An IME is an independent medical examination, and if your disability benefits are in question, the insurance company may ask you to be examined. However, you likely won’t be examined by just any doctor, it’ll be a doctor chosen and paid for by the insurance company.
Sound shady? That’s because it is.
Independent medical examinations aren’t truly independent if they’re paid for by the insurance companies because then, the physicians are much more likely to produce biased results.
Here are some ways the IME doctor may try to invalidate your claim:
They Can Say You’re Malingering
If you blow your symptoms out of proportion during the exam, the doctor will take note. Be honest about the pain you feel during the exam.
Additionally, only answer the questions asked of you. Don’t offer any information that isn’t directly related to your claim.
They Might Try to Stretch the Truth
Your medical records will be vital to your claim because they can provide proof about the intensity of your disability, what you’re truly capable of, and what you’ve done to heal.
If you regularly visit your treating physician and provide comprehensive and truthful information about your health, the records may contradict the report from a flawed one-time examination.
They May Surveil You
Whether you are surveilled or not, it’s best to conduct your life as if the insurance company is watching your every move. They’re hoping to catch you in a lie. It’s in their best interest for you to be exaggerating about your disability. But it’s in your best interest to be consistent in your daily life as well as in your IME.
Remember, it’s a good idea to act with transparency and invariability before, during, and after your IME.
If you’ve been asked to endure an IME, that’s cause for concern. Luckily, you don’t have to go through it alone. We’re here to help.
Call Dabdoub Law Firm today at (800) 969-0488 to speak with an attorney about your case.
