Kaiser, Insurer Plan to Offer Health Care for Injured Workers

Kaiser Permanente and California’s largest workers’ compensation insurer said they plan to start a program next month to provide health care to injured workers.

Assuming the program gets regulatory approval, the insurer, State Compensation Insurance Fund, and Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest health maintenance organization, will launch the program July 1 in three markets including Orange County, the organizations announced. The program will be marketed by a direct sales force to employers insured by the fund, the organizations said. Companies employing 500 or fewer workers will be targeted. Employers choosing to enroll will agree to send all workers with occupational injuries to Kaiser facilities for medical care.

Enrolling employers will be eligible for a discount of up to 10% on their workers’ compensation premiums. However, fund-insured employers aren’t obligated to join.

The public, nonprofit fund competes with private carriers and assures availability of workers’ compensation insurance to all California employers. It has more than 255,000 employer policyholders.

The organizations plan to expand the program statewide next year.