
NSW injured workers can still make a further claim for impairment for that same injury – new legal case
-
What has the attack on NSW’s Workers Compensation laws meant for you?
-
When can weekly payments in Victoria be terminated
-
How are damages calculated
-
How to spot chronic workplace bullies
-
Common law damages claim and duty of care of the employer
-
Federal Court ruled AAT required to explain why it preferred the IME’s evidence
-
Medical Panels must provide clear reasons – Supreme Court Vic
-
Workcover Certificates: Doctors must ensure they’re carefully worded
-
Injured worker denied recommended back surgery and at wit’s end
-
Change WorkCover. Give injured workers a fair go – Petition
Forum for injured workers
Social Club Victorian Injured workers – SIC
**Next meeting April 2013**
Need a decent lawyer?
