Home Modifications and Workers' Compensation in North Carolina
When North Carolina workers experience serious injuries, their daily lives can be greatly impacted. In some cases, severe injuries may require changes to their homes to accommodate new needs and improve accessibility.
Understanding Home Modifications
Home modifications involve making adjustments to a living space to ensure it’s safer and more accessible for individuals with disabilities or mobility challenges. These changes can be as simple as adding ramps or as complex as larger renovations needed to accommodate someone who has suffered a significant work injury.
Common Modifications for Injured Workers
One of the most common home changes for injured workers is the installation of ramps. Ramps help individuals using wheelchairs or walkers move in and out of their homes more easily. This is usually a simple project, and many insurance providers will pay for the cost of renting ramps for a certain period.
Other typical home modifications include:
- Widening doorways and hallways to fit wheelchairs.
- Installing grab bars in bathrooms for extra support.
- Lowering countertops and sinks for wheelchair access.
- Rearranging furniture to create clear paths for easy movement.
- Long-Term Modifications for Severe Injuries
For more severe injuries, such as paralysis, bigger changes may be needed. In these cases, professionals will typically evaluate the worker’s living space to determine what modifications are necessary. A life care plan is often developed, laying out the long-term needs of the injured worker, including changes to the home.
Life Care Plans and Assessments
A life care plan details the ongoing medical and personal needs of an injured worker. It typically includes recommendations for home modifications, medical devices, and any other equipment the worker might need to improve their quality of life.
These evaluations are usually done by a nurse case manager or a rehabilitation professional who assesses the worker’s physical condition and recommends changes to the home to make sure they can move around safely and maintain their independence.
Insurance Challenges with Home Modifications
Even though it’s often clear that home modifications are needed, getting approval from the insurance company can be tricky. Insurance providers may be hesitant to pay for these changes because of the high costs involved.
Insurance Coverage for Home Modifications
In North Carolina, workers’ compensation insurance may cover the costs of home modifications if they are necessary due to a work injury. However, getting this coverage may come with a few hurdles:
- Insurance companies might ask for a lot of paperwork and proof to justify the changes.
- They may try to reduce costs by suggesting cheaper, less thorough modifications.
- Sometimes, they may deny the request completely, which could lead to the need for an appeal or legal action.
Renting vs. Owning: What You Need to Know
Many injured workers wonder if they can get home modifications if they rent their residence instead of owning it. The answer is yes, but there are some additional considerations.
Modifications in Rental Properties
If the worker is renting, the landlord must agree to the modifications. If the landlord refuses, other options may need to be explored.
In situations where changes can’t be made to the current rental, the insurance company might cover the cost of moving the injured worker to a more suitable home.
Getting Legal Help
Because home modifications and North Carolina workers’ compensation claims can be complicated, it’s often a good idea to get legal help. A North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney can assist with getting the necessary home modifications and dealing with any issues that may come up with the insurance company.
