Privacy and Patient Records

In 2009 the Privacy Commissioner conducted an investigation that concluded that insurers should not make blanket requests for an insured’s medical files.

The Privacy Commissioner concluded that requests could only be made for documentation relevant or necessary to make insurance decisions.

This has not stopped insurance companies from continuing the practice.

In my experience, it is standard practice for cases involving income protection, trauma, and travel claims to ask for FULL medical records.

In these cases, the claims manager will not progress the claim until the claimant has provided that information or, at worst, will decline the claim because the insured is not complying with their requests.