Workers' compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that pays medical bills and replaces some lost wages for employees who are injured at work or who have work-related diseases or illnesses.
Workers' compensation will pay for the medical treatment of an injury or illness if:
- The injury occurred at work or the disease or illness is job-related; and
- The worker's employer has workers' compensation insurance or is certified by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation to self-insure.
Workers' compensation will also replace some of the worker's lost wages if:
- The injury or illness caused the worker to lose some or all income for more than seven days.
Texas employers may choose whether or not to maintain workers' compensation insurance. Employers who choose to have insurance may:
- Purchase insurance policies from private insurance companies; or
- Self-insure, if they meet the requirements of the Texas Workers' Compensation Act and are certified by the Texas Department of Insurance, Department of Workers' Compensation. Self-insured employers have the same rights and responsibilities as employers who buy policies from private insurance companies.