What Is an IME and Do You Have to Attend?
Jun 23, 2026
5 min read
Long-Term Disability
Personal Injury Claims
Our Practice Areas
Key Takeaways
- An IME is arranged and paid for by the insurance company, not chosen by you.
- You may be required to attend an IME under your Section B or LTD policy. Refusing can affect your benefits.
- Be honest and accurate at the exam. Describe your limitations as they actually are, including on difficult days.
- You are generally entitled to a copy of the IME report if it is used in your case.
- Always speak with a lawyer before attending an IME.
If you have a personal injury claim or a long-term disability claim, you may receive a letter asking you to attend a medical examination arranged by the insurance company. This is called an Independent Medical Examination, or IME. The word independent can be misleading. Understanding what an IME actually is, what to expect when you attend one, and what your rights are can make a significant difference in how it goes.
What Is an IME?
An IME is a medical examination arranged and paid for by the insurance company. The doctor conducting the exam is selected by the insurer, not by you or your treating physician. The purpose is to give the insurance company a second opinion on the nature and severity of your injuries or disability, and whether those conditions are consistent with your claim.
Despite the word independent, the examining doctor is not your treating physician and does not have an ongoing therapeutic relationship with you. They typically spend a limited amount of time with you during the examination. Their report goes to the insurance company, not to you, and it is used to inform decisions about your benefits or settlement.
IMEs are a legitimate part of the claims process, and they are not inherently unfair. But they are also not neutral. The doctor is retained by the insurer, and the report is prepared for the insurer's purposes. Understanding that dynamic matters when you walk into the room.
Do You Have to Attend?
Whether attendance is required depends on the type of claim you have.
In a Section B accident benefits claim, your insurance policy in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or PEI almost certainly contains a clause requiring you to attend an IME if your insurer requests one. Refusing to attend without a valid reason can give your insurer grounds to suspend your accident benefits. This is one of the most important things to understand about an IME request: it is not simply an invitation, and it is not optional in most circumstances.
For a long-term disability claim, your group benefits policy or individual disability policy will typically have similar language. The policy usually grants the insurer the right to have you examined by a physician of their choice at reasonable intervals. Refusing without cause can result in your benefits being terminated or your claim being denied.
For a tort claim, meaning a lawsuit against the person who caused your accident, an IME may be requested through the litigation process. This is governed by court rules and procedure rather than insurance policy terms, and it comes with its own set of rights and requirements around notice, scope, and what the examination can cover.
In all cases, the most important thing you can do is speak with your lawyer before attending an IME. There are procedural rules about what the examination can cover, how much notice you are entitled to, what documentation you should bring or share, and whether you can decline certain components of the assessment.
What Happens at an IME?
When you arrive, the examination will typically begin with a review of your medical history. The doctor will ask you questions about your injuries or health conditions, how you have been treated, what your day-to-day life looks like, and how your condition affects your ability to work and function. They will then conduct a physical examination appropriate to the nature of your claim and the doctor's specialty.
The length of an IME varies considerably. Some last 30 minutes. Others, particularly psychiatric or neurological assessments, can last several hours. Your lawyer can give you a more specific sense of what to expect for your particular examination based on the type of claim and the specialty involved.
Following the examination, the doctor produces a written report. That report is sent to the insurance company and will inform decisions about your claim. You are generally entitled to receive a copy of this report, particularly if it is being used in legal or administrative proceedings. Ask your lawyer to obtain it and review it with you.
How to Prepare for an IME
The most important principle is honesty. Describe your symptoms and limitations as they actually are. If you are having a better day than usual, say so honestly, but also describe what your more difficult days look like and how frequently they occur. If the examination happens to fall on a lower-pain day, do not feel pressure to minimize your condition or to exaggerate it. An accurate and complete description of your experience is both the right thing to do and the strategically sound approach.
Bring any relevant documents your lawyer recommends, which may include a summary of your treatment history or notes you have kept about your daily functioning. Some examinations permit you to bring a support person. Ask your lawyer about this in advance, because the rules vary.
The examining doctor may ask about activities, hobbies, work history, and other medical conditions beyond the ones directly related to your current claim. Answer these questions honestly and completely. Do not speculate or guess, but do not withhold information either.
If You Disagree With the Report
It is not uncommon for an IME report to reach conclusions that differ from the assessments of your own treating physicians. When this happens, it can feel deeply frustrating, particularly when you know from lived experience that the examining doctor's conclusions do not reflect your reality.
If the report contains errors, omissions, or conclusions that your treating physician disagrees with, your doctor can review the report and provide a written response addressing those specific issues. Your lawyer can help you navigate this process and determine whether additional independent medical evidence is needed to counter the IME findings. A well-supported response from your treating team can carry significant weight.
Speak With a Lawyer Before You Go
An IME can have a meaningful impact on the direction of your claim. Knowing what to expect, how to prepare, and what rights you have going in makes the process significantly less intimidating. If you have received an IME request and are unsure what to do next, the team at CLG Injury Law is happy to talk it through with you. The initial conversation is free, reach out to us, there is no obligation to proceed further.
If you have a personal injury claim or a long-term disability claim, you may receive a letter asking you to attend a medical examination arranged by the insurance company. This is called an Independent Medical Examination, or IME. The word independent can be misleading. Understanding what an IME actually is, what to expect when you attend one, and what your rights are can make a significant difference in how it goes.
What Is an IME?
An IME is a medical examination arranged and paid for by the insurance company. The doctor conducting the exam is selected by the insurer, not by you or your treating physician. The purpose is to give the insurance company a second opinion on the nature and severity of your injuries or disability, and whether those conditions are consistent with your claim.
Despite the word independent, the examining doctor is not your treating physician and does not have an ongoing therapeutic relationship with you. They typically spend a limited amount of time with you during the examination. Their report goes to the insurance company, not to you, and it is used to inform decisions about your benefits or settlement.
IMEs are a legitimate part of the claims process, and they are not inherently unfair. But they are also not neutral. The doctor is retained by the insurer, and the report is prepared for the insurer's purposes. Understanding that dynamic matters when you walk into the room.
Do You Have to Attend?
Whether attendance is required depends on the type of claim you have.
In a Section B accident benefits claim, your insurance policy in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or PEI almost certainly contains a clause requiring you to attend an IME if your insurer requests one. Refusing to attend without a valid reason can give your insurer grounds to suspend your accident benefits. This is one of the most important things to understand about an IME request: it is not simply an invitation, and it is not optional in most circumstances.
For a long-term disability claim, your group benefits policy or individual disability policy will typically have similar language. The policy usually grants the insurer the right to have you examined by a physician of their choice at reasonable intervals. Refusing without cause can result in your benefits being terminated or your claim being denied.
For a tort claim, meaning a lawsuit against the person who caused your accident, an IME may be requested through the litigation process. This is governed by court rules and procedure rather than insurance policy terms, and it comes with its own set of rights and requirements around notice, scope, and what the examination can cover.
In all cases, the most important thing you can do is speak with your lawyer before attending an IME. There are procedural rules about what the examination can cover, how much notice you are entitled to, what documentation you should bring or share, and whether you can decline certain components of the assessment.
What Happens at an IME?
When you arrive, the examination will typically begin with a review of your medical history. The doctor will ask you questions about your injuries or health conditions, how you have been treated, what your day-to-day life looks like, and how your condition affects your ability to work and function. They will then conduct a physical examination appropriate to the nature of your claim and the doctor's specialty.
The length of an IME varies considerably. Some last 30 minutes. Others, particularly psychiatric or neurological assessments, can last several hours. Your lawyer can give you a more specific sense of what to expect for your particular examination based on the type of claim and the specialty involved.
Following the examination, the doctor produces a written report. That report is sent to the insurance company and will inform decisions about your claim. You are generally entitled to receive a copy of this report, particularly if it is being used in legal or administrative proceedings. Ask your lawyer to obtain it and review it with you.
How to Prepare for an IME
The most important principle is honesty. Describe your symptoms and limitations as they actually are. If you are having a better day than usual, say so honestly, but also describe what your more difficult days look like and how frequently they occur. If the examination happens to fall on a lower-pain day, do not feel pressure to minimize your condition or to exaggerate it. An accurate and complete description of your experience is both the right thing to do and the strategically sound approach.
Bring any relevant documents your lawyer recommends, which may include a summary of your treatment history or notes you have kept about your daily functioning. Some examinations permit you to bring a support person. Ask your lawyer about this in advance, because the rules vary.
The examining doctor may ask about activities, hobbies, work history, and other medical conditions beyond the ones directly related to your current claim. Answer these questions honestly and completely. Do not speculate or guess, but do not withhold information either.
If You Disagree With the Report
It is not uncommon for an IME report to reach conclusions that differ from the assessments of your own treating physicians. When this happens, it can feel deeply frustrating, particularly when you know from lived experience that the examining doctor's conclusions do not reflect your reality.
If the report contains errors, omissions, or conclusions that your treating physician disagrees with, your doctor can review the report and provide a written response addressing those specific issues. Your lawyer can help you navigate this process and determine whether additional independent medical evidence is needed to counter the IME findings. A well-supported response from your treating team can carry significant weight.
Speak With a Lawyer Before You Go
An IME can have a meaningful impact on the direction of your claim. Knowing what to expect, how to prepare, and what rights you have going in makes the process significantly less intimidating. If you have received an IME request and are unsure what to do next, the team at CLG Injury Law is happy to talk it through with you. The initial conversation is free, reach out to us, there is no obligation to proceed further.
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People Also Ask
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