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IME Summary

            Remember that it takes actual documentation (pieces of paper placed in your file) to support a claim denial. An IME report is just one such type of document used to "rubber stamp" a  prior business decision to deny your claim. The  more documents placed in your file saying you can work, the more credible the claim denial becomes.

            This is why IME's rarely support continued disability - the decision to deny the claim has already been made by the disability insurer's business interests (consultants, managers, directors and VP's), although they will adamantly tell you that's not the case. In most instances the disability insurer has been busy gathering "documents" from internal medical and vocational resources which also support a claim denial. The IME report is the LAST in a long series of documents claiming you have work capacity so the disability insurer can "credibly" say the claim should be denied.

            It's also big business. IME physicians make thousands of dollars each year by performing IMEs for insurance companies. It is often more profitable than having a clinical practice. Some IME physicians are given incentive bonuses for writing timely, favorable reports. This is why it is important to be prepared for an IME and do everything you can to control the process in your favor.