If your long-term disability insurer asks you to attend an independent medical examination in British Columbia, your continued eligibility for benefits is being closely assessed.

An independent medical examination—also called an IME, independent medical assessment or independent medical evaluation—is arranged to provide the insurer with another opinion about your medical condition and ability to work.

The insurance company normally chooses the examiner, provides the assessment instructions and records, pays for the examination and receives the report.

The examiner must act impartially and follow professional standards in BC. However, the examiner isn’t your treating doctor and the appointment isn’t intended to provide medical care.

⚠️ Don’t refuse an IME without legal advice. If your LTD policy requires you to attend a reasonable insurer-requested examination, refusing can jeopardize your benefits.

This page addresses examinations connected to private and workplace long-term disability insurance. It doesn’t cover ICBC accident claims or examinations arranged through the ICBC system.

For a broader overview, read our national guide to independent medical examinations and LTD claims.

On This Page:

What Is an Independent Medical Examination in BC?

An independent medical examination is an assessment completed for a third party, such as a disability insurance company, rather than for your treatment.

The insurer normally requests the IME to obtain an opinion about:

  • Your diagnosis and reported symptoms

  • Your physical, psychological or cognitive limitations

  • Whether your condition prevents you from performing your occupation

  • Whether you have followed reasonable treatment

  • Whether your medical condition has improved

  • Whether you can return to work

  • Whether you can perform another occupation after the change of definition

  • Whether further treatment, rehabilitation or testing is recommended

The examiner reviews the information provided by the insurer, interviews or examines you and prepares a report.

The insurance company can rely on that report when deciding whether to approve, continue, deny or terminate your LTD benefits.

💡 An IME isn’t a second opinion obtained for your medical care. It is evidence gathered for the insurance company’s assessment of your LTD claim.

This Page Is About LTD Insurance—Not ICBC Claims

Independent medical examinations can arise in several different legal and insurance systems in British Columbia.

This page deals only with an examination requested in connection with:

  • An employer-sponsored long-term disability plan

  • An individual disability insurance policy

  • A short-term or long-term disability claim

  • An insurer’s review of approved LTD benefits

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP doesn’t handle ICBC accident claims.

The rules and procedures that apply to ICBC assessments, motor vehicle injury benefits or personal injury litigation can differ from those governing a private LTD policy.

For general information about income-replacement disability benefits, visit our Long-Term Disability in BC guide.

What Rules Apply to IME Doctors in British Columbia?

Physicians practising in British Columbia are regulated by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.

When conducting an IME, the physician must:

  • Treat you and the party requesting the examination impartially

  • Address any real or perceived conflict of interest

  • Explain the specific purpose and scope of the examination

  • Explain how the appointment differs from an ordinary medical visit

  • Explain which areas or systems will be examined and why

  • Obtain signed and witnessed consent before proceeding

  • Explain that the report will be sent to the party that requested it

  • Explain whether and how you can obtain the report

  • Document the findings, attendance and length of the examination

  • Use an independent interpreter when one is required

The IME Doctor Isn’t Your Treating Physician

A therapeutic relationship doesn’t normally exist during an IME.

The physician’s role is to provide a medical opinion to the insurance company—not to:

  • Take over your medical care

  • Prescribe ongoing treatment

  • Advocate for you in the LTD claim

  • Make the final decision about whether benefits are approved

If the examiner discovers another medical concern, they should direct you back to your treating doctor. Necessary care must still be provided in an urgent or emergency situation when no other physician is available.

Do You Have to Attend an LTD IME in BC?

You generally have to attend a reasonable IME when your LTD policy gives the insurance company the right to request one.

Refusing or failing to cooperate can lead the insurer to:

  • Suspend your monthly benefit payments

  • Delay a decision on your application

  • Deny your LTD claim

  • Terminate benefits that were already approved

  • Claim that you failed to comply with the policy

However, the insurer’s right to request an examination isn’t unlimited.

The request should be reviewed carefully when:

  • The examiner’s specialty doesn’t relate to your condition

  • The insurer requests repeated or duplicative examinations

  • The assessment involves testing that could aggravate your condition

  • The examination is scheduled for an unreasonable length of time

  • The location creates a serious medical or accessibility problem

  • The insurer refuses reasonable disability-related accommodations

Raise concerns in writing and obtain medical support where appropriate.

Don’t simply miss the appointment or tell the insurer that you refuse to participate.

Do You Have to Consent to the Examination?

The BC physician must obtain your signed and witnessed consent before proceeding with the IME.

The consent process should identify:

  • Who requested the examination

  • Why the examination is taking place

  • What areas will be assessed

  • Who will receive the resulting report

  • Whether an interpreter or chaperone will be present

You can ask questions or raise concerns before providing consent.

However, refusing consent or placing restrictions on the assessment can cause the examiner to end the appointment. It can also lead the insurer to argue that you failed to cooperate with the LTD claim process.

⚠️ Consent to the medical examination and compliance with the insurance policy are connected but separate issues. Get legal advice before refusing consent or restricting the assessment.

Is a BC IME Doctor Truly Independent?

The physician must act impartially, but the insurance company controls important parts of the process.

The insurer normally:

  • Selects the examiner or assessment company

  • Pays the assessment fee

  • Chooses the records sent for review

  • Prepares the questions the examiner must answer

  • Receives the completed report

You don’t normally choose the examiner or help prepare the referral instructions.

The fact that the insurer arranged and paid for the examination doesn’t automatically make the report inaccurate. However, the report should still be carefully reviewed for:

  • The questions the insurer asked

  • The records the examiner received

  • The assumptions used in reaching an opinion

  • Whether the conclusions fall within the examiner’s expertise

  • Whether contrary medical evidence was fairly considered

What Records Does the BC IME Examiner Receive?

The insurance company normally prepares the assessment package.

It can include:

  • Clinical notes and medical records

  • Reports from your doctors and specialists

  • Diagnostic imaging and test results

  • Your LTD application forms

  • Your occupational or job description

  • Statements made to the insurance company

  • Surveillance reports or footage

  • Public social media information

  • Previous medical, functional or vocational assessments

  • A referral letter containing the insurer’s questions

Ask the insurance company for:

  • The referral or instruction letter

  • The questions being put to the examiner

  • A list of the documents included in the assessment package

If important medical evidence has been omitted, identify it before the appointment and ask the insurer to provide it.

How Should You Prepare for a BC IME?

Confirm the Appointment Details

Ask the insurer to provide written confirmation of:

  • The examiner’s name and professional specialty

  • The purpose of the examination

  • The date, time and location

  • The expected duration

  • The testing or interview involved

  • The documents you must bring

  • The accommodations that will be provided

  • The travel expenses the insurer will cover

Review Your Medical History

Be familiar with your major diagnoses, medications, treatments and changes in your condition.

You don’t have to memorize every date or appointment. Say that you don’t remember when you’re genuinely unsure.

Understand Your Actual Work Duties

Be prepared to explain the physical, cognitive and psychological demands of your occupation.

Focus on the duties you can’t perform safely, reliably and consistently—not simply your job title.

Request Accommodations Early

Depending on your condition, you can request:

  • Rest breaks

  • A shorter assessment or testing over more than one day

  • An accessible location

  • An independent interpreter

  • Scheduling that accounts for medications or symptom patterns

  • Transportation or accommodation for necessary travel

Ask your treating doctor to explain why a requested accommodation is medically necessary.

What Should You Do During the Examination?

  • Be honest: Don’t exaggerate your symptoms, but don’t minimize them to appear agreeable or optimistic.

  • Listen carefully: Ask the examiner to clarify any question you don’t understand.

  • Don’t guess: Say that you don’t know or don’t remember when that is the truthful answer.

  • Explain symptom variability: Describe good days, bad days and the recovery time required after activity.

  • Report symptoms: Tell the examiner if testing causes pain, fatigue, dizziness, panic or another reaction.

  • Don’t push beyond your safe ability: You don’t need to injure yourself to prove that you tried.

The examiner can document observations made before, during and after the formal testing, including how you sit, stand, walk, complete forms and interact with staff.

Act naturally throughout the appointment.

➡️ An IME isn’t a performance. Your responsibility is to be truthful, accurate and safe throughout the assessment.

Can a Support Person Attend a BC IME?

You can ask to bring a support person, but the examiner doesn’t have to permit that person to attend the assessment.

BC physicians can use their discretion about whether a chaperone should be present.

The physician will commonly choose the chaperone rather than permit a family member, friend or other personal support person to participate.

An examiner can refuse to continue when another person’s presence would interfere with the interview, examination or testing.

When Should You Request a Support Person?

Make the request well before the appointment when support is required because of:

  • A cognitive or communication disability

  • Severe anxiety or trauma symptoms

  • Memory impairment

  • Mobility or personal-care needs

  • Another documented medical concern

Provide medical support for the request where appropriate and ask what alternative accommodation will be offered if your preferred person isn’t allowed.

Can You Use Your Own Interpreter?

The BC physician should use an independent interpreter when you and the examiner don’t communicate fluently in the same language.

A relative or friend will generally not replace an independent interpreter selected for the assessment.

Can You Record an Independent Medical Examination in BC?

Don’t assume you can record the assessment.

Ask the insurer and examiner in writing before the appointment if you want to make an audio or video recording.

The examiner can object or impose conditions when recording could affect:

  • The integrity of standardized testing

  • The reliability of a psychological or neuropsychological assessment

  • The privacy of clinic staff or other individuals

  • The examiner’s ability to complete the assessment

Don’t arrive and announce a recording for the first time or secretly record the appointment without getting legal advice.

If no recording is permitted, write detailed notes as soon as the examination ends.

Who Pays Travel and Attendance Costs?

The insurer arranging the examination should explain which reasonable expenses it will cover.

Ask for written approval before paying for:

  • Mileage or transportation

  • Ferry travel

  • Parking

  • Accessible transportation

  • Hotel accommodation

  • Meals during extended travel

  • A medically required companion or attendant

Some BC claimants are asked to travel from Vancouver Island, the Interior or Northern BC to Vancouver or another larger centre where the selected specialist practises.

If the trip would aggravate your condition or require unreasonable travel, ask for:

  • An examiner closer to your community

  • A virtual assessment where appropriate

  • Accessible transportation

  • An overnight stay

  • Another medically reasonable arrangement

Support the request with information from your treating doctor and don’t simply miss the appointment.

Psychological and Psychiatric IMEs in BC

Mental health LTD claims can involve an assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or both.

Psychological Assessment

A psychological IME can involve an interview and standardized testing concerning:

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Trauma-related symptoms

  • Memory and concentration

  • Cognitive functioning

  • Response consistency and test validity

Psychiatric Assessment

A psychiatric IME is conducted by a medical doctor and can address diagnosis, medication, treatment, symptoms and work capacity.

The psychiatrist can ask detailed questions about:

  • Your medical and mental health history

  • Childhood and family experiences

  • Traumatic events

  • Relationships and social activity

  • Substance use

  • Daily routines and activities

  • Previous treatment and medication

The questions can be personal, but they should remain connected to the assessment’s stated purpose.

Ask about the scope, proposed testing and expected length before attending.

Can You Get a Copy of the IME Report in BC?

Ask for the complete report in writing.

BC’s privacy rules generally give you a right to access your personal information contained in the examiner’s notes and IME report, subject to legal exceptions.

Some information can be redacted or withheld, including:

  • Information protected by solicitor-client privilege

  • Personal information belonging to someone else

  • Information whose disclosure could create an identified safety or serious health risk

  • Other information covered by a statutory exception

The physician can consult the party that requested the IME before providing access.

The insurer can also provide the report directly to you, through your treating doctor or to your lawyer.

Don’t rely only on the insurer’s summary of the examiner’s conclusions.

IME vs. Functional Capacity and Vocational Assessments

An IME is only one assessment an LTD insurer can use.

Functional Capacity Evaluation

A functional capacity evaluation, or FCE, measures your ability to perform physical or cognitive activities.

An FCE is often conducted by an occupational therapist, physiotherapist or another trained evaluator rather than a doctor.

Read our guide to functional capacity evaluations in Canada.

Vocational Assessment

A vocational assessment considers your education, training, work history and potential ability to perform other occupations.

It is commonly used near the change from the “own occupation” definition of disability to the “any occupation” definition.

Transferable Skills Analysis

A transferable skills analysis, or TSA, identifies occupations that the insurer says use skills developed through your education and previous employment.

A vocational consultant can rely on restrictions taken from an IME, FCE or insurer medical review.

Learn more about transferable skills analyses in disability claims.

💡 An insurer can combine an IME, FCE and TSA to build an argument that you can return to work or perform another occupation.

What Should You Do After the IME?

Write down what happened as soon as possible.

Record:

  • When the appointment began and ended

  • Who was present

  • What the examiner explained about their role

  • The questions you were asked

  • The tests or movements you performed

  • Any breaks requested or provided

  • Symptoms experienced during the assessment

  • Symptoms or flare-ups that occurred afterward

  • Comments made by the examiner

Tell your treating doctor if the examination causes a significant physical or psychological reaction.

Ask the insurer when the report will be available and whether it intends to take any action concerning your benefits.

What if the BC IME Report Is Wrong?

An inaccurate IME report can be challenged.

Potential problems include:

  • The report attributes statements to you that you didn’t make

  • The examination is described inaccurately

  • Important symptoms or limitations are omitted

  • Relevant medical records weren’t reviewed

  • The examiner relies on incomplete or incorrect assumptions

  • The examiner gives opinions outside their expertise

  • A brief activity is treated as proof that you can work full time

  • Fluctuating symptoms and recovery time aren’t considered

  • The opinions of your treating professionals are dismissed without explanation

Don’t send an emotional response directly to the examiner.

Instead:

  1. Obtain the complete report

  2. Compare it with the notes you made after the appointment

  3. List every factual error and important omission

  4. Ask your treating doctor or specialist to review the medical conclusions

  5. Obtain a written medical response where appropriate

  6. Speak with a disability lawyer before responding to the insurer

If the insurer uses the report to deny or terminate benefits, read what to do when your long-term disability claim is denied.

⚠️ A negative IME report doesn’t prove that you can work. It is one medical opinion that must be compared with your complete treatment history, functional limitations and actual occupational duties.

Can You Complain About a BC IME Doctor?

You can consider a complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia when the physician’s conduct raises a genuine professional concern.

Examples can include allegations that the physician:

  • Failed to explain the assessment’s purpose or scope

  • Proceeded without appropriate consent

  • Failed to disclose a conflict of interest

  • Misrepresented what occurred during the appointment

  • Included inappropriate or irrelevant comments

  • Failed to maintain appropriate professional boundaries

A regulatory complaint won’t overturn the insurer’s decision or replace a legal claim for LTD benefits.

The College considers the physician’s professional conduct. The dispute over whether the insurance company must pay benefits is a separate legal issue.

When Should You Contact a BC Disability Lawyer?

Get legal advice before the assessment when:

  • The insurer is reviewing whether to continue your benefits

  • The examination is scheduled near the two-year change of definition

  • The examiner’s specialty doesn’t match your medical condition

  • Your doctor believes the proposed assessment could harm you

  • The insurer refuses a medically necessary accommodation

  • The travel requirements are unreasonable

  • The insurer has requested repeated assessments

Get advice immediately after the IME when:

  • The report contains serious errors

  • The insurer pressures you to return to work

  • Your monthly payments are suspended

  • Your claim is denied

  • Benefits that were already approved are terminated

A BC disability lawyer can review the LTD policy, referral instructions, IME report and medical evidence and determine the strongest way to protect your benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions About BC IMEs

Is an Independent Medical Assessment the Same as an IME?

Yes. Independent medical assessment, independent medical evaluation and independent medical examination are commonly used to describe an insurer-requested medical assessment.

Can My BC LTD Insurer Require Me to Attend?

The insurer can require a reasonable examination when the LTD policy gives it that right. Refusing can jeopardize your benefits.

Does the IME Doctor Become My Doctor?

No. The examiner isn’t treating you and doesn’t replace your family doctor or specialist. Their role is to provide an opinion to the organization that requested the assessment.

Can I Bring Someone to the Appointment?

You can ask, but a personal support person isn’t automatically permitted. The physician can instead use a clinic-appointed chaperone or independent interpreter.

Can I Record the Examination?

Ask the insurer and examiner in writing before the appointment. Don’t assume that recording will be permitted or secretly record without legal advice.

Can I Get the IME Report?

Request the complete report in writing. BC privacy law generally provides access to your personal information in the report, subject to recognized exceptions.

Can the Insurer Request More Than One IME?

An insurer can request different assessments when additional expertise is reasonably required. Repeated, irrelevant or duplicative examinations should be questioned.

What if I’m Too Sick to Travel?

Explain the problem in writing, obtain support from your treating doctor and request another location, virtual assessment or reasonable travel accommodation. Don’t simply miss the appointment.

Does This Page Apply to an ICBC Medical Examination?

No. This page addresses examinations requested for private or workplace disability insurance claims. Samfiru Tumarkin LLP doesn’t handle ICBC accident claims.

What Happens if the Examiner Says I Can Work?

The insurer can rely on that opinion to pressure you to return, deny your application or terminate benefits. The report can be challenged using factual corrections, medical evidence and legal action against the insurer.

Get Help With an Independent Medical Examination in BC

An IME can become a turning point in your long-term disability claim.

Don’t treat it as a routine medical appointment or wait until the insurance company uses the report to cut off your income.

Samfiru Tumarkin LLP represents people with delayed, denied and terminated disability insurance claims throughout British Columbia.

Our disability lawyers can review the assessment request, address unreasonable conditions, help you prepare and challenge an inaccurate report.

Contact us for a free consultation if you have been asked to attend an LTD IME or your disability benefits were denied after one.

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Asked to Attend an IME in BC?

The insurance company can use the assessment to deny or terminate your LTD benefits. Get advice before the examination takes place.

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