Emergency Responders Affected by COVID-19

With the rise of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid rate the disease is spreading, our Emergency Responders are particularly at risk. Should any of your members contract the disease through a possible on-the-job exposure, we recommend that you submit a claim under your organization’s Workers’ Compensation and/or Accident & Sickness Policy.

All WC claims for the COVID-19 will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  If your member was exposed at work, to someone who had the virus and the exposure can be tracked back to that person, then this should be covered by WC. But as this virus affects more people, it may be hard to confirm if the virus was caused by a work related exposure or not. 

A 24-hr First Responder hotline for Austin and Travis County is available at 737-210-9740 as well as a testing center with quicker results at AFD Medical Operations Center on Pleasant Valley Drive in Austin. For Harris County residents, emergency responders should call 832-927-7575 to be screened. As we learn about other parts of the state, we will send that information out.  

The A&S policy pays for work related injuries and illnesses either on a primary or excess of WC basis. If excess of WC, be sure to file the WC claim first, then file the A&S claim. As with the WC policy, all A&S claims will be handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the circumstances.
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As this virus spreads, it may be harder to prove the illness is work related. The hospital should notify you if you transported someone who tested positive for the virus.  They will issue a mandatory quarantine notice, giving specific dates your members and/or employees should be quarantined. When the claim is set up, the adjuster may be asking for these notices from the hospital, so be sure to send them in promptly.

TEXAS MUTUAL FAQ FLYER

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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Claims Specialist, Cherry Guidry, at 512-628-5184 or [email protected]. We are here to help.

Cherry Guidry
Claims Specialist
512-628-5184
[email protected]

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