Workers' comp insurance check up available on Web

Anyone with Internet access can now check whether an employer has valid workers' compensation insurance.

The Coverage Verification Service was put online to make it easier for individuals to check on employer coverage and to reduce the estimated 10,000 phone calls the state's workers' compensation section receives each year asking for information.

The service is free and can be accessed at http://dirweb.state.nv.us/wcs/era.htm. Chuck Verre, chief administrative officer of the division, said that every year, the office gets almost 4,000 claim forms faxed or mailed to the state because health-care staffs can't determine who the insurer is.

"Hopefully, widespread use of (the Internet system) should cut down on the C-4 paperwork we have coming in and get benefits to more injured workers much faster," he said.

In addition to assisting health-care providers verify coverage, the system is expected to help injured employees verify their own employer's coverage, as well as workers' compensation attorneys, primary contractors and insurers needing quick access to coverage information.

-- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.