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COVID-19 Liability and Compensation Research and Commentary

Worker and Employer Experiences with COVID-19 and the California Workers' Compensation System
Given workplace risks from COVID-19, California policymakers passed Senate Bill (SB) 1159 to facilitate access to workers' compensation benefits for frontline workers. This report reviews the literature on worker and employer experiences surrounding COVID-19 and workers' compensation benefits.
Feb 4, 2022
Workers' Compensation and COVID-19
As the pandemic continues, states vary on whether or how to allow workers to seek compensation for a COVID-19 diagnosis. It's too early to know the full costs, effects, and efficacy of these efforts, but now is a good time for policymakers to consider all the arguments for and against coverage.
Jan 11, 2022
Improving the Availability and Affordability of Pandemic Risk Insurance
Restrictions on business activity during the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted proposals for an insurance-based program to cover payroll and expenses during a pandemic. What are the characteristics of these proposals, and how will they perform in key dimensions?
Jun 15, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Liability and Compensation in the United States
The United States has two federal compensation systems for people who have been harmed by vaccines. How those systems perform could affect whether some Americans are willing to be vaccinated. This RAND virtual event explored how those who believe that they have been injured by COVID-19 vaccines in the United States can seek compensation and how the two federal compensation systems differ.
Apr 29, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine Cross-Border Liability and Compensation
In this virtual event, experts discuss the challenges in facilitating the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and how to prevent liability and compensation concerns from affecting the vaccine supply chain and the uptake of the vaccine by the public.
Feb 2, 2021
The Compensation System for Potential Side Effects Is an Important Part of a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign
Concern about potential COVID-19 vaccine side effects and their consequences may be contributing to Americans' reluctance to get vaccinated. Policymakers and the public should carefully consider what types and levels of compensation for any adverse effects of vaccination are truly fair and appropriate.
Dec 18, 2020
COVID-19 Vaccinations: Liability and Compensation Considerations for Policymakers
Vaccine development is only one part of the challenge in creating an immunization campaign to stop the pandemic. Once a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is ready, liability and compensation issues could affect its distribution and administration.
Sep 21, 2020
Can Workers' Compensation Help Businesses Reopen More Safely?
Workers' compensation typically does not cover common infectious diseases like COVID-19. But in the fight against the pandemic, state policymakers might take a fresh look at aspects of labor and business regulation that usually fade into the background and ask if modest changes hold any potential to reduce disease transmission.
Sep 9, 2020
Should COVID-19 Be Covered by Workers' Compensation?
Expanding workers' compensation coverage for COVID-19 could be part of a broader response to ensuring an efficient economic recovery from the pandemic. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks?
Aug 31, 2020
Key Questions to Ask in Designing a Pandemic Risk Insurance Program
Congress is considering establishing an insurance program that would make business interruption coverage for pandemics less expensive and more widely available. We have identified several key questions that policymakers could consider when designing a pandemic risk insurance program.
Jul 27, 2020
Is It Time for a Federal Pandemic Insurance Program?
Insurance companies for the most part are not contractually obligated to cover the enormous business interruption losses caused by social distancing and stay-at-home orders. How might the United States design a system for risk spreading and compensation for pandemics? And what roles should insurance and government play?
Jun 26, 2020
Tapping Business Interruption Insurance Coverage to Assist Small Business During the Pandemic
Legislation has been introduced in several states that would require insurers to cover business interruption losses due to the COVID-19 outbreak. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a law? If policymakers were to proceed with such an approach, then what design considerations should they keep in mind?
Apr 10, 2020