Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the New York State Insurance Fund’s (NYSIF) release of a new report examining its Covid-19 workers’ compensation claims to explore the multifaceted syndrome of Long Covid.
The study analyzed more than 3,000 Covid-19 workers’ comp claims initiated between January 2020 and March 2022. Key findings included that almost one-third of all workers infected with Covid-19 suffered or are suffering from Long Covid, with the percentage peaking during the initial phase of the pandemic and falling over time. About 18% of workers with Long Covid, or about 5% of Covid-19 claimants, could not return to work for more than one year. 40% of workers with Long Covid returned to work within 60 days of infection while still receiving medical treatment. Adults over 60 with Long Covid were found to have experienced significant difficulty returning to regular work life, with their challenges intensifying with age, and nearly all workers with comorbidities or those hospitalized for their initial infection experienced Long Covid.