A 20 year old employee with a back injury is evaluated by a middle-of-the-road physician and is deemed to have permanent disability. You are responsible for which benefits?

• A. Medical and temporary disability
• B. Medical, permanent disability with apportionment and temporary disability
• C. Medical, permanent disability, temporary disability and vocational rehabilitation if applicable
• D. Medical, temporary disability, permanent disability

Answer: (C)

When a worker is deemed to have permanent disability, the plan covers a full set of benefits: medical treatment for the injury, disability indemnity for the period the employee cannot work (temporary disability), and, if the worker cannot return to the same job, permanent disability benefits. In addition, vocational rehabilitation services are available if there is a reasonable chance those services will help the employee return to suitable employment. This combination—medical care, permanent disability, temporary disability, and vocational rehabilitation if applicable—is why that option is the correct one.

Apportionment of permanent disability would only apply if there’s a valid preexisting impairment contributing to the disability; it isn’t assumed in every case. The other options either omit one of the required benefit components or add apportionment by default, which is not guaranteed.