The True Cost of Delays: How Slow Workers' Comp Coordination Impacts Claims, Costs, and Care

Let’s face it - in workers’ compensation, time isn’t just money. It’s recovery. It’s satisfaction. It’s trust. And when the process drags? Everyone feels the pain. Injured employees wait longer for care. Adjusters get bogged down chasing updates. Employers and carriers see costs spiral. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), diagnostic delays alone can increase claim costs by as much as 30%.* That’s not just a stat - that’s a serious hit to the bottom line.

The Domino Effect of Delays

Imagine this: An injured worker needs an MRI to confirm a treatment plan. But scheduling drags on. Weeks pass. No imaging, no plan, no progress. In the meantime? Indemnity payments continue. Productivity suffers. Frustration builds. And that’s just diagnostics. Add in delays with durable medical equipment (DME) - braces, crutches, mobility aids - and the situation gets even worse. Sedgwick reports that DME delays can add up to 15% in additional claim costs. And let’s not forget admin drag. The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that inefficient administration inflates costs by another 10-15%.*

How JAG Changes the Game

At JAG Source, we’re not here to watch the clock tick. We’re here to speed it up. Our human-first model means:

• MRI, CT, EMG appointments booked in hours, not weeks.

• DME approvals and deliveries that don’t stall recovery.

• Real people handling your case - no portals, no ticket numbers, just solutions.

Faster coordination means better outcomes. For claimants. For carriers. For everyone involved.

Source: NCCI, The Impact of Treatment Delays on Workers' Compensation Claims (2022); Sedgwick 2022 Annual Report; WCRI 2021.