WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE:  This is often referred to as "workers' comp", it is insurance coverage that provides employees injured on the job medical treatment and prescribed wage replacement.  All employers are mandated to provide their employees with workers' compensation coverage.  In exchange for this coverage, employees cannot sue the employer for work related injuries.  Workers receive benefits regardless of who was at fault in the accident.  If a worker is killed on the job, workers' compensation provides death benefits for the worker's dependents.

BENEFITS:

MEDICAL TREATMENT:  Medical costs are paid with no deductibles or co-payments.

TEMPORARY PARTIAL DISABILITY:  This benefit is payable when an injured employee is able to work despite their injury.  The benefits are available only for a limited period of time, in recognition of the fact that the employee will recover fully enough in the future that they will be able to resume employment without a wage loss.

TEMPORARY TOTAL DISABILITY:  This concerns employees who have been injured too badly to work in the short run, but will recuperate fully.  While recovering from injuries, workers receive two-thirds of their average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by the state legislature. 

PERMANENT PARTIAL DISABILITY:  This benefit is payable, in most jurisdictions, to an employee who has sustained a permanent, but not complete, disability.  Many state statutes have pre-set values for a host of different permanent partial disability injuries involving specific body parts or conditions.

PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY:  This benefit is available if an injured employee is permanently and totally disabled from work because of an occupational injury or disease and are unable to work in any occupation for which they are suited by education, training, or experience.

DEATH BENEFIT:  If a employee is killed on the job, this provides death benefits for the employee's dependents.