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⏱️ '''Lost time''' refers, in the context of [[Definition:Workers' compensation insurance | workers' compensation]] and [[Definition:Disability insurance | disability insurance]], to the period during which an injured or ill worker is unable to perform their job duties and is therefore absent from work. A [[Definition:Claim | claim]] involving lost time — often called a [[Definition:Lost time claim | lost-time claim]] — is distinguished from a [[Definition:Medical-only claim | medical-only claim]] because it triggers [[Definition:Indemnity benefit | indemnity benefits]] (wage replacement payments) in addition to coverage for medical treatment, significantly increasing the total cost of the claim.

⚙️ When an employee suffers a workplace injury that prevents them from returning to work beyond a jurisdiction's designated [[Definition:Waiting period | waiting period]] — typically three to seven days — the [[Definition:Insurance carrier | carrier]] or [[Definition:Third-party administrator (TPA) | third-party administrator]] begins paying [[Definition:Temporary total disability | temporary total disability]] or [[Definition:Temporary partial disability | temporary partial disability]] benefits. The duration and amount of these payments are governed by state [[Definition:Workers' compensation statute | workers' compensation statutes]], which set maximum weekly benefit rates and total benefit caps. [[Definition:Claims adjuster | Claims adjusters]] monitor lost time closely, coordinating with medical providers and [[Definition:Return-to-work program | return-to-work programs]] to minimize the length of absence. Every additional week of lost time adds not only to direct [[Definition:Indemnity benefit | indemnity]] costs but also to [[Definition:Loss adjustment expense (LAE) | allocated loss adjustment expenses]] associated with ongoing case management.

💡 Controlling lost time is one of the most effective levers an employer or insurer can pull to manage [[Definition:Workers' compensation insurance | workers' compensation]] costs. Research consistently shows that the longer an injured worker stays away from the job, the lower the probability of a successful return, which can escalate a claim from temporary to [[Definition:Permanent disability | permanent disability]] status. Proactive strategies — light-duty assignments, early intervention by [[Definition:Nurse case manager | nurse case managers]], and structured [[Definition:Return-to-work program | return-to-work programs]] — compress lost time and improve outcomes for all parties. For [[Definition:Underwriter | underwriters]], an employer's lost-time frequency and duration metrics are key inputs in [[Definition:Experience modification rate (EMR) | experience modification]] calculations, directly shaping the [[Definition:Premium | premium]] charged on future policies.

'''Related concepts:'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Workers' compensation insurance]]
* [[Definition:Lost time claim]]
* [[Definition:Temporary total disability]]
* [[Definition:Return-to-work program]]
* [[Definition:Experience modification rate (EMR)]]
* [[Definition:Indemnity benefit]]
{{Div col end}}

Definition:Lost time - Revision history

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