When you’re injured on the job in Antioch or anywhere in Illinois, your health becomes the top priority—and so does protecting your legal right to receive medical treatment. As Illinois Workers’ Compensation attorneys, we know how confusing and stressful this process can feel. Many injured workers don’t know what care they’re entitled to, who gets to choose the doctor, or whether their bills will be paid. The truth is that you have strong rights under Illinois law, and employers must provide the treatment needed to help you recover. We’re here to walk you through what those rights are and how to make sure they’re respected.
Getting hurt at work doesn’t just disrupt your health—it affects your income, your family, and your future. That’s why Illinois workers’ compensation laws provide medical benefits from the very first moment you need care. But those benefits only help if you understand what they include, how to access them, and when to stand up for your rights.
Under Section 8(a) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/8(a)), employers are required to pay for all necessary and reasonable medical care related to a work injury. That includes:
The law is clear: if your injury happened on the job, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance must cover your treatment—no copays, no deductibles, no out-of-pocket expenses.
In Illinois, you don’t have to see the company doctor forever. Under the “two-doctor rule” in 820 ILCS 305/8(a), you’re allowed to choose two doctors for your care, and each of those doctors can refer you to specialists as needed—without affecting your benefits. That means you can receive care from multiple providers as long as the chain of referral starts from one of your two selected physicians.
If your employer has a Preferred Provider Program (PPP) registered with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, you may have to choose from within that network unless you formally opt out. If you opt-out, your two-doctor limit applies.
Once your employer’s insurance provider accepts the claim, they’re responsible for paying all bills directly to the medical providers. You should never receive a bill—or be expected to pay one yourself—if your care is authorized and related to the workplace injury. If a provider mistakenly bills you, notify your attorney and the insurer right away so the error can be corrected.
It’s not uncommon for insurance companies to delay authorizing treatment or challenge whether a procedure is necessary. If that happens, we can file a petition for an emergency hearing under Section 19(b-1) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/19(b-1)). This allows us to present the case to an arbitrator quickly to get a ruling on whether care must be provided. We may also request penalties and attorney’s fees if the insurer is acting in bad faith.
You can request a second opinion if you’re unsure about your diagnosis or treatment plan. This counts as one of your two doctor choices under the two-doctor rule. Meanwhile, the employer can require you to attend an Independent Medical Examination (IME) with a doctor they choose under Section 12 of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305/12). IMEs are used to evaluate your condition, but they don’t replace your treating physician’s care.
If the IME doctor claims you’re ready to return to work or denies your need for further treatment, we can challenge that opinion with medical evidence from your treating doctor.
Some work injuries don’t heal right away—or ever. Illinois law recognizes this and allows injured workers to receive treatment indefinitely as long as the care is medically necessary and related to the original injury. This includes chronic pain management, follow-up surgeries, and treatment for complications. We make sure your settlement includes protection for these future medical needs if you’re not fully healed.
Finally, under Illinois law and the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission’s rules, you have the right to respectful, timely medical treatment. No one should pressure you to return to work too soon or deny you proper care. If you face resistance from your employer or insurer, we are ready to stand with you and enforce your rights.
Yes. Illinois law allows you to choose two doctors for your treatment. You can also see any specialists they refer you to, and those referrals won’t count against your two-doctor limit. If your employer offers a Preferred Provider Program (PPP), you must be notified and can opt-out to preserve your right to choose freely.
No. All reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury is covered by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. You should not be billed directly. If you receive a bill in error, we can work with the provider and the insurer to make sure it is corrected and paid in full.
If your treatment is delayed or denied, we can take immediate legal action by requesting an emergency hearing. The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act allows us to present the issue to an arbitrator quickly, especially when medical treatment is at stake. We may also seek penalties against the insurer for unreasonable delays.
Yes. A second opinion is allowed and encouraged if you’re unsure about the diagnosis or the treatment being recommended. This counts as one of your two doctor choices. It’s important to choose doctors who understand the workers’ compensation process and are willing to document your injury accurately.
Yes. There is no time limit on how long you can receive medical care through workers’ compensation. If your injury requires ongoing treatment or future surgery, those costs are covered as long as they are medically necessary and related to your work injury. This applies even years after the original accident.
At The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C., we fight to make sure our clients receive every medical benefit the law allows. From the first doctor visit to long-term care, we work to protect your health, your rights, and your peace of mind. If you’re facing delays, denials, or billing issues with your workers’ compensation medical treatment, we’re ready to step in and help.
Contact our Illinois workers’ comp lawyers at The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens by calling us at 847-395-2200 to receive your free consultation. We represent clients from our offices in Antioch, Waukegan, and Woodstock.
The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation Law Office, have offices in Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Woodstock and Barrington. We represent clients throughout the communities of Antioch, Waukegan, Grayslake, Barrington, Woodstock, Buffalo Grove, Deer Park, Gurnee, Lake Zurich, Round Lake, McHenry, Cary, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, Lincolnshire, Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Wheeling, North Chicago, Zion, Inverness, Palatine, Wauconda, Island Lake, Fox Lake, Barrington Hills, Spring Grove, Lake Bluff, Lakemoor, Long Grove, Lake Villa, Kildeer, Wadsworth, Indian Creek, Fox River Grove, Lindenhurst and other cities within Lake and McHenry Counties Illinois.
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