COVID-19 Policyholder Resources

Last Updated: 2/28/2023

Working Safely with COVID-19 and Related Pathogens

America has returned to work but COVID-19, its variants, and other pathogens such as tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, and the common flu can still have negative impact on a workforce. 

Plans and processes put in place by employers during the height of the pandemic continue to reduce infectious illness risk factors for workers and the public, and the MEMIC team continues to support employers and their workers as the pandemic subsides. Below are resources to assist you with evaluating or improving your business’s ability to manage infectious pathogens in the workplace:

• Safety & Health
  • Workplace Safety Resources
  • CDC Guidance for Employers
• Managing Claims
  • Oregon COVID-19 Claim Information
  • COVID-19 Claim Compensability
  • COVID-19 Claim Reporting
  • Access to Healthcare Providers
• Managing Your Policy
  • Furloughed and Reassigned Employees
• Additional Information

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Safety & Health

COVID-19 poses a potentially serious public health threat. Certain individuals may be at a higher risk depending on the nature of their work and exposure levels and the extent to which their work involves sustained human-to-human interaction. 

Workplace Safety Resources 

The spread of the novel coronavirus presents unique safety and health risks, requiring changes in when, how and where many of us work. MEMIC recognizes that with changing work practices, employees may be exposed to additional risks, as they perform new tasks or must perform work in a manner that limits exposure to SarsCoV2. While keeping each other safe and preventing the spread of the coronavirus is a top priority, the last thing anybody wants is an injury. 

MEMIC’s library of COVID-19 Workplace Safety Resources is updated regularly with tools and resources you can use right now to help keep you and your employees safe during these challenging times. 

Our Loss Control staff can deliver services remotely, including ergonomic assessments for workstations, both home office and at worksites. 

CDC Guidance for Employers

All employers need to consider how best to slow the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact in their workplace through the following activities:

• reduce transmission among employees,
• maintain healthy business operations, and
• maintain a healthy work environment.

Businesses are strongly encouraged to coordinate with their state and local health officials so timely and accurate information can guide appropriate responses.

• The CDC offers interim guidance to help businesses and employers plan, prepare and respond to the coronavirus.
• OSHA also has an in-depth guide to help workplaces prepare for COVID-19. 

 

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Managing Claims

The successful recovery and eventual return to work of injured workers remains the top priority for our team of claim specialists. Injured workers will continue to receive their approved benefits and should be in contact with their healthcare providers to continue their recovery. 

COVID-19 has spread to a worldwide pandemic and our country is no longer in lock down It is more difficult for an employee to show that contracting COVID-19 is work related rather than as a result of exposure to the public, particularly where the employee or members of the employee’s household may be at risk of exposure in their daily lives. 

Below you will find information and guidance on potential COVID-19 claim reporting and accessing healthcare providers. If you have questions about your benefits or recovery, please contact your claim specialist at (800) 660-1306. 

COVID-19 Claim Compensability

MEMIC’s team of claim specialists will thoroughly investigate COVID-19 claims on a case-by-case basis and evaluate whether an employee’s illness related to COVID-19 occurred during the course and scope of employment and resulted from a workplace exposure. Once a complete investigation is conducted, compensability of the claim will be determined by the facts and applicable jurisdictional law. An injury or a diagnosis of an illness is a requirement for all claims. 

As with any claim filed for an exposure to a disease,in the workplace, the factual and medical evidence regarding exposure will be essential to the compensability determination. Certain types of employment or circumstances specific to your business may carry a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure than others, for example, front line healthcare workers. We will carefully weigh all factors presented in each potential COVID-19 claim before making any compensability determination. 

COVID-19 Claim Reporting 

If an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has exhibited COVID-19 symptoms due to exposure to someone with COVID-19 at work, take all necessary health and safety precautions, and if the COVID-19 exposure is work related, report the claim to MEMIC immediately by completing the Report of Injury online or call us at 1-800-MEMIC WC (1-800-636-4292). 

Suspected exposure to COVID-19 generally is not considered an injury for purposes of workers’ compensation, and thus exposure-only claims may be denied if there is not a positive diagnosis. If you have questions about whether you should report a COVID-19 incident as a claim, please call us. 

Access to Healthcare Providers

Continuing to receive healthcare services is critical for injured workers to move forward in their recovery. Even with longer wait times for appointments, injured workers should continue to contact their healthcare providers. 

As COVID-19 continues to spread, many facilities that serve injured workers have closed to protect public health. Telemedicine provides injured workers with an opportunity to continue their care even as brick and mortar clinics temporarily close their doors. Check with your providers to see if they have shifted to digital care or talk to your MEMIC claim specialist about telemedicine availability. 

 

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Furloughed and Reassigned Employees

When the COVID-19 emergency was initially declared, payroll for furloughed employees was classified under code 0012 in many states. Payroll under code 0012 was excluded from premium payments and experience rating calculations.  Please note that class code 0012 is scheduled to expire effective June 30, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact your insurance agent.

 

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Additional Information

For additional information regarding COVID-19, please see the links below:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
• World Health Organization (WHO) 
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 

More information about coronavirus workplace safety can be found on our COVID-19 Safety Resources page.