Workers’ Compensation
Despite our best efforts, difficult and – sometimes dangerous – work may result in accidents and injuries.
When this happens, the professionals in the BIW Medical and Workers’ Compensation Departments step up to care for the injured employee as they would a family member.
BIW Workers’ Compensation professionals provide real-time guidance to injured employees, family members and supervisors to ensure the injured employee receives immediate care and the peace of mind of continued compensation while they are recovering from an injury.
Navigating the healthcare system is challenging. BIW does not want concern about paying for care and supporting your family to add to the challenge.
BIW prides itself in keeping the work of supporting injured employees an internal service provided by fellow BIW employees. A member of our local team – one of your colleagues, right here in the shipyard – will be assigned to you from beginning to end guiding you through the entire process.
Supporting shipbuilders
Injured Worker Benefits
Because of the nature and location of our work, there are two possible sources of benefits for injured BIW employees.
Maine Workers’ Compensation Act of 1992
Administered by the Maine Workers’ Compensation Board. To learn more about this benefit, click here.
Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA)
Administered by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. To learn more about this benefit, click here.
BIW employees may qualify for one or both injured worker benefits. Our workers’ compensation professionals help guide employees to the most appropriate and beneficial program and supports them through the process.
workers compensation guide
Your Benefits While Out of Work
This guide outlines how your employment status and health and welfare benefits are managed if you are out of work due to a Workers’ Compensation claim.
Phase 1: First 30 Days (Active Status)
If you are out of work for 30 days or less, you will remain in Active status in our systems.
- Status: You will not be switched to a Leave of Absence (LOA).
- Benefit Deductions: Since you are not receiving a regular paycheck during this time, your health and wellness benefit premiums will go into arrears. This means that your deductions for your benefits will be doubled until the amount back owed is paid.
- Returning to Work: When you return within the 30-day window, missed premiums will be recovered through arrears deductions from your future paychecks until your balance is caught up.
Phase 2: After 30 Days (Leave of Absence Status)
If your absence extends beyond 30 days, your status will be updated to Leave of Absence in our
systems.
- System Trigger: This status change automatically notifies the General Dynamics Service
- Direct Billing: Once switched to LOA, the General Dynamics Service Center will send you a notice with information about the status of your health and Wellness Benefit insurance coverage while you are on Leave of Absence. This will be followed by an invoice for your benefits, at active rates, on a monthly basis. If you fail to pay these invoices, your Health and Wellness Benefit insurance coverage will be terminated for non-payment.
Phase 3: Returning from Leave of Absence
When you return to work and are switched to Active status, your benefits will be transitioned
back to payroll deductions.
- Enrollment Window: You will have a specific window of time to re-elect your coverage or make changes to your current plans. This will be 31 days from the day of your return to work.
- Default Coverage: If you do not take action, you will be defaulted back into the same plans you had before your leave began, if you return within the same calendar year. If you return in the following year, you will need to enroll in benefits again through the General Dynamics Service Center. If you lost coverage due to failure to pay, you will be defaulted to “no coverage”.
- Loss of Coverage: If your coverage was cancelled during your leave due to non-payment of direct invoices, you must actively re-enroll during this return to work enrollment window to restore your health and wellness benefits. For Supplemental Life insurance, you will need to complete an Evidence of Insurability form to reinstate the Supplemental coverage you had before your coverage ended. This will not guarantee that you will be reinstated to the same coverage amount you had previously before coverage terminated for non-payment.
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