Iowa
Iowa Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights
Iowa requires most employers to carry workers' compensation insurance. If you are injured on the job, you are entitled to medical care and partial wage replacement regardless of who was at fault. In exchange for those guaranteed benefits, you generally give up the right to sue your employer in court.
Is workers' comp required in Iowa?
Iowa Code Chapter 85 requires most Iowa employers to carry workers' compensation coverage, and there is no minimum company size: the law reaches employers with 1 or more employees. The Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation, housed within the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, administers the system. It oversees claims, hearings, and dispute resolution throughout the state. Unlike a handful of states that operate a monopoly state fund, Iowa employers may purchase coverage from any licensed private insurer or qualify to self-insure. Failing to carry required coverage exposes an employer to significant penalties, and an uninsured employer loses many of the legal protections the workers' comp system normally provides.
Iowa Code 85.1 does carve out several groups, and farm and household workers are exactly the readers most likely to be wrong about their status. Agricultural employment is exempt unless, at the time of injury, the employer's total cash payroll to non-exempt workers was $2,500 or more during the preceding calendar year. Farm family members listed in 85.1(3)(b) stay exempt regardless of payroll: the employer's spouse, parents, brothers, sisters, children, and stepchildren, plus the equivalent relatives of a partner in a farm partnership or of an officer of a family farm corporation or member of a farm limited liability company. Domestic service in or about a private dwelling is exempt unless the worker earned $1,500 or more from that employer in the twelve consecutive months before the injury, and the same $1,500 floor applies to employment that is purely casual and not for the purpose of the employer's trade or business. People entitled to benefits under Iowa Code chapters 410 and 411 are also outside Chapter 85, and up to four officers of a corporation other than a family farm corporation may knowingly reject coverage under Iowa Code 87.22. An employer may still assume coverage voluntarily for an exempt worker by buying a policy that does not exclude that worker, so check the actual policy rather than assuming you are uncovered.
Benefits you can receive
Workers' compensation in Iowa covers the full cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment for a work-related injury or illness, with no copays or deductibles owed by the injured worker. If your injury keeps you off work, you are entitled to temporary total disability (TTD) wage-replacement benefits equal to 80% of your spendable (after-tax) weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation adjusts each year. The spendable-earnings formula is more favorable to workers than the standard rate used by most states, because it is calculated on your take-home pay rather than your gross wage.
Beyond TTD, Iowa recognizes several other disability categories. Temporary partial disability (TPD) applies when you return to lighter-duty work at a reduced wage while still recovering. Permanent partial disability (PPD) compensates for a lasting impairment once your condition reaches maximum medical improvement; scheduled benefits are set by body part, while unscheduled injuries use an industrial disability approach. Permanent total disability (PTD) is available when injuries prevent you from working in any capacity. Death benefits are paid to surviving dependents when a work injury is fatal.
There is a 3-day waiting period before TTD payments begin. If your disability lasts more than 14 days, those first 3 days are paid retroactively.
Deadlines: reporting your injury and filing a claim
Iowa law sets two separate deadlines that every injured worker must track. Missing either one can jeopardize your right to benefits.
The first deadline is the report deadline. You must notify your employer of your injury within 90 days. While 90 days sounds generous, it is best to report the injury in writing as soon as possible. Delay can raise questions about whether the injury really happened at work, and your employer needs prompt notice to arrange authorized medical care.
The second deadline is the statute of limitations for filing a formal claim with the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation. Under Iowa Code 85.26(1), you generally have 2 years from the date of the occurrence of the injury, which the statute defines as the date you knew or should have known the injury was work-related.
The 3-year extension is narrower than it is often described. The deadline moves to 3 years from the date of the last payment only if weekly compensation benefits were paid, meaning the wage-replacement checks that stand in for your lost income. Payment of your medical bills alone does not extend the period. If the insurer paid for treatment but never sent you a weekly check, assume the 2-year clock is the one that governs. Missing the filing deadline is typically fatal, so ask an Iowa workers' comp lawyer in a free case evaluation whether 2 or 3 years applies (attorney advertising).
Choosing your doctor
Iowa is an employer-directed state. Your employer (or their insurer) has the right to select the authorized treating physician and to direct your medical care throughout your recovery. You are required to treat with the employer's authorized provider. Refusing treatment with that provider or seeking care from an unauthorized physician without approval can result in denial of medical benefits for that treatment.
That said, you retain some important protections. Iowa Code 85.27(4) requires the treatment to be offered promptly and to be reasonably suited to treat the injury without undue inconvenience to you. If you have reason to be dissatisfied with the care offered, the statute sets out an alternate care route: communicate the basis of your dissatisfaction to the employer, in writing if the employer requests it, after which the employer and you may agree on alternate care. If you cannot agree, you may file an alternate care application with the workers' compensation commissioner, who may order other care on reasonable proof that it is necessary. The commissioner must issue a decision within 10 working days of receiving an application set for a telephone hearing, or 14 working days for an in-person hearing, and the employer is required to notify you that you can contest its choice of care.
An independent medical examination under Iowa Code 85.39 is a different device. It applies when a physician retained by your employer has rated your permanent disability and you believe that rating is too low, in which case you may apply to the commissioner and be reimbursed for an examination by a physician of your own choice if the injury is found compensable. It is not a route to a different treating physician; alternate care under 85.27(4) is. The employer-directed rule makes it especially important to document all symptoms and communicate clearly with the authorized physician from the start.
Can you sue your employer? The exclusive-remedy rule
In Iowa, workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer for a work-related injury or illness. The no-fault bargain at the heart of the system means your employer pays guaranteed benefits without having to admit negligence, and you give up the right to pursue a civil lawsuit against that employer for additional damages like pain and suffering.
There are recognized exceptions to the exclusive-remedy rule. If your employer intentionally caused your injury, a civil claim may be possible. Co-worker immunity is conditional rather than absolute: Iowa Code 85.20(2) shields a fellow employee only where your injury arose out of and in the course of employment and was not caused by that employee's gross negligence amounting to such lack of care as to amount to wanton neglect for the safety of another. A co-worker whose conduct crosses that line can be sued directly. If a third party outside your workplace contributed to your injury, such as a negligent equipment manufacturer, a contractor, or a driver involved in a work-related vehicle accident, you can pursue a separate tort claim against that third party while also collecting workers' comp benefits. Finally, if your employer failed to carry required workers' compensation coverage, you may have the right to sue that employer directly in court.
If you were hurt at work in Iowa
Taking the right steps immediately after a workplace injury protects both your health and your legal rights.
Report the injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible. Do not wait until you know the full extent of your injuries. Put the date, time, location, and how the injury occurred in the written notice and keep a copy.
Seek medical care promptly through your employer's authorized physician. Delaying treatment or treating with an unauthorized provider can complicate your claim. Attend all scheduled appointments and follow your doctor's instructions.
File a formal claim with the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation before the 2-year deadline (or the 3-year deadline if weekly compensation benefits have been paid). You can contact the Division at its offices or through the portal at https://dial.iowa.gov/hearings/workers-comp.
Keep detailed records throughout the process. Document every medical visit, every prescription, every day you missed work, and every communication with your employer or insurer. Those records become critical if there is any dispute over your benefits or if you need to demonstrate the extent of your disability.
Consult a workers' compensation attorney if your claim is denied, if your benefits are reduced, if you are asked to sign a settlement agreement, or if you believe your employer retaliated against you for filing a claim. Try our Iowa workers' comp settlement calculator for a rough settlement range before you sign anything. Attorney fees in Iowa workers' comp cases are regulated by the Division, so you can obtain representation without a large upfront cost.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Workers' compensation rules vary by state and change, and benefit amounts and deadlines depend on the specific facts. For advice about a specific claim, consult a licensed workers' compensation attorney in Iowa.
Related
- Workers' Compensation Laws by State - full 50-state hub
More Iowa Laws
- Iowa At-Will Employment Laws
- Iowa Car Accident Laws
- Iowa Final Paycheck Laws
- Iowa Slip and Fall Laws
- Iowa Statute of Limitations
Frequently Asked Questions
Is workers' comp required in Iowa?
Yes, for most employers. Iowa Code Chapter 85 requires employers with 1 or more employees to carry workers' compensation coverage, and there is no minimum company size. Iowa Code 85.1 exempts some workers, including agricultural employment where the employer's cash payroll to non-exempt workers was under $2,500 in the preceding calendar year, farm family members regardless of payroll, domestic workers in a private dwelling who earned under $1,500 from that employer in the prior twelve months, and purely casual work outside the employer's trade or business under the same $1,500 floor. Coverage may be obtained through a private insurer or through approved self-insurance, and an employer may voluntarily cover an otherwise exempt worker.
How much does workers' comp pay in Iowa?
Iowa pays temporary total disability benefits at 80% of your spendable (after-tax) weekly earnings, up to a maximum the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation sets each year. This rate is more favorable than the standard two-thirds rate used in most states because it is based on take-home pay rather than gross wages.
How long does workers' comp last in Iowa?
Temporary benefits continue as long as you are unable to work due to your work injury, subject to periodic review. Once your condition reaches maximum medical improvement, temporary benefits end and you may be entitled to permanent partial or permanent total disability benefits depending on the nature and extent of your impairment. There is no fixed time cap on TTD, but the duration depends on your medical progress and ability to return to work.
How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Iowa?
Under Iowa Code 85.26(1) you generally have 2 years from the date you knew or should have known your injury was work-related to file a formal claim with the Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation. The deadline extends to 3 years from the date of the last payment only if weekly compensation benefits were paid, meaning wage-replacement checks. Payment of medical bills alone does not extend the period, so do not assume you have three years just because the insurer covered treatment. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim.
Can I choose my own doctor in Iowa?
No, not initially. Iowa is an employer-directed state, meaning your employer or their insurer selects the authorized treating physician. If you have reason to be dissatisfied with that care, Iowa Code 85.27(4) lets you tell the employer the basis of your dissatisfaction, in writing if requested, and try to agree on alternate care. If you cannot agree, you can file an alternate care application with the workers' compensation commissioner, who may order other care and must decide within 10 working days for a telephone hearing or 14 working days for an in-person hearing. An independent medical examination under Iowa Code 85.39 is a separate remedy for challenging a permanent-impairment rating, not a way to switch treating doctors.
Can I be fired while on workers' comp in Iowa?
Iowa law prohibits employers from retaliating against employees for filing a workers' compensation claim. If you are fired, demoted, or otherwise penalized because you filed or pursued a workers' comp claim, you may have a retaliation claim against your employer. Document all communications with your employer closely after filing a claim. Consult an attorney promptly if you believe your termination was retaliatory.
Can I sue my employer for a work injury in Iowa?
In most cases, no. Workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy against your employer for a work-related injury, so you cannot also file a civil lawsuit for damages like pain and suffering. Exceptions exist if your employer intentionally caused your injury, if a third party outside your workplace contributed to the injury, or if your employer failed to carry required workers' comp coverage. Iowa Code 85.20(2) also leaves a co-worker open to suit when the injury was caused by that co-worker's gross negligence amounting to such lack of care as to amount to wanton neglect for the safety of another.
Updates
Corrected the filing-deadline rule: Iowa's three-year window applies only when weekly wage-replacement benefits were paid, not when medical bills alone were covered. Added the Iowa Code 85.1 coverage exemptions for farm, household, and casual workers, the co-employee gross-negligence exception to the exclusive-remedy rule, and the alternate care application under Iowa Code 85.27(4) as the remedy for a treatment dispute.
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Iowa Code, Chapter 85: WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
§ 85.3Acceptance presumed — notice to nonresident employers.In force
1. Every employer, not specifically excepted by the provisions of this chapter, shall provide, secure, and pay compensation according to the provisions of this chapter for any and all personal injuries sustained by an employee arising out of and in the course of the employment, and in such cases, the employer shall be relieved from other liability for recovery of damages or other compensation for such personal injury. 2. Any employer who is a nonresident of this state, for whom services are performed within this state by any employee, is deemed to be doing business in this state by virtue of having such services performed and the employer and employee shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the workers’ compensation commissioner and to all of the provisions of chapter 10A, subchapter III, this chapter, and chapters 85A, 85B, and 87, as to any and all personal injuries sustained by the employee arising out of and in the course of such employment within this state.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-07 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 85.20Rights of employee exclusive.In force
The rights and remedies provided in this chapter, chapter 85A, or chapter 85B for an employee, or a student participating in a work-based learning opportunity as provided in section 85.61, on account of injury, occupational disease, or occupational hearing loss for which benefits under this chapter, chapter 85A, or chapter 85B are recoverable, shall be the exclusive and only rights and remedies of the employee or student, the employee’s or student’s personal or legal representatives, dependents, or next of kin, at common law or otherwise, on account of such injury, occupational disease, or occupational hearing loss against any of the following: 1. Against the employee’s employer. 2. Against any other employee of such employer, provided that such injury, occupational disease, or occupational hearing loss arises out of and in the course of such employment and is not caused by the other employee’s gross negligence amounting to such lack of care as to amount to wanton neglect for the safety of another. 3.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 147 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Shannon and Danny NELSON, Individually, and on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, and Mercy Medical Center—Des Moines, Appellants (Supreme Court of Iowa 2015, 867 N.W.2d 1)“…k at the current Code illustrates this point. See, e.g., Iowa Code § 85.20 (2) (2015) (providing coemployees immun…”
- Casey Mcgill Ginger L. Mcgill Ashlea D. Mcgill And Casey Mcgill, As Parent And Next Best Friend Of Amanda R. Mcgill, Alicia C. Mcgill, And Allison C. Mcgill, Minors Vs. Ben Fish, Thomas Vine, Mark Newton, Robert Selby, And Steven Shaffer (Supreme Court of Iowa 2010, 790 N.W.2d 113)“…wa Tort Claims Act (ITCA) or whether it is an action under Iowa Code section 85.20 (2009) 1 not subject to the requirement…”
- Johnson v. Interstate Power Co. (Supreme Court of Iowa 1992, 481 N.W.2d 310)“…Interstate’s lines. Interstate apparently relied on Iowa Code section 85.20 in its indemnity claim against Jones. O…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 85.26Limitation of actions — who may maintain action.In force
1. An original proceeding for benefits under chapter 10A, subchapter III, this chapter, or chapter 85A or 85B, shall not be maintained in any contested case unless the proceeding is commenced within two years from the date of the occurrence of the injury for which benefits are claimed or, if weekly compensation benefits are paid under section 10A.315, within three years from the date of the last payment of weekly compensation benefits. For the purposes of this section, “date of the occurrence of the injury” means the date that the employee knew or should have known that the injury was work-related. 2. An award for payments or an agreement for settlement provided by section 10A.315 for benefits under this chapter or chapter 85A or 85B, where the amount has not been commuted, may be reviewed upon commencement of reopening proceedings by the employer or the employee within three years from the date of the last payment of weekly benefits made under the award or agreement.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 58 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Beier Glass Co. v. Brundige (Supreme Court of Iowa 1983, 329 N.W.2d 280)“…298 N.W.2d 256, 261 (Iowa 1980); see Iowa Code § 85.26 (1) (1981). However, an original award…”
- Ranney v. Parawax Co., Inc. (Supreme Court of Iowa 1998, 582 N.W.2d 152)“…ectfully dissent in part from the majority opinion. Under Iowa Code section 85.26 (1993), a petition for workers’ compens…”
- Charles R. Coffey v. Mid Seven Transportation Company and Great West Casualty Company (Supreme Court of Iowa 2013, 831 N.W.2d 81)“…ioned to review-reopen a workers’ compensation claim under Iowa Code section 85.26(2) (2007), seeking additional workers’…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 85.27Services — release of information — charges — payment — debt collection prohibited.In force
1. a. The employer, for all injuries compensable under this chapter or chapter 85A, shall furnish reasonable surgical, medical, dental, osteopathic, chiropractic, podiatric, physical rehabilitation, nursing, ambulance, and hospital services and supplies therefor and shall allow reasonably necessary transportation expenses incurred for such services. The employer shall also furnish reasonable and necessary crutches, artificial members, and appliances. b. An employer shall not be required to furnish more than one set of permanent prosthetic devices. c. Paragraph “b” shall not apply if a permanent prosthetic device is a replacement of a permanent prosthetic device that is medically necessary as a result of a compensable injury that occurred while the employee was employed by the employer and the replacement of the prosthetic device would be considered reasonable medical care under this chapter. 2.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 103 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Gibson v. ITT Hartford Ins. Co. (Supreme Court of Iowa 2001, 621 N.W.2d 388)“…lication for alternate care in September. See Iowa Code § 85.27 (1993) (“If the employer and employee…”
- Amended September 30, 2015 Iowa Insurance Institute, Iowa Defense Counsel Association, Iowa Self-insurers' Association, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and Iowa Association of Business and Industry v. Core Group of the Iowa Association for Justice Christopher J. Godfrey, Workers' Compensation Commissioner, Division of... (Supreme Court of Iowa 2015, 867 N.W.2d 58)“…e workers’ compensation commissioner correctly interpreted Iowa Code section 85.27(2) as overriding the work product immun…”
- Mycogen Seeds v. Sands (Supreme Court of Iowa 2004, 686 N.W.2d 457)“…apacity to work because of injury. See, e.g., Iowa Code § 85.27 para. 7 (“If, after the third day of i…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 85.39Examination of injured employees.In force
1. After an injury, the employee, if requested by the employer, shall submit for examination at some reasonable time and place and as often as reasonably requested, to a physician or physicians authorized to practice under the laws of this state or another state, without cost to the employee; but if the employee requests, the employee, at the employee’s own cost, is entitled to have a physician or physicians of the employee’s own selection present to participate in the examination. If an employee is required to leave work for which the employee is being paid wages to attend the requested examination, the employee shall be compensated at the employee’s regular rate for the time the employee is required to leave work, and the employee shall be furnished transportation to and from the place of examination, or the employer may elect to pay the employee the reasonable cost of the transportation. The refusal of the employee to submit to the examination shall forfeit the employee’s right to any compensation for the period of the refusal. Compensation shall not be payable for the period of refusal. 2.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 33 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Larson Manufacturing Co. v. Thorson (Supreme Court of Iowa 2009, 763 N.W.2d 842)“…dical expenses, and the cost of a medical examination under Iowa Code section 85.39 (2005). On judicial review, the distric…”
- IBP, Inc. v. Harker (Supreme Court of Iowa 2001, 633 N.W.2d 322)“…and the employee believes this evaluation to be too low.” Iowa Code § 85.39 (1997). In this case, the industrial c…”
- Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority and United Heartland v. Arbreina Young (Supreme Court of Iowa 2015)“…this workers’ compensation appeal, we must decide whether Iowa Code section 85.39 (2009) provides the exclusive method fo…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 87: WORKERS’ COMPENSATION OR EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY INSURANCE
§ 87.22Exclusion from workers’ compensation or employers’ liability coverage — corporate officers, proprietors, limited liability company members, limited liability partners, and partners.In force
1. The president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of a corporation other than a family farm corporation, but not to exceed four officers per corporation, may exclude themselves from workers’ compensation coverage under chapters 85, 85A, and 85B by knowingly and voluntarily rejecting workers’ compensation coverage by signing, and attaching to the workers’ compensation or employers’ liability policy a written rejection, or if such a policy is not issued, by signing a written rejection which is witnessed by two disinterested individuals who are not, formally or informally, affiliated with the corporation and which is filed by the corporation with the workers’ compensation commissioner. The workers’ compensation commissioner shall maintain a list of those corporations that have filed a written rejection pursuant to this subsection or a written termination of that rejection pursuant to subsection 5, paragraph “a”, and that list shall be a public record open to public inspection. 2.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Explore the law
This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Iowa Code, Chapter 85: WORKERS’ COMPENSATION § 85.1 (Inapplicability of chapter.)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
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Sources and References
- Iowa Division of Workers' Compensation(dial.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code Chapter 85 (Workers' Compensation Act)(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 85.1 (Inapplicability of chapter: agricultural, domestic, and casual employment exemptions)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code 85.20 (Rights of employee exclusive; co-employee gross-negligence exception)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code 85.26 (Limitation of actions; three-year extension on payment of weekly compensation benefits)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code 85.27 (Employer choice of care and alternate care applications)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code 85.39 (Examination of injured employees; employee-chosen examination of a permanent disability rating)(legis.iowa.gov)
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