Do I have to go to their doctor?
You have the right to go the doctor of your choice for treatment. You should tell the insurance company what doctor you have chosen. If the insurance company wants to send someone to go with you to your doctor’s appointment you should refuse to let them. You do not have to let anyone else come in to your doctor’s office while you are being treated.

After you are done healing from your injury, you should cooperate with the employer and the insurance company as they try to get you back to work. If the employer offers you a job within the restrictions of a doctor, you should go try the job. If you cannot go back to work for your employer, the insurance company may hire someone to help you find a job. You should cooperate with them in trying to get you back to work. However, at the same time, you should contact the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to ask their assistance in helping you find a job as well.

You have the right to be treated for your work related injury by any doctor in the State of Wisconsin. If you are not happy with your first doctor, you have the right to go to a second doctor.

You must tell the insurance company that you are going to the second doctor. Any further choice of doctors must be approved by the insurance company.

The employer and the insurance company have no right to tell you where you must be treated. If you are hurt and the employer tells you must be treated by a certain doctor in order to make a worker’s compensation claim your employer is violating the law. Only in case of emergency may your employer decide where you will be treated. Other than that you have complete choice of the doctors who treat you.

The insurance company has the right to have you seen by one of its doctors. This insurance company doctor does not have the right to treat you, but only to examine you for the insurance company. You do not pay for this exam and the insurance company must pay you mileage to get the exam. Again, the doctor who examines you does not have the right to treat you. You do not need to follow the orders of the insurance company doctor, but simply be examined by the doctor. You should answer the doctor’s questions honestly, but do not volunteer any information without being asked for it.

The insurance company will probably follow the recommendations of its doctor. That is, it will follow the opinions of its doctor rather than your doctor concerning your work injury. That may mean that the insurance company will stop paying you money based on its doctor’s opinion even if your doctor still has you off of work. The insurance company has the right to follow its doctor’s opinion. If this happens to you, please call us so that we can let you know what rights you have.