I Was on a Ventilator From Covid-19

I was on a ventilator from a Covid-19

I was on a ventilator from Covid-19. Who pays my hospital bill?

In Illinois, the Occupational Diseases Act requires Workers’ Compensation to pay for treatment if a worker contracts an illness in the course of employment. “Treatment” includes all costs related to Covid-19. In this case, it includes the cost of life-sustaining treatment from ventilators. To have these life-saving costs covered, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be an essential worker
• Contracted a confirmed positive Covid-19 diagnosis
• Been hospitalized and connected to a ventilator as a result of Covid-19

Now we will examine these requirements more in depth.

Essential Workers

Governor Pritzker’s Stay-at-Home Order defines essential workers as employees who are allowed to leave their homes and continue work during quarantine. Healthcare workers, of course, are essential. This includes doctors, nurses, orderlies, technicians, and other hospital and medical personnel. Workers at grocery and other essential retail stores are essential. Maintenance and janitorial staff also qualify.

To see a more extensive list of essential workers please go here.

A Confirmed Positive Covid-19 Diagnosis

Exposure to someone who tested positive, or to a place where the virus was present may be sufficient to get Workers’ Compensation to pay your hospital bill. There may be an investigation into if your workplace is where you most likely contracted the virus. The Illinois Hammer Injury Law Firm can help you prove your positive diagnosis was work related. We recommend seeking legal advice to answer questions about your positive Covid-19 diagnosis.

Connection to a Ventilator

Many Covid-19 patients need a ventilator. A ventilator is a machine that assists a patient’s breathing while their immune system fights the virus. Ventilators are typically operated out of hospital intensive care units. The medical cost of this machine adds up quickly. Yet, it is often necessary to support the patient.

How the Illinois Hammer Injury Law Firm Can Help

If you are an essential worker that was connected to a ventilator to fight Covid-19 you may qualify for benefits.  Medical bills could be completely covered by Workers’ Compensation.  This includes the cost of the ventilator. For more information about your rights or benefits under Workers’ Compensation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

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