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For Civilians Injured Overseas

Attorneys Discuss Human Cost of Delayed Medical Care in DBA Cases

For civilian contractors working on U.S. military bases around the world, the Defense Base Act (DBA) is supposed to provide a safety net — guaranteeing prompt medical care and wage replacement when injuries occur. Yet many injured workers discover that getting the medical treatment they need can feel like a second battle. Authorization delays, utilization review backlogs, and insurer denials routinely postpone surgeries, therapy, or medication approvals for months.

These administrative delays carry a steep human cost. Behind every pending authorization form is a person trying to recover, provide for a family, and return to some sense of normal life. At Cantrell Green, the Southern California DBA attorneys who represent injured contractors across the globe see firsthand how slow claims processing compounds both physical pain and emotional distress.

Why Medical Delays Are Common in DBA Cases

The Defense Base Act extends workers’ compensation protection to civilian employees injured while working on U.S. military installations or public-works projects overseas. Although it’s a federal law administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), claims are handled by private insurance carriers such as AIG, Starr Indemnity, and CNA.

When a doctor recommends treatment, the insurer must authorize it before payment. To “manage costs,” carriers often submit requests to utilization review (UR) — a process intended to confirm medical necessity. In theory, UR decisions should be issued promptly. In reality, overseas cases frequently stall in bureaucratic loops involving incomplete paperwork, missing reports, or requests for redundant documentation.

Each day of delay can mean another day without physical therapy or pain control. The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green note that these delays are particularly damaging for orthopedic and neurological injuries, where early intervention greatly affects long-term recovery.

Real-World Impact on Injured Contractors in DBA Cases

DBA claimants often return from war zones or remote worksites with serious injuries — blast trauma, spinal damage, PTSD, or complex fractures. Many have limited access to specialized care in their home countries and depend entirely on insurance approval to begin rehabilitation.

When authorizations drag on, physical conditions deteriorate and psychological symptoms worsen. Muscles atrophy while waiting for surgery. Chronic pain sets in when therapy is postponed. Families face mounting stress as months pass without clarity about when or if treatment will be approved.

The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green have represented clients who waited half a year for a simple MRI or medication change because a carrier misplaced paperwork or failed to respond to physician requests. Such delays are not just administrative problems — they are barriers to healing.

DBA Attorneys Explain Legal Rights to Timely Medical Care

Under the Defense Base Act and its parent statute, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA), employers and carriers are legally required to provide “reasonable and necessary” medical care promptly after an injury. Section 7(a) of the LHWCA mandates that treatment “shall be furnished by the employer,” and failure to do so can result in penalties and liability for all resulting harm.

If medical authorization is unreasonably delayed or denied, injured workers have several legal remedies:

• Filing an LS-18 “Request for Hearing” with the OWCP to bring the issue before a District Director;
• Seeking a Section 7(b) order compelling the employer to provide medical care; or
• Petitioning for penalties under Section 14(f) for delayed payments once an award has been issued.

The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green use these mechanisms to force timely action. They prepare detailed medical documentation, coordinate directly with treating physicians, and press for administrative conferences when carriers fail to respond. Persistent legal pressure is often the only way to move a stalled claim forward.

Delays Increase Long-Term Disability Costs in DBA Cases

Ironically, delaying medical care often increases the ultimate cost of a DBA claim. Studies in occupational medicine show that early intervention reduces recovery time and prevents chronic complications. When treatment is postponed, minor injuries can become permanent impairments — leading to higher disability payments and extended wage-loss periods.

In a system designed to contain costs, delay frequently produces the opposite effect. Insurers may save money in the short term by deferring authorizations, but they create far greater expenses over time in additional care and lost productivity.

Recognizing this paradox, the Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green advocate not only for individual clients but also for systemic reform. They emphasize that prompt, appropriate treatment serves everyone’s interests — the worker, the employer, and the insurer alike.

Emotional Toll of Delayed Medical Care on DBA Claimants

For many injured contractors, the sense of abandonment that accompanies delay is almost as painful as the injury itself. These individuals often served alongside military personnel in high-risk environments, trusting that the government’s mandated insurance would protect them if something went wrong. When promises of care turn into months of unanswered calls and denied requests, faith in the system erodes.

Mental-health professionals note that uncertainty and lack of control can intensify post-traumatic stress and depression. For contractors already coping with trauma from combat-zone experiences, administrative stonewalling can trigger profound psychological distress.

The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green, who represent clients injured on covered military bases worldwide, have witnessed these struggles firsthand. Their attorneys combine legal expertise with compassion, helping clients navigate both the procedural obstacles and the emotional fallout of delay.

Steps DBA Attorneys for Injured Contractors Can Take

Workers awaiting authorization can protect themselves by keeping detailed records of every communication with the carrier, including dates, names, and promised follow-ups. Treating physicians should submit clear, concise medical reports specifying the need for care and linking it to the industrial injury.

If the insurer fails to respond within a reasonable period — generally 14 days for straightforward requests — the worker should consult an attorney experienced in DBA cases. Legal counsel can request OWCP intervention, escalate to formal hearing, or, in some circumstances, arrange treatment through alternate providers pending resolution.

The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green handle these steps routinely, ensuring that no client is left waiting indefinitely for essential medical care.

DBA Attorneys | Southern California

Delayed medical treatment under the Defense Base Act is more than a paperwork problem — it’s a human issue that affects recovery, families, and livelihoods. Contractors who risk their safety on overseas assignments deserve timely care when they return home injured. The Southern California DBA attorneys at Cantrell Green represent civilian employees injured on covered military bases anywhere in the world, fighting to eliminate unjust delays and compel insurers to provide the medical care the law requires.

If your treatment has been stalled or denied in a DBA claim, schedule an appointment with Cantrell Green to learn your rights and explore legal options for obtaining the prompt care you need to recover and move forward.

Free Consultation with a Southern California DBA Attorney: 800-964-8047