After an accident, dealing with insurance might be a necessary evil. One thing insurance companies may try to get from you is a signed medical authorization, allowing them access to your medical records.
You should never sign a medical authorization without speaking to your attorney first. The insurance company may say that they need this information to process the claim, which is partially true. However, they are also looking for other information about your medical history that they can use to reduce your compensation or deny your claim.
Review your claims with our South Carolina personal injury lawyers by calling Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000.
Is Signing a Medical Authorization for an Insurance Company a Good Idea?
Whether signing a medical authorization is a good idea depends on your specific situation. Before signing anything, you should talk about your case with a lawyer and consider whether authorizing the insurance company to access your medical records is best.
The insurance company will tell you they need medical authorization to review medical records related to your injuries. They might even say that they cannot process your claim without authorization. Your attorney might tell you otherwise. Even without medical records of your injuries, we may still prove your damages to the insurance company and get fair financial compensation.
For example, we might obtain copies of your medical records, select only what is directly related to your accident and injuries, and redact any sensitive information the insurance company does not need to see. Often, this information should be enough to prove your injuries without signing over all your medical records to the insurance company.
What Information Does a Medical Authorization Give the Insurance Company Access To?
Medical authorization allows the insurance company to access your medical records. How much of your medical history is available to the insurance company depends on the terms of the authorization agreement.
Medical Records from This Accident
The insurance company needs to review information about your injuries, and more limited access to your medical records might provide more than enough details. Information regarding your injuries, treatment provided by doctors, and the costs of medical care from only this specific incident should be in these records. If the insurance company wants more, we can make them explain why.
Your Entire Medical History
We must be careful about the exact wording of the authorization agreement. In many cases, the insurance company will claim they only want to look at records related to your accident and injuries, but the authorization agreement allows them access to your entire medical history.
Our South Carolina personal injury attorneys might be able to limit the scope of the authorization to necessary records only.
What You Can Do Instead of Signing a Medical Authorization for an Insurance Claim
Insurance companies will do anything to protect their bottom line, including using your medical history to deny your insurance claim. Your lawyer may help you explore alternative options.
Have Your Lawyer Narrow the Authorization
Often, medical authorization allows insurance companies to access all your medical history. They may take information that is not related to your current injuries and twist it so it can be used to deny your claim. Your lawyer may review the authorization paperwork before you sign it and request that it be more narrowly tailored. This way, the insurance company gets the records it needs to process the claim, but nothing more.
Provide Other Records of Your Injuries
We might instead use other reliable records of your injuries in place of your private medical history. Can doctors provide sworn statements or written affidavits about your injuries and treatments? Maybe the hospital can provide us with official documentation of your treatment that does not involve releasing private medical records. Your lawyer can help you determine if this is possible.
Take the Issue to Court
If we do our best to work with the insurance company without providing your private medical history, but they refuse to play ball, we can take the matter to court. In many cases, insurance companies back down because they do not want to spend money on litigation. In others, we may need to argue in court that the insurance company is unnecessarily delaying your claim and that they do not need your private medical history.
FAQs About Medical Authorization for Insurance
What is Medical Authorization for an Insurance Company?
Medical authorization allows an insurance company to have access to your medical records. They may need this information to process your claim, but they may also use details from your medical history to try to deny your claim.
Do I Have to Sign a Medical Authorization Form?
You do not have to sign a medical authorization. Even if the insurance companies say you must sign it to process the claim, you are not required to do so. Avoid signing anything before speaking to a lawyer.
What Happens if I Refuse to Sign a Medical Authorization Form?
If you refuse to sign the medical authorization form, the insurance company may not access your medical records. They may try to stall processing the claim, but your attorney can help you explore your legal options and get the compensation you deserve.
Is it a Good Idea to Sign a Medical Authorization Form?
It could be a good idea to sign a medical authorization form for an insurance company, but you should still proceed with caution. Cases with smaller claims or more straightforward injuries might face less pushback from insurance companies, and it might be easier to just sign the form. Again, talk to a lawyer first.
Can a Lawyer Help Me with Medical Authorization for an Insurance Company?
Yes. An attorney can review the form to determine the extent of your medical records that the insurance company to access. The insurance company may only need access to records related to the accident, but they often obtain access to your entire medical history under the terms of the medical authorization agreement. Your attorney can work to reduce this scope and protect your privacy.
Can I Receive Compensation if I Do Not Sign a Medical Authorization Form?
You may still receive compensation from an insurance company if you refuse to sign the medical authorization form. However, you may face pushback from the insurance company, and your attorney will likely need to help you compel the insurance company to process the claim.
What if My Own Insurance Provider Needs Medical Authorization?
This may be a bit safer than signing an authorization for someone else’s insurance provider, but it should still be handled with caution. Again, you should talk to an attorney before signing anything.
Call Our South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys Before Signing Anything from an Insurance Company
Review your claims with our Columbia, SC personal injury lawyers by calling Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000.
