WCIRB Report Focuses on COVID-19 Claims and Long COVID

3/2/2022

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) has released a new report, Medical Treatments and Costs of COVID-19 Claims and An Early Look at Long COVID in the California Workers’ Compensation System.

The full report is available in the Research section of the WCIRB website and at the following link:

Highlights of the report include:

  • The average medical payments on COVID-19 claims increase significantly as infections become more severe, and for those COVID-19 claims with severe and critical infections, the payments for hospital admissions were the main cost driver.
  • For claims with medical payments during the first six months of medical treatment, the average medical payments per COVID-19 claim were almost two times higher than those of non-COVID-19 claims. 
  • Cumulatively over a four-month post-acute care period, about 11 percent of workers with mild infections received medical treatments for long COVID symptoms in the workers’ compensation system, while the share was higher for workers with severe or critical infections.

WCIRB Research Forum Webinar

The WCIRB will host a free webinar to discuss the Medical Treatments and Costs of COVID-19 Claims and An Early Look at Long COVID in the California Workers’ Compensation System report. Click on the registration link below to sign up.

Long COVID and COVID Claims Medical Costs in the California Workers' Comp System
Thursday, March 10, 2022, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PT
Learn the patterns of medical treatment and cost of COVID-19 claims, how they are different from typical workers' compensation claims and what are the key cost drivers. WCIRB presenters will also share an early analysis of long COVID, including prevalence and potential cost impacts on the California workers' compensation system.
Register Now

For those unable to attend the live webinar, a rebroadcast will take place at 1:00 PM with a live Q&A. Register here.

A recording will also be posted in the Research section of the WCIRB website following the event.