Who is typically covered under workers' compensation insurance?

Workers' compensation insurance is designed to provide benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. The coverage typically includes medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages for employees, ensuring they are protected while performing their job duties.

Employees of the employer are the primary group covered under this insurance because the system is predicated on the employer-employee relationship. Employers are generally required by law to carry workers' compensation insurance to cover their employees, providing essential protection that helps minimize the financial burden of work-related injuries.

While independent contractors may carry their own insurance, they are not typically covered under an employer's workers' compensation policy. Similarly, volunteers usually do not qualify for coverage since they are not employees, and farmers and domestic workers may have specific exclusions or different regulations applied to them depending on the jurisdiction. This differentiation underscores the critical nature of the employer-employee relationship in determining eligibility for workers' compensation benefits.