Boston Workers Compensation Lawyer Blog
If you’re hurt on the job and receiving workers’ compensation benefits in Massachusetts, there’s a good chance the insurance company will eventually send you a letter telling you to attend something called an IME.
Most injured workers panic when this happens — and for good reason. An IME can affect your weekly checks, your medical treatment, and the entire direction of your case. But once you understand what an IME really is, why the insurance company is sending you to one, and how the results are used, you’ll be in a much better position to protect yourself.
This guide breaks it all down in simple, blue-collar language.
What Exactly Is an IME?
IME stands for Independent Medical Examination.
But the name is misleading. The doctor isn’t independent, and this exam is not for your benefit. The exam is ordered by the insurance company, done by a doctor they choose, and performed for the sole purpose of giving the insurer a medical opinion that can be used to:
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Stop or reduce your weekly checks
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Deny or limit your medical treatment
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Claim you can go back to work
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Say your condition is “pre-existing”
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Dispute whether your injury is work-related
The doctor is not your treating physician and has no intention of giving you medical advice or helping you heal. Their job is simply to examine you quickly, review your medical records, and submit a written report that the insurer can use.
