In the aftermath of a car accident that causes you to suffer a serious injury, you are likely to experience pain, sadness, anger and confusion. An insurance adjuster may seem to have the remedy, offering you a quick claim settlement in exchange for a blanket medical authorization.
When processing claims, insurers have their interests in mind. These interests may run counter to yours, as insurers typically make profits by paying as little as possible for claims or denying them altogether. While it may initially seem like a good idea to cooperate with an insurer’s request, signing a blanket medical authorization may do considerably more harm than good.
The importance of medical privacy
Because you must be free to discuss sensitive and personal issues with medical providers, privacy is a bedrock part of the health care system. If you execute a blanket medical authorization, you give an insurer the right to review all aspects of your medical history. This, of course, results in your losing all or much of your medical privacy.
The risk of blame-shifting
An insurance adjuster may be looking for any reason to deny your claim. When you sign a blanket medical authorization, your insurer may look at every medical record you have. Consequently, an insurer may blame your serious injury on preexisting conditions, medications or behaviors. This may be true even if your medical history has little or nothing to do with the injury you suffered during the car accident.
The best time to contain the fallout from a blanket medical authorization is before you sign the document. After all, once you give an insurer the right to delve into your medical history, you simply may not be able to keep the insurer from using your medical records against you.