Are employers obligated to pay for employee medical expenses?
In New York, employers are obligated to pay for some of their employees’ medical expenses. The New York State Department of Labor states that employers are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance coverage for medical expenses to employees who are injured or become ill while on the job. Employers are also obligated to pay for any medical treatment needed as a result of the injury or illness. However, employers are not obligated to pay for any medical expenses that are not related to a workplace injury or illness. This means that employers are not required to cover any medical expenses incurred by employees that are unrelated to the workplace. For instance, if an employee gets sick with a virus unrelated to the workplace, the employer is not responsible for covering the medical costs. Employers are allowed to offer medical benefits to employees, such as health insurance, however, this is not a requirement in New York State and some employers choose not to provide this benefit. Furthermore, employers in New York State may not discriminate against employees in regards to benefits or pay, so they must treat all employees equally when it comes to benefits or pay, regardless of illness or injury. As such, it is important for employers and employees in New York to understand what is covered by worker’s compensation and what is not covered, so that they can be aware of their rights and responsibilities with regards to medical expenses.
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