What is an independent medical examination (IME)?
An independent medical examination, or IME, is an exam by a doctor who is not treating you, arranged to answer questions about your injury, your care or your ability to work. After a car crash, Texas’s insurance regulator says the company may also ask you to have a medical exam. Despite the name, the insurer often picks the doctor.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (4)
What happens at an IME? An example
Example: you hurt your back lifting a pallet at work in Texas. Six months into treatment, the insurance carrier questions whether the physical therapy is still needed. The state can order you to see a doctor for a required medical exam about the appropriateness of the care you received. The visit lasts 20 minutes. The doctor reviews your records, asks how you got hurt, and tests your range of motion.
If that doctor writes that further therapy is not needed, the carrier may stop paying for it. Your own doctor’s opinion still counts, and Texas has a separate designated doctor process for disputes.
Why does an IME matter to your claim?
The report can cut off benefits or lower a settlement offer. It is often the insurer’s main evidence against your doctor’s view. Treat the exam as part of your case, not as care.
- Arrive on time and bring a list of your treatment and medicines.
- Answer honestly and do not exaggerate or play down pain.
- Write down afterward how long the exam took and what was tested.
- Ask for a copy of the report.
What are IMEs called in Texas workers’ comp?
| Texas term | What it is |
|---|---|
| Required medical exam | Ordered at the carrier’s request when there are questions about whether care was appropriate. |
| Designated doctor | A doctor selected and trained by the state to resolve questions about a work injury. |
In a car crash claim, an exam request usually comes from the insurer under the policy, or later from the other side in a lawsuit under court rules. The rules for who pays, who attends and what can be recorded differ, so ask before you go.
IME vs. your treating doctor
Your treating doctor’s job is to make you better. An IME doctor’s job is to answer the questions the insurer or agency asked. That is why two doctors can look at the same MRI and reach different conclusions.
Questions
Do I have to go to an IME?
If your own policy or a state agency requires it, refusing can put benefits at risk. Ask for the request and its legal basis in writing.
Who pays for the IME?
The party that asks for it usually pays. Confirm before the appointment that you will not get a bill.
Can I bring someone with me?
It depends on the program or court. Ask in advance whether a companion or recording is allowed.
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See if I’m owed moneySources (4)
- Texas Department of Insurance, checked 2026-11-09. “The company may ask you for a signed proof-of-loss form or for more information. The company may also ask you to have a medical exam.”
- Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation glossary, checked 2026-11-09. “Required medical exam – DWC orders injured employees to get this exam at the request of an insurance carrier when there are questions about whether the injured employee’s health care was appropriate”
- Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation glossary, checked 2026-11-09. “Designated doctor – A doctor or health care provider selected and trained by DWC to resolve questions about an injured employee's medical condition or dispute about a work-related injury or illness.”
- Tex. Lab. Code ch. 408, checked 2026-11-09. “The commissioner may require an employee to submit to medical examinations to resolve any question about the appropriateness of the health care received by the employee.”