Got a letter from your insurance company about an independent medical examination, or IME? What exactly is this that your insurance company is asking you to attend? Simply put, it’s a medical check-up, but not with your regular doctor. Instead, it’s with a doctor chosen by the insurance company. That could be a chiropractor, a medical doctor, or even a specialist like an orthopedic physician. The goal is to get an evaluation from their side, not yours.

Florida law requires every driver to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits, which cover at least $10,000 in medical bills after an accident, no matter who’s at fault. This means your insurance company has to pay for your medical treatment up to that amount. But when they schedule an IME, it’s often because they want to verify your condition and decide whether to keep paying those bills.

This leads right into why insurance companies push for these exams, and how it can affect your benefits. Let’s look at that next.

1) Why Insurance Companies Set You Up for These Exams

Insurance companies don’t schedule these exams just out of curiosity, they’re usually trying to cut off your benefits. You’ve paid your premiums faithfully, expecting that if you get hurt, your medical bills will be covered. 

However, many insurers, like Progressive in particular, are quick to send you to their chosen doctors to review your case. More often than not, these doctors end up saying your treatment isn’t necessary anymore, and just like that, your benefits stop.

It’s frustrating to take time off work, travel to appointments, and then face the possibility that your care will be cut short. It feels like a constant battle just to get what you’ve already paid for.

Understanding what happens during these exams helps you stay prepared and protect your rights. So, what actually goes on during an IME? Let’s break down the process.

2) What Happens at an IME (and Why It’s Rarely in Your Favor)

When you show up for an IME, the process is pretty straightforward but don’t let that fool you. You’ll meet the doctor the insurance company picked, they’ll examine you, ask questions, maybe review your medical records, and then write a report.

Taking time off work to attend, traveling to an unfamiliar doctor’s office, and dealing with the stress of the whole situation is a burden on top of an already difficult time. And often, the doctor’s conclusion is that your care is “no longer reasonable or necessary.” That’s the phrase they use to justify stopping payments.

This happens in about 70% of IMEs, where the exam leads to denial or reduction of medical benefits. So while you’re doing everything right, the system is set up to challenge your claim at this stage.

Next, we’ll talk about how we fight back against unfair doctors and protect your right to the care you deserve.

3) How We Push Back: Doctors We Object To and Why

Not all doctors assigned for these exams play fair. Some have earned a reputation for biased or even dishonest reports that don’t reflect the full picture of your injury. When we spot these providers, we accept it and we formally object. That means telling the insurance company, “No, we won’t accept that doctor,” and standing up for you.

In certain situations, the law even allows us to refuse an exam with a provider known to be obstructive or untruthful. If the insurance company insists, we’re prepared to take legal action, including suing for the benefits you’re rightfully owed.

Knowing when and how to push back is key to protecting your claim. But there’s more you can do to safeguard yourself during the exam itself. 

Not a fan of reading long blogs? No problem. In this video

I break down exactly what an independent medical exam is, why insurance companies send you to one, and how it could impact your case.

4) Yes, You Can (and Should) Record Your IME

If you’re going to an IME, one of the smartest things you can do is record it. To protect themselves, we always recommend that our clients video their exams. Insurance companies don’t love this idea. Some will insist that you hire a professional videographer, but we don’t believe that’s necessary. There’s no legal rule in Florida saying you can’t use your own phone or have someone you trust help with the recording.

Why does it matter? Because things get misrepresented. With a recording, you’ve got proof. It’s your word backed by video, not just your memory versus theirs.

Next, we’ll look at how insurance companies sometimes schedule these exams without even checking with you first, and what we do when that happens.

5) Don't Let Them Dictate the Time Without You

One of the more frustrating things we see is insurance companies setting IME appointments without even asking if the date works for you. They just send a letter with a time and place, expecting you to rearrange your life around it. That’s called unilateral scheduling, and no, we don’t let it slide.

When that happens, we step in. We tell the insurance company they need to coordinate with you first. You deserve to have a say in when and where this appointment happens. It doesn’t mean you can skip it altogether but it does mean it needs to be reasonable. You shouldn’t have to miss work, scramble childcare, or drop everything for an appointment you didn’t agree to.

Now, even with all of that, you still have to go. And here’s why skipping it can hurt your case.

6) Why You Should Still Attend the IME (Even If It Feels Wrong)

We get it. The whole process feels unfair. You're being sent to a doctor you didn’t choose, at a time you didn’t ask for, and it’s clear the exam isn’t meant to help you heal. But as frustrating as that is, skipping the IME can do more damage than the exam itself.

Under your insurance policy, you’re required to “reasonably comply” with requests like these. That means showing up, even if you disagree with the setup. If you don’t go, your insurer can and almost always will deny your benefits. According to the Florida Bar Journal, nearly 100% of missed IMEs lead to automatic denial of coverage.

More importantly, if you ever need to sue for those benefits later, not attending the exam gives the other side an easy argument. They’ll say you didn’t cooperate, and that can seriously hurt your case. So yes, go to the appointment but do it on your terms, with support and preparation.

Next, let’s look at how these IME reports can reach far beyond just your PIP benefits and affect your entire personal injury case. 

7) So What’s the Difference Between an IME and a CME?

You might’ve also heard the term CME thrown around and wondered if it’s the same thing. It’s not. A CME, or Compulsory Medical Examination, comes up during the litigation stage. That means it's requested by the defense attorney when a lawsuit is already in progress.

An IME, on the other hand, usually happens before a lawsuit is even filed. It’s set up by your own insurance company as part of their claims process. Both exams serve similar purposes but they come at different times and involve different players.

For now, if you’ve gotten a letter about an IME, the next step is understanding what to do with it and how we can help you through it.

Read these relevant blogs to address pressing circumstances: 

• Can I Go Back to Work After an Accident?

• How Long Will Your Personal Injury Case Take?

• They Offered to Pay My Medical Bills After the Accident, Should I Say Yes?

8) Confused About Your IME? Let’s Walk Through It Together

Getting that IME letter can throw everything off. You're being told to show up for an exam with a doctor you’ve never met who might be there to shut down your care. It’s stressful, it’s confusing, and it can feel like the system is working against you.

That’s exactly why we’re here. We walk our clients through every part of the process, from what to expect at the exam to how it might impact your case later on. 

If you’ve been scheduled for an IME and you’re unsure about what to do, call us. We offer free, confidential evaluations, no obligations attached.