What DBA Benefits Can You Expect?

Posted on Wednesday April 01, 2020

The Defense Base Act (DBA) exists to provide rights and benefits to private employees working for the United States overseas, similar to workers’ compensation laws for domestic employees. If you are injured while on the job on foreign soil, you might understand that you should be entitled to benefits. However, exactly what type of benefits can you expect? When you need medical treatment and/or have to miss work, it helps to know what you might receive so you can plan ahead. While no two claims are the same, the following is an overview of benefits that might be available in a DBA claim.

Medical Benefits

First and foremost, employees should not have to pay for medical treatment of their work-related injuries, so the DBA provides coverage of all medical expenses. Medical care should be fully covered as long as it is related to the work-related injury or illness. This might include:

• Emergency care
• Diagnostic testing
• Surgery
• Specialist appointments
• Hospitalization
• Medication
• Medical equipment
• Physical and rehabilitative therapy

The employee has the right to select their own physician to provide treatment. However, if the insurance company questions a certain diagnosis or treatment recommendation, the insurer might request that the employee undergo an independent medical exam from the company’s chosen doctor. Medical benefits should continue as long as the injured worker requires treatment.

Disability Compensation

Many injuries and illnesses keep people away from work. Some people might miss work due to their treatment or might need to rest while they recover. Others might have injuries that impair their abilities to perform their jobs. Workers with catastrophic injuries might never be able to return to work again. The DBA addresses lost income by providing any of the following, depending on the circumstances:

• Temporary partial disability
• Temporary total disability
• Permanent partial disability
• Permanent total disability

These benefits aim to replace wages lost in the short or long-term due to the work injury, and they do so at a rate of two-thirds of the worker’s average weekly wage prior to the work disruption.

Vocational Rehabilitation

If a worker is permanently disabled by their injury, they might be entitled to receive vocational rehabilitation services. As of now, a worker must be residing in the United States following a permanent injury to receive this type of benefit. 

Seeking the Benefits You Deserve

Just because you should receive benefits does not always mean it is that easy. The claims process can be difficult, and companies regularly try to limit benefits as much as possible. The best way to ensure that you receive the full medical and disability benefits you deserve is to have a skilled DBA attorney handling your claim for you. 

Contact Our Nationwide DBA Attorneys for Help with Your Claim

At Mara Law Firm, we represent clients who deserve DBA benefits following a job-related injury overseas. If you need to start the claim process or you need to appeal a denied claim or inadequate benefits, you should consult with our DBA lawyers who handle cases across the United States. Call (619) 234-2833 or contact us online for a free consultation.