Brain-injury workers compensation claims cost more than double other types of lost-time claims, according to a report released Friday by the National Council for Compensation Insurance.
The report said that among active claims between 2013 and 2018, 15% of permanent-injury total claims included a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
A TBI is defined as physical trauma to the head that alters the normal function of the brain. Those suffering from TBIs may not ever fully regain their social independence due to long-term side effects such as debilitating cognitive, mood, and behavioral problems, according to the report by the Boca Raton, Florida-based ratings agency.
NCCI research on multimillion-dollar “mega” claims found that brain and head injuries, such as TBIs, account for a significant portion, with brain injuries representing 17% of mega claims between $3 million and $5 million, and 30% of mega claims in excess of $10 million, according to the report.
In 2018, lost-time TBI claims accounted for almost 5% of reported medical payments on all countrywide lost-time claims even though they represent only 2.5% of those claims, according to the report.
This article was first published in Business Insurance.
