Ways To Reduce Your WSIB Claim Costs

In the unfortunate event of a workplace injury, use of these "Essential 4" strategies, along with regular analysis of your company's NEER statements, are the best way to reduce your WSIB claim costs:


1. Effective claims management:

• Regularly follow-up with all the relevant players involved in a claim: the worker, their manager, medical practitioners, and your WSIB adjudicator
• Always review your Monthly Cost Statements (find out why) and your Quarterly NEER statements for inaccuracies
• Object when you have any suspicions about the validity of a claim (when you suspect fraud, when a doctor's diagnosis does not seem to match with the nature of the accident, when the injury is a result of horseplay or from a situation where the employee was "removing themselves from the course of employment," or if you believe that an injury is due to a non-occupational situation. Note that there is a 6 month time limit on objections.
• Utilize the WSIB appeal process when appropriate

2. Pursuit of SIEF cost relief:

• If you believe that a worker's pre-existing condition may have contributed to the accident or is prolonging recovery, you should request SIEF cost relief
• This will not impact the amount of benefits the worker will receive
• Read our recent blog "What is SIEF" for more information

3. Active return-to-work efforts:

• Ideally, aim to have all your claims as "no lost time" claims
• Train your managers to refrain from saying "take a few days off"
• Be prepared to offer modified duties
• Any claim with over 4 weeks of lost time will incur significantly higher WSIB costs
• Emphasis on early Return-To-Work (RTW) - this will increase the likelihood of a successful RTW and is better psychologically for the worker
• Gradual RTW should focus on increasing a worker's stamina and ability to return to their previous duties if possible. Discourage workers from having physiotherapist appointments in the middle of the day (before or after work is preferred).
• Communicate with the worker, their manager, treating practitioners, and the WSIB on a regular basis
• Require the worker to meet their RTW obligations

4. Medical management of your claims:

• Rather than passively waiting on the WSIB's resources, facilitate more timely execution of treatment through private medical providers. Although these will be out-of-pocket expenses, anything that keeps costs off your NEER statement and speeds up recovery will ultimately save you money
• Utilize 3rd party expertise to help understand medical evidence and potentially question/challenge decisions. Medical consultants speak the "language" of medical practitioners and are more likely to engage them than lay people.
• Medical consultant can be an advocate for the worker and encourage them through the RTW process

Conclusion:

By utilizing the "Essential 4" strategies + NEER analysis, you will achieve:

• Optimal health outcomes for your injured workers
• Financial savings for your company
• Quick resolution to disability claims
• Workers who understand your company’s policies and are committed to supporting your RTW programs

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Want to learn more about WSIB claims management?

Register for one of our upcoming workshops (click to learn more):

• Introduction to Claims Management
• Introduction to the WSIB's NEER Program
• Advanced NEER Strategies

Register today to take advantage of early bird pricing!

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