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

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the attributes associated with long duration COVID- 19 workers' compensation (WC) claims. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: Age at the time of infection was the major factor associated with prolonged impairment and high costs of COVID-19 related WC claims.