An Independent Medical Exam (IME) is an evaluation an insurer schedules with a doctor of its choosing to review your injuries and current treatment. If you were hurt in a car accident or on the job in Nassau or Suffolk County, understanding the IME process can help you attend prepared and keep your No-Fault care on track.
An Independent Medical Exam (IME) is a one-time evaluation performed by a physician selected and paid by the insurance company, not by you and not by your treating doctors. Despite the name, the examining doctor is retained by the insurer, so the visit is not part of your ongoing treatment plan.
The IME doctor reviews your medical records, examines you, and writes a report for the insurer about your injuries, your need for continued care, and your ability to work. IMEs are common in New York No-Fault and Workers’ Compensation claims after a car accident or a workplace injury.
Why the Insurer Schedules One
Under New York No-Fault rules, an insurer is allowed to request an IME to help verify that the treatment you are receiving is related to your accident and medically necessary. Insurers often schedule an IME when:
Treatment has continued for several weeks or months
Diagnostic testing such as EMG/nerve testing or imaging has been ordered
A claim decision about ongoing benefits is being made
The exam gives the insurer a second opinion that it may use when deciding whether to keep authorizing benefits. It does not replace the care your own doctors provide.
What Happens at the Exam
A typical IME is relatively short. The examining physician will often:
Ask how the accident happened and how your symptoms have changed over time
Review the records and imaging the insurer has provided
Perform a physical exam, which may include range-of-motion, strength, and reflex testing
Ask about your daily activities, work status, and current pain
The IME doctor generally does not provide treatment, prescribe medication, or give you a diagnosis to take home. After the visit, the doctor sends a written report to the insurer. Try to be accurate and consistent when describing your symptoms and limitations.
How to Prepare
A little preparation can help the exam go smoothly:
Confirm the details. Note the date, time, address, and the examining doctor’s name from your appointment letter.
Arrive on time. Missing a scheduled IME may affect your No-Fault benefits, so reschedule in advance if you truly cannot attend.
Bring identification and any paperwork or imaging the letter asks you to bring.
Know your history. Be ready to describe when the injury happened, your symptoms, and the treatment you have had.
Describe your symptoms honestly — do not exaggerate and do not minimize. Report your real pain level and limitations.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to bring a family member or an observer. If you have questions about the legal side of an IME, consider consulting an attorney.
Your Rights During an IME
You have rights when you attend an IME in New York. In general, you may be able to:
Confirm the identity and credentials of the examining doctor
Ask that the exam be limited to the injuries related to your claim
Decline testing that feels unsafe or that causes severe pain, and say so
Bring someone with you, where permitted, and take notes about what was asked
Because IME rules and deadlines involve your claim, questions about disputing an IME report, missed-appointment consequences, or benefit denials are legal matters. Injury Recovery MD is a medical provider, not a law firm, so for those questions we suggest speaking with an attorney.
How an IME Can Affect Your No-Fault Treatment
The IME report can influence whether the insurer continues to authorize your care. If the report supports ongoing treatment, benefits may continue. If it concludes that further treatment is not necessary, the insurer may reduce or stop paying for certain services — this is sometimes called a treatment cutoff.
An IME result does not by itself require you to stop care, and it does not change what your own treating doctors recommend. Our team continues to document your condition, response to treatment, and functional progress so your medical record stays complete. We coordinate physical therapy, chiropractic, orthopedics, and pain management in one plan and provide the documentation insurers and attorneys typically request.
Continue Your Care With Injury Recovery MD
If you are being treated for a neck, back, or nerve injury such as sciatica or a herniated disc, keeping up with your appointments and documentation matters before and after an IME. We bill New York No-Fault and Workers’ Comp directly, so for eligible visits there is typically no out-of-pocket cost, and same-day and next-day appointments are often available across our Long Island locations.
No. The IME physician is chosen and paid by the insurance company to evaluate your injuries and write a report. They do not treat you, and they do not replace your own treating doctors.
Do I have to attend the IME?
Attending a properly scheduled IME is generally a condition of New York No-Fault benefits, and missing it may affect your claim. If you cannot make the appointment, contact the insurer to reschedule in advance. For questions about your specific obligations, consult an attorney.
Can I keep getting treatment after an IME?
Yes. An IME report does not stop you from seeking care or change what your treating doctors recommend. However, if the report concludes treatment is no longer necessary, the insurer may reduce or deny payment for certain services going forward.
Should I bring anything to the exam?
Bring a photo ID, your appointment letter, and any records or imaging the letter asks you to bring. It also helps to know the date of your accident, your symptoms, and the treatment you have received so you can describe them accurately.
Does Injury Recovery MD handle the IME for me?
We are a medical provider, not a law firm, so we do not schedule or dispute the insurer’s IME. We do continue your treatment and keep thorough documentation of your condition and progress. Call (631) 560-8357 to discuss your care.
★★★★★ 4.9 from 346+ Google reviews · Accepts No-Fault & Workers' Comp
Medically reviewed by Sylvera Ann Voskamp, DPT, of Injury Recovery MD · Last reviewed 2026-07-08 · View our medical team
Educational information only; not a substitute for medical advice.
When coverage stops mid-treatment
If an insurer examination ends No-Fault coverage while treatment is still clinically indicated, care can sometimes continue under a letter of protection or on a lien. Represented clients: see for attorneys.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”MedicalWebPage”,”name”:”Independent Medical Exam (IME): What to Expect”,”url”:”https://injuryrecoverymd.com/independent-medical-exam-ime/”,”lastReviewed”:”2026-07-08″,”reviewedBy”:[{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Sylvera Ann Voskamp, DPT”}],”audience”:{“@type”:”PatientsAudience”}},{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is the IME doctor my doctor?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No. The IME physician is chosen and paid by the insurance company to evaluate your injuries and write a report. They do not treat you, and they do not replace your own treating doctors.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Do I have to attend the IME?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Attending a properly scheduled IME is generally a condition of New York No-Fault benefits, and missing it may affect your claim. If you cannot make the appointment, contact the insurer to reschedule in advance. For questions about your specific obligations, consult an attorney.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can I keep getting treatment after an IME?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes. An IME report does not stop you from seeking care or change what your treating doctors recommend. However, if the report concludes treatment is no longer necessary, the insurer may reduce or deny payment for certain services going forward.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Should I bring anything to the exam?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Bring a photo ID, your appointment letter, and any records or imaging the letter asks you to bring. It also helps to know the date of your accident, your symptoms, and the treatment you have received so you can describe them accurately.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Does Injury Recovery MD handle the IME for me?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”We are a medical provider, not a law firm, so we do not schedule or dispute the insurer’s IME. We do continue your treatment and keep thorough documentation of your condition and progress. Call (631) 560-8357 to discuss your care.”}}]}]}
