Coronavirus FAQs for NJM Workers’ Compensation Partners and Policyholders

Workers' compensation insurance covers the medical expenses, wage loss, disability and death benefits resulting from a job-related injury or illness. Although workers' compensation laws vary by state, an illness like COVID-19 or any other communicable disease must meet certain criteria to be considered compensable under the law. One of these requirements is that the illness or disease must arise out of and in the course of employment. This means that the illness or disease must be caused by conditions that are peculiar, or incidental, to the employee's work.

NJM will evaluate each claim and make decisions regarding coverage on a case-by-case basis.

In most cases, reimbursement for testing and quarantine is not covered. Workers' compensation insurance covers the medical expenses, wage loss, death or disability benefits resulting from a compensable work-related illness or injury, but generally does not cover preventative measures like precautionary quarantines.

Other programs may be available to employees impacted by COVID-19, such as private and state-sponsored temporary disability, state and federal unemployment insurance, and state or federal medical insurance. We recommend that you visit your state's Department of Labor website for additional information.

If you think your employee is eligible for workers' compensation benefits, please report the claim immediately. Log in or call 1-800-435-7656. Please highlight that the claim is related to COVID-19 in the accident description. This will allow NJM to escalate its investigation of the claim. Provide all information you may have relating to when, where, and how the employee was exposed to the virus. An NJM Claims Representative will contact you to gather any additional information needed.