A weighty issue: Obesity and the implications for workers' compensation

Obesity is considered by many to be a national health crisis. The number of obese people in the United States is getting higher, and the proportion of obese and overweight workers filing workers' compensation claims is very high. This high percentage of overweight and obese injured workers filing workers' compensation claims is resulting in greatly increased workers' compensation payments. Obesity affects both the medical cost component of a workers' compensation claim as well as the associated indemnity costs. Is there a way for workers' compensation insurers to manage and control these costs?

This article was originally published in the March 2016 issue of Best's Review.