InsureMe Agent Blog: 'Johnny' and His Buddies Face Challenging Issues as They March Home Again

Employers and insurers should prepare themselves to deal with the thousands of injured servicemen and women returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a paper by the Insurance Information Institute (III).

Tens of thousands of injured veterans will now be counting on their doctors, employers and insurers to help them weed through numerous personal, financial and emotional situations as they reintegrate into society.

According to a story in today's Insurance Journal, a total of 16,598 military personnel were physically wounded in action from the beginning of the war in March 2003 through the end of last month.

Add to that the variety of psychological and emotional issues war veterans face, and you have a veritable cornucopia of sitations that must be dealt with head-on.

What should insurers be aware of as war-weary customers reappear on the scene?

Workplace injuries resulting from those sustained during military service are generally covered by workers' compensation programs.

Veterans are entitled to lifetime medical benefits from the Veterans Administration for service-related injuries.

Employers should be advised to closely monitor their returning employees for signs of possible mental health issues.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects veterans from discrimination, ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities, and requires that reasonable accomodation be made to meet the needs of disabled employees in the workplace.

Failure by an employer to comply with ADA terms could result in legal action and fines in favor of the disabled party.

So how will Johnny fare concerning these issues?

Only time will tell...but let's be there to lend our support.