Coronavirus Information for Employers

At Midwest, we want to be as flexible and accommodating to our policyholders impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as possible. We know many of you have experienced economic hardship related to this crisis, and many of you have seen changes to your business operations that may impact your workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

We have already heard from many of you but for our policyholders that have not arranged for needed changes, please contact your insurance agent, or contact us directly.

Some of the things we have been doing to help our impacted policyholders:

Late payment accommodations:

• We have relaxed payment due dates during this period of crisis.
• We have voluntarily extended grace periods to 5/20/2020, even in jurisdictions where no grace period was required. We did so to prevent notices of cancellations and non-renewals for non-payment of premium. We will continue to extend those grace periods in jurisdictions where that action is mandated.
• We are not charging late fees and penalties.

Policy change and audit accommodations:

• We have reduced the payroll estimates, when requested, to reflect impacted policyholders’ annual estimates more accurately.
• We are allowing re-classification of exposure upon request to accurately reflect how your individual business has been impacted.
• We are allowing midterm and self-audits for impacted policyholders requesting them to help you determine a more accurate payroll estimate and business classification based on your current situation.
• In situations where these changes resulted in lower premium, we issued a premium credit or refund.
• We have relaxed due dates for other workers’ compensation related items, such as loss prevention inspections and payroll audits.

Payment plans and payment arrangements to help policyholders catch up on past due balances:

• We are accommodating reasonable requests for payment plan changes.
• We are accommodating reasonable payment arrangements.

As many states relax or remove stay at home orders, your business could be impacted. Your state Department of Insurance, the Center for Disease Control, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration all provide guidance and helpful information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

Midwest understands that each case provides a unique set of circumstances and investigates all claims for compensability, applying the rules governing practice in each jurisdiction.

Our determination will consider:

• A review of the medical evidence.
• Whether contraction arises out of an increased risk peculiar to the employment to that which the general public is exposed.
• Whether contraction would have occurred but for that time and place under the employment setting.
• Whether contraction occurred while the employee was furthering the duties peculiar to the employment when exposed to the hazards of the disease.
• Jurisdictional rules around presumption.

Certain employment may have a higher risk of contraction and in those circumstances, you will want to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the disease.

Please visit these websites for CDC recommendations:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

Report all claims immediately if you believe contraction arose out of and in the course and scope of employment. If you are unsure if a claim is compensable, our customer care team will complete the intake process around first notice of loss and an adjuster will contact you to discuss the facts and evidence unique to your employee's claim.

Online:

Midwest: www.midins.com
West River: www.westriverins.com
Brickyard: www.brickyardins.com

By Phone:

California: 866.642.2567
All other states: 800.293.0616
West River: 866.263.7400
Brickyard: 844.355.6036

Midwest is partnered with Rising Medical Solutions to offer Telehealth services.

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the use of technology to attend video appointments with a telehealth provider via smart phone, tablet, or computer. A virtual video visit gives quick access to a treating provider should your injury occur after business hours, weekends, or as an alternative to an in-office appointment. The option of a virtual video visit is available for the initial treatment of a new claim, based on the type of injury, or for a follow up appointment. Telehealth providers are board certified and licensed. Please note: Not all injury types are appropriate for Telehealth and may not be eligible for referral. Telehealth is not for emergency situations. In the event of an emergency call 911.

To file a complaint please call the Illinois Department of Insurance toll free complaint hotline at 1.866.445.5364 or file a complaint online at http://mc.insurance.illinois.gov/messagecenter.nsf