MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. Some insurance companies try to cut corners and save money by having their own preferred network of doctors. While NPR reports on some instances where this kind of managed care system can work when doctors and insurers work together to provide proper preventative care, using an insurance company’s doctor after you have been injured or when you need critical care, can have drawbacks.
According to the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino, a Minneapolis, Minnesota personal injury lawyer, using an insurance company’s doctor after an accident can be risky. The doctors may offer conservative diagnoses, which could potentially limit the amount of medical care you may receive and even may hinder your personal injury claim going forward. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you want to see a doctor you trust, one that doesn’t have an insurance company’s interests in mind.
In fact, in an investigative report by SFGate, some doctors are hired by insurance companies to offer a medical validation of the company’s financially-motivated decisions. These doctors are not hired by insurance companies to advocate for the patients, nor do they even have a doctor-patient relationship with the clients they serve. They are simply offering a medical opinion, that can be sometimes biased based on a company’s desire to save money or raise profits. In some cases, doctors are hired by insurance companies just to write reports justifying care denials.
If you are pursuing a lawsuit against your insurance company for a bad-faith denial of your claim, your insurer may require you to submit to an independent medical examination. During this examination, a doctor hired by your insurance company will review your diagnosis and evaluate your case. If you are pursuing a lawsuit, you may be required to attend this appointment, but it is important to understand several things about it. First of all, this doctor is not treating you as a patient. They are there to provide a medical report to the insurance company. The doctor is being paid by the insurance company, so it is important to remember that they are not necessarily working for your best interests.
If you have to attend an independent medical examination, it is important to speak to your personal injury attorney before the appointment. Your lawyer can help you understand what to expect. While it is important to be honest with the physician, there are steps you can also take to protect your rights during this appointment. In some jurisdictions, you may be able to bring someone with you to the appointment.
If you are facing a denied claim, or if you have been hurt due to another person or party’s negligence or neglect, contact the personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino in Minneapolis, Minnesota today. Our firm can review your claim, review your policy, and fight to help you get the recovery you may deserve. You may only have a limited amount of time to fight a denied claim. Speak to a qualified attorney today.