What is maximum cure or maximum medical improvement?

A:

If you are a seaman who has been injured while working, your employer owes you “cure” – medical care – for injures that you suffered while performing work in the course and scope of maritime employment.  Your employer is required to pay for your cure until you reach “maximum cure”, also referred to as “maximum medical cure” or “maximum medical improvement”.

These are terms that refer to a point an employee reaches in his or her recovery process when their condition will not improve any further.  Alternately, an employee can reach this point if they become permanently disabled and medical treatment will not improve their condition.  Once this point is reached, legally your employer is no longer to pay for your medical care.

Employers and injured seamen can disagree about when the point of maximum medical improvement is reached.  Consult with your maritime law attorney to ensure you are receiving the cure that you are legally entitled to after an offshore injury.