Workers’ Compensation (WC) coverage protects injured employees by providing medical and wage benefits, in addition to protecting members from employers’ liability related to injuries in the workplace. Coverage is mandated and governed by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (VWCA), which defines benefits and covered expenses.
In 2022, VRSA responded to member needs by introducing Workers’ Compensation (WC) Plus. WC Plus is designed to provide reimbursement for expenses not covered under the VWCA, as well as the costs of non-compensable or exposure-only bloodborne pathogen testing.
“When an employee is injured, facing unexpected costs should be the least of their worries,” said VRSA Managing Director Marcus Hensel. “This coverage is designed to provide reimbursement for expenses the Act doesn’t cover, to ease the worries of those who have been injured.”
The program is beneficial for employee morale. When an employee’s glasses were damaged after they were struck by an inmate at a regional jail, the cost to replace them was covered by Workers’ Compensation Plus. When an employee working a motor vehicle accident lost their expensive diabetic medical device, it was covered by Workers’ Compensation Plus.
Workers’ Compensation Plus covers:
- Costs associated with adapting the home for injured workers above the amount provided by the VWCA.
- Counseling services to immediate family members and co-workers.
- Expenses incurred by a primary caregiver during an employee’s inpatient stay.
- Personal belongings damaged as a result of a compensable claim, such as eyeglasses, jewelry, clothing, etc.
- Expenses for non-compensable bloodborne pathogen exposure testing.
- Expenses related to boarding pets during an employee’s inpatient stay.
- Funeral and burial-related expenses above the amount provided by the Act.
As a truly member-owned and governed risk pool, we are committed to providing the broadest coverages tailored to our members’ needs. This coverage was specifically created to address a need identified by members. Workers’ Compensation Plus is an optional coverage that can be added to your entity’s policy at any time. To learn more about adding this coverage or any coverages we provide, please contact a coverage specialist at msrs@vsra.us or 800-963-6800.