No matter what type of work you do, there is always a risk of injuring yourself on the job.
If you sustained a workplace injury, you might wonder, does my employer have workers’ compensation?
Depending on the answer, you will have two completely different sets of rights in a workplace accident.
Read on to learn more about determining Texas workers’ compensation verification and what happens if your employer is a non-subscriber.
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Steps for Texas Workers’ Compensation Coverage Verification
If you are unsure whether your company has coverage, there are several ways to verify a company’s workers’ compensation coverage status.
Contact Your Human Resources Department
One of the easiest ways to verify if your company has Texas workers’ compensation is to talk to your Human Resources department.
Part of their job includes helping employees understand the company’s benefits and programs. In most cases, they should know whether the company is a workers’ compensation subscriber.
It is rare, but the human resources representative might not know the workers’ compensation subscriber status in some instances.
severe injuries demands serious results
Check the Texas Department of Insurance Website
If you suspect the human resources person is not being honest or if they do not know the status, you can also check online.
The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation website has records on companies that are subscribers.
Depending on the potential coverage category, you must confirm the status using the appropriate database or updated PDF.
To complete a Texas workers’ compensation verification, visit the website corresponding to each category.
Subscriber/Nonsubscriber Categories
There are several categories your employer may fall into when it comes to being a subscriber. They may also be classified as a nonsubscriber if they have chosen not to carry workers’ compensation insurance.
Subscriber—Covered by a Licensed Texas Insurance Company
Some employers purchase workers’ compensation coverage through a private insurance company.
- Verify coverage at the TXCOMP NCCI website, or
- View subscribers on the Texas Open Data Portal – Subscriber database.
Common employers in this category include governmental entities and private companies.
Subscriber—Certified Self-Insured
Some private employers opt to pay their workers’ compensation losses rather than purchase a specific workers’ compensation policy.
- Verify certified self-insured workers’ compensation coverage at Texas Certified Self-Insurers.
To get certified as self-insured, the company must apply with the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC).
Subscriber—Governmental Agency that Self Insures
Governmental agencies and entities can choose to fund their own workers’ compensation program.
- Check for governmental self-insured status at TXCOMP Self-Insured Government Employer.
Government agencies can also choose to pool coverage with other agencies.
Non-Subscriber Status—Employer Without Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Employers that don’t subscribe to some workers’ compensation coverage are supposed to notify the DWC and their employees. You can check for non-subscribers on the Texas Open Data Portal—Non-Subscriber site.
What Happens If You Cannot Confirm Workers’ Compensation Status?
If you check all the databases and cannot confirm the status, email the Texas Department of Insurance at coverage.verification@tdi.texas.gov.
In your email, include your employer’s company name, physical address, and the date of your injury. Someone from the Department of Insurance will respond within one business day.
You can also contact Armstrong Lee & Baker, and our attorneys will assist you in verifying your company’s workers’ compensation status.
The Difference in Benefits for Workplace Injuries
If your company is a workers’ compensation subscriber in Texas, you have certain benefits available. The four main ones are medical, income, death, and funeral benefits.
They should be automatic, but some companies make it difficult to use these guaranteed benefits. Note that death and funeral benefits apply only to cases where a worker died on the job.
When a company does not have workers’ compensation insurance, you may not have guaranteed benefits. However, you have the right to pursue a lawsuit against your employer if their negligence caused your injuries.
Under these circumstances, having a skilled Texas work injury lawyer is essential.
How a Workers’ Comp Attorney Can Help
If you have questions about completing a Texas workers’ compensation verification and what benefits are available to you after a workplace injury, please contact Armstrong, Lee & Baker LLP.
We have years of experience assisting injured workers in Texas and can help. We understand what a stressful and confusing time this is for you.
If your employer does not subscribe to workers’ compensation insurance, we can assist you with filing a lawsuit to get the money you deserve after a workplace injury.
Call or contact us online today to learn more.
C.J. Baker represents victims with serious injuries and has won millions of dollars for victims of 18-wheeler crashes, oilfield equipment failures, offshore platform explosions, and defective medical devices. C.J. graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2016. He was an editor of the Texas Tech Law Review and a top national trial and moot-court advocate.