If you have been injured while performing the duties of your job in Illinois and have filed a workers’ compensation claim, you may be wondering about your treatment options. Specifically, you may ask yourself, “Can I choose my own doctor for my workers’ compensation treatment?” The answer is yes, you can, but with certain restrictions under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
Illinois law allows injured workers some level of discretion in selecting medical providers to treat their work injuries. In many cases, you can see up to two doctors of your own choosing, and your employer is 100 percent responsible financially for the charges made by any other doctors or medical facilities to whom those first two doctors refer you, assuming that the treatment you receive is reasonable, necessary and related to your work injuries.
However, if your employer maintains a Preferred Provider list, you are required to select a medical provider from that list as your first choice. If you do not, you forfeit that first choice, which means that you will be entitled to only one doctor of your own choosing.
It is worth noting that doctors on an employer’s Preferred Provider list may potentially be biased in favor of the employer to the extent that it may hurt the value of your workers’ compensation claim. It is advised that you consult your attorney regarding medical treatment for your work-related injuries so that you can make the wisest use of your choices.
How Can I Preserve My Rights Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation System?
If you have been hurt on the job in Illinois, there are many benefits that are potentially available to you under the state’s workers’ compensation system. To help preserve their rights when they file workers’ compensation claims, many injured workers seek out the guidance of an experienced attorney, such as the Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers.
With over $2 billion recovered for our clients and offices throughout the state, GWC is one of Illinois’ leading Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury law firms.
To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys, please call GWC at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with one of our representatives at any time.
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