Disability, Depression, and Benefits

By Gary Anderberg, PhD

SVP Claim Analytics
Gallagher Bassett

An employee is off work due to a serious workers’ compensation (WC) claim event. What if this previously successful, thriving employee becomes depressed while on claim — in pain, with an uncertain prognosis, away from friends at work, and perhaps taking powerful drugs?

This is the point where your organization needs the benefits and risk management functions to collaborate. How do you and your WC adjuster help this person cope with these distressing circumstances? How do you bring potentially applicable benefits, such as an employee assistance program (EAP), into the WC process?

Depression and WC is not an unusual mix. Rising Medical Solutions’ 2016 survey of senior WC claims professionals showed that these experts ranked psychosocial issues as the number one barrier to successful claims outcomes. A similar research project undertaken by The Hartford in 2016 showed that 10% of WC claims had mental health issues — and those claims accounted for 60% of claim costs.¹

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