
When it comes to seeking workers’ compensation, the truth is the doctor has a lot of power in deciding how a worker’s compensation would turn out. The fact is the independent examination carried out by a workers compensation doctor can make a case or break it.
However, it can turn out to be frustrating if the insurance company’s doctor and your doctor are not taking the same path or are finding it hard to understand themselves. This has left most workers asking why workers comp doctors lie and how it could affect a worker’s compensation case.
Irrespective of what the case might be, the insurance company of an employee can ask any of their workers to get examined by the insurance company’s doctors. This is because the doctors are the ones that the insurance company has accepted.
Still, on the other hand, it could lead to a conflict of interest between the insurance company doctors and the doctors of the injured worker. The major reason why the insurance company’s doctors might not estimate all of your injuries during a workers comp case is simply that the insurance company appointed them.
Like the insurance company’s insurance adjusters, the insurance company doctors have only the best interest of the insurance company at heart and not the interest of the injured worker, so they would do all they can to ensure that the insurance company doesn’t pay out so much as compensation. It is their job to reduce your payouts by reducing your injury estimate. Insurance companies nowadays can ask an injured worker for an independent medical examination.
Why Do Workers Comp Doctors Lie
We find this one term interesting because the insurance company appoints the doctors who would carry out this examination. This examination can be used in denying a claim outright, altering a payout, and also disputing a claim. An injured worker must go through all of this examination or risk his worker’s compensation case getting dismissed. In some cases, workers comp doctors appointed by the insurance company can get financial motivation from insurance companies to get on the same page with them.
This is quite easy because the insurance company appointed the doctors, but most workers comp doctors do not have a license in orthopedics, surgery, and another specialty. They do more prescribing medications than carrying out CAT and MRI scans that the insurance companies are meant to pay for. Unfortunately, workers comp doctors get their fees based on the number of patients they attend to and not for the quality of work carried out or done for each case.
This could be the major reason why a workers comp doctor isn’t going to be detailed when carrying out and giving out results of his examination. In this case, the best an injured worker can do is take notes that can serve as a reference. If you want to take your best shot at a worker comp case while seeking compensation, you must consult with an experienced attorney who would take a look at your case’s details and help maximize your benefits.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Treating Doctor
If you are in one of those states that allows an injured worker to select his treating doctor, then this is simply one advantage that you need to take advantage of and weigh your options totally before concluding which doctor you prefer to work with. It would be best if you researched Doctors in your area, and the following are certain important factors that you need to consider to make the best choice carefully;
- How familiar the doctor is with your type of injury
- The doctor’s skill and level of experience
- The doctor’s area of specialization
- Proximity to where you stay
- How available the doctor is when it comes to meeting up with appointments
- If the doctor is willing to collect what your state workers comp fees are
- If the doctor is willing to work for you and if the doctor has a good understanding of the worker’s comp claim
One more thing that you also need to take a look at is the personality of the doctor. Your doctor should be someone that you can trust and someone that you comfortable with discussing your concerns and conditions.
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