If you like to keep your medical details as private as possible, your views are in line with medical ethical standards. In fact, according to the American Medical Association, medical privacy is an essential component of any successful doctor-patient relationship.
In addition to being free to discuss your health-related concerns with your doctor, medical privacy ensures your discrete medical records do not become public knowledge. When you file an insurance claim after a car accident, though, you are at risk of losing some of your medical privacy.
Claim processing
To process your insurance claim, an insurer must know about your post-accident health. This may require examining certain medical records. For example, the insurer may need to take a deep dive into the injuries you suffer in a crash as well as your treatment plan and prognosis.
Blanket medical authorizations
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for insurance companies to want to get their hands on more medical information than they need to process claims. If your insurance provider asks you to sign a blanket medical authorization, your medical privacy may be in danger.
When you sign a blanket medical authorization, you provide your consent for the insurer to examine all your medical records, regardless of whether they relate to the accident or your injuries. If you are uncomfortable revealing too much about your overall health, you should think twice before signing a blanket authorization.
Ultimately, because the insurer may not prioritize your interests over its own, it is advisable to obtain legal counsel prior to executing a blanket medical authorization or otherwise waiving your right to medical privacy.