Having a baby is a blessing and a joy, but if you become pregnant while receiving Ohio Worker’s Compensation benefits, could pregnancy impact your case?

While there are no absolutes in the Ohio Worker’s Compensation system, generally, your benefits should not be impacted by pregnancy.

Generally speaking, if you are receiving Ohio Worker’s Compensation medical benefits and you become pregnant, you won’t lose your medical benefits. However, that doesn’t mean that any medical care or other benefits you are receiving after you got sick or injured at work will cover your prenatal care or your birth – and you can’t get any more benefits due to your pregnancy.

What if you are collecting compensation, like temporary total disability?  Pregnancy shouldn’t directly impact those benefits if your work injury or illness is still preventing you from working.

It’s similar to being on permanent total disability – your pregnancy won’t impact your Ohio Worker’s Compensation benefits or any eligibility to keep them going.

There can be a path to extend your benefits if your pregnancy has worsened your work-related illness or injury, however, this would be a good time to call a qualified worker’s compensation attorney for advice.

It’s always a good idea to call your worker’s compensation physician right away to let him or her know about the pregnancy, so it can be added to your medical record and taken into account for your treatment plan.

Remember, pregnancy is not considered a disease or a disability. While your doctor might recommend that you change your work tasks, assignments or other factors while pregnant – including ordering bed rest, depending on both the health of you and your baby – pregnancy alone isn’t something you can collect benefits for.

Federal laws also keep you protected from employer discrimination while you are pregnant.

If you are collecting benefits and you are worried your pregnancy could impact your situation, reach out to a qualified worker’s compensation attorney right away.

Connor Kimmet and Hafenstein LLP

If you have questions about Ohio Worker’s Compensation benefits and pregnancy, our expert attorneys can help you. We have a lawyer who will work for you and can answer your questions!