Term

Definition

idiopathic injury

injury with an unknown cause

“if any” WC coverage

WC policy purchased by a business with no direct employees - serves as protection from situations where independent contractors may be deemed employees for WC purposes

IIPP

see Injury and Illness Prevention Program

impairment

for WC, physical limitations as a result of the work injury

impairment rating guidelines

guidelines, such as the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, used to add predictability to permanent disability ratings

impairment system, pure impairment system

a state that bases permanent disability awards strictly on impairment rating guidelines

inclusion form

legal document that sole proprietors, partners, officers, or directors use in some states to choose to have their own work injuries or illnesses covered by WC

increased risk doctrine, increased risk theory

general principle in some states that considers street risk and holds that only injuries where the work increases the risk of injury are compensable (opposite of positional risk doctrine)

incurred but not reported (IBNR)

for WC, formula reserves established for losses that are likely to have occurred but have not yet been reported to the insurer

incurred loss retrospective rating plan (incurred loss retro)

a retrospective rating plan based on both paid and reserved losses

incurred losses

paid losses plus outstanding reserves

indemnity benefits

includes temporary total disability benefits, temporary partial disability benefits, permanent partial disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, permanent total disability benefits, life pensions, cost-of-living adjustments, death benefits, and, funeral benefits

independent contractor

worker who is not essential to the employer's business and for whom the employer does not have the right to control the means and methods to accomplish the work – states have specific laws establishing "tests" of whether the worker is an employee or an independent contractor

independent medical examination (IME)

medical examination of an injured worker usually requested by the employer or a WC regulator and conducted by a medical provider other than the worker's treating physician

independent medical examiner

any medical provider that performs an IME

industrial accident board

older term for workers compensation commission

industrial accident commission

older term for workers compensation commission

industrial age

period of time beginning with the Industrial Revolution

industrial insurance

older term for workers compensation insurance

Industrial Revolution

most specifically, this refers to a time period in England from about 1760 to 1830 when large machines were put into widespread use and many workers moved from farm-based jobs to factory work. The Industrial Revolution occurred somewhat later in the USA and there were also industrial revolutions in many other countries during this time period

infectious disease

any disease characterized by infection; similar to communicable disease

informal conference

most states now require a meeting to attempt to resolve disputes prior to a formal hearing; this may be a mediation, arbitration, or some other form of dispute resolution

information page

The “face” page of a workers compensation policy that contains specific information about the employer and the insurer

injured worker (IW)

any worker, whether employee or independent contractor, who files a WC claim

Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)

Some occupational safety laws require employers to create such programs

inpatient

occurring while one is an admitted patient in a hospital

insolvency

for WC, the insolvency of the employer does not prevent the payment of benefits by the WC insurer

inspections clause

WC policy condition that gives the insurer the right to inspect the employer’s workplace at any time

insurance coverage

see coverage

insurance policy

legal contract establishing insurance coverage

insurance premium

see premium

insured

older term for policyholder

insurer

company or organization that assumes financial risks in exchange for payment of a premium

integrated disability management (IDM)

an approach to claims administration that integrates claim-handling strategies for WC, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage

intentional injury

for WC, a self-inflicted injury that creates a compensability issue

intentional tort

for WC, an allegation that the employer deliberately injured the worker; in some cases, can defeat the exclusive remedy doctrine and allow the worker to sue the employer in civil court

International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC)

association of WC regulators from the US states and other countries

intoxication

the intoxication of a worker at the time of the injury raises compensability issues

investigation

development and documentation of facts by phone (desk-level investigation) or in-person (outside investigation); may include interviews, statements, photographs, diagrams, securing physical evidence, and obtaining official reports