Independent Medical Examination — What to Expect

What Is an IME?

An Independent Medical Examination (IME) is a medical assessment arranged by your workers compensation or CTP insurer. The examination is conducted by a doctor chosen and paid for by the insurer. The purpose is to provide the insurer with an independent medical opinion about your injury, diagnosis, treatment, and work capacity.

Despite the name, IMEs are not always independent — the assessor is engaged and paid by the insurer. Their opinion may differ from your treating doctor's assessment.

Why Insurers Request IMEs

Insurers request IMEs to obtain a second opinion on your condition, assess whether ongoing treatment is reasonably necessary, evaluate your work capacity, determine your permanent impairment (WPI), and support decisions about weekly payments or claim closure.

What Happens at an IME

An IME typically involves a review of your medical records, a clinical interview about your injury and symptoms, a physical or psychological examination, and a written report to the insurer. The examination may last 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the complexity. The IME doctor does not become your treating doctor and does not provide treatment.

Your Rights

You have the right to be treated respectfully during the examination, to have the examination conducted in a suitable environment, to ask what the examination will involve, to refuse specific examination components if they cause undue pain, to receive a copy of the IME report (request it from your insurer), and to obtain a further medical opinion if you disagree with the findings.

If You Disagree With the Findings

If the IME report contradicts your treating doctor's assessment and your insurer uses it to reduce your benefits, you have options. You can request an internal review, seek a further independent opinion (Claims Doctor can provide this), or apply to the Personal Injury Commission. Learn about second opinions from Claims Doctor →