What Is an IME?
An Independent Medical Examination is requested by your insurance company, not your treating physician. Despite the word "independent," IME doctors are hired and paid by insurers — and their reports frequently minimize or deny your injuries.
What Happens at an IME
IME exams are typically brief — 10 to 20 minutes. The doctor reviews records, conducts a physical exam, and submits a report. Common IME conclusions: injuries are pre-existing, treatment is excessive, or the patient has reached maximum medical improvement — all giving the insurer grounds to cut off benefits.
Your Rights
- Your attorney must be notified of the IME date and location
- You may bring a witness (check with your attorney first)
- You are not required to discuss your legal case with the IME doctor
- You can request a copy of the IME report
How MAIC Fights Bad IME Reports
When an IME doctor disputes your injuries, MAIC's treating physicians produce detailed, point-by-point IME rebuttal reports. These challenge IME findings with objective clinical evidence — MRI findings, EMG/NCV data, functional assessments — formatted specifically for your attorney's use in litigation or arbitration.
IME rebuttal letters from MAIC physicians. Talk to your attorney or call 866-404-MAIC.