Iowa Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts

Coverage Requirements Under Iowa State Law

Most businesses with at least one part-time or full-time employee must carry Iowa workers' compensation insurance.

Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements

Notify your employer immediately about your work-related illness or injury, preferably in writing. You must report it within 90 days or lose your right to claim any Iowa workers' compensation benefits.

Where to Seek Medical Care

Your employer directs your medical care, including which doctor you can see after a work accident. That means you must notify your supervisor that you need medical attention before you seek treatment.Don't go to the ER/closest hospital – even if it's an emergency – unless you cannot reach your employer's insurance representative. If you do, the insurer can legally deny your workers' comp claim under Iowa state law.

Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Iowa

Your first 3 days off are always unpaid unless you're unable to work at all for at least 2 weeks. On day 15, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits covering those first 3 unpaid days you took off work. If you don't need at least 3 days off work to recover, you only qualify for medical benefits.

Iowa Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations

You have two years from your job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your Iowa workers' compensation claim.

Iowa Weekly Compensation Rate

Depending on your injury or illness type, you can receive either 66 2/3% or 80% of your average weekly wages. Generally, you'll get 80% of your spendable earnings (gross wages after deducting payroll taxes, but before any deductions) paid biweekly. This amount is subject to the state's current maximum and minimum benefit limits approved for each calendar year.

How Long You Can Receive Iowa Workers' Comp Benefits

• Medical benefits: unlimited; however, state law says your employer must give you 30 days' notice in writing if they plan to terminate your medical or TTD benefits before you go back to work
• Death benefits: funeral and burial expenses totaling no more than 12x the state's AWW at the time of death and weekly TTD benefits until the surviving spouse remarries or dies
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD): until you go back to work at the same earnings level or reach maximum medical improvement
• Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): 15-250 weeks for scheduled member disabilities; percentage rating x 500 weeks for “body as a whole” permanent disabilities
• Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): until you go back to work at the same earnings level or reach maximum medical improvement
• Permanent Total Disability (PTD):duration of disability

Iowa Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions

The following employees are automatically exempt from Iowa workers' comp coverage:

• Agricultural workers who earned less than $2,500 in the preceding 12 months
• Casual or domestic workers who earned less than $1,500 in the previous year
• Federal employees
• Independent contractors
• Limited Liability company (LLC) members and business partners
• Police and fire department staffers eligible for pension benefits when they retire
• Sole proprietors

Iowa Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees

All Iowa workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay your lawyer after your case wins. However, there isn't a set fee percentage listed in Iowa's workers' compensation laws. Instead,Iowa code 86.39says legal fees “are subject to the approval of the workers' compensation commissioner.”