Attributes of Long Duration COVID-19 Workers' Compensation Claims.

Abstract

To examine the attributes associated with long duration COVID- 19 workers' compensation (WC) claims. A study was conducted on 13,153 COVID-19 WC claims accepted by a workers' compensation insurance carrier between January 1, 2020 and November 30, 2021. 1) Ninety-five percent of accepted WC claims were closed within the study period; 2) five percent of claims had 30 days or longer of lost time accounting for 65% of total paid WC costs; 3) medical costs increased 8-fold once paid days lost crossed the threshold of 60 days or greater; 4) age was the strongest risk factor associated with increased WC costs and prolonged impairment. Age at the time of infection was the major factor associated with prolonged impairment and high costs of COVID-19 related WC claims.