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It depends on the situation. If your employer wants you to visit a specific doctor or healthcare provider for your injury or illness, they must provide you with six or more options. You then must visit this provider for your initial treatment and continued treatment for the first 90 days. If a provider from the list recommends a major surgery, you would have the right to seek out a second opinion, which is covered by your benefits.
If you choose to visit a physician who is not on your employer’s list of providers, they might refuse to pay for treatment. If your employer does not provide a list, provides an incomplete list, or 90 days has passed, you could seek treatment with any doctor you choose. You, however, must notify your employer of your choice. If you begin workers’ compensation benefits, your employer’s insurance carrier also has the right to send you to a doctor of their choice for an exam. If you do not go to the exam, you risk losing your benefits.