[Noah930]

Like others have said, this type of law varies state-by-state. I can tell you how it works, here in California, but I don't know if that will necessarily answer your questions in MI.

First of all, you're mixing two separate issues: workman's compensation insurance and private health insurance. One helps you if you're injured on the job. The other covers all non-industrial health issues. What gets considered industrial versus non-industrial even varies by state. But if your friend ruptured a distal biceps tendon while lifting a heavy object at work, I'd be willing to bet that that would be considered industrially-related in most (if not all) states.

So the rest of his health care bills stemming from this injury (including the therapy) should be covered, regardless of his employment status with the employer. The disability pay he gets (paid for by the WC insurance company) should also continue until he has recovered and is able to return to work. Some people also apply for state disability (paid for by the state), but the amount you get from that is often small, and depends on how much you're getting from WC insurance.

It's illegal (in CA) to terminate an employee while he's injured if the termination is done in retribution for the filing of the WC claim. If the company is just down-sizing, though, it's OK to let an injured worker go. That employment status has no effect on the care given to the employee, though, as those bills are being paid for by the WC insurance company.

However, it sounds like your friend is getting fired and losing his regular health care benefits. Then it would seem like he needs to pay for them out of pocket (via COBRA) if he wishes to continue them. That health insurance would cover him (and his family, if he's on that sort of plan) for all non-industrial medical issues. COBRA is a federal program, and I think eligibility for them lasts for something like 18 months after losing a job.

Employers occasionally flaunt WC laws. I don't know if it's because they don't really know them, or if they think they can get away with it. Don't count on the employer checking with their attorneys prior to firing people on disability. But in order for your friend to fight an unfair firing, he'll have to get a lawyer and all that jazz. Yes, the employer can get into a lot of trouble with the state division of WC, but I think a lot of employers who flaunt the rules think that the now-fired employee is unlikely to find effective legal representation.

Again, laws vary state-by-state.