Auto Insurance demanding health information after a claim

[ml80219575]

A deer ran into my car Feb 2025 and cause some damage to the left front quarter panel of my car.  I claimed the damanged on my Auto-Owners insurance and they paid to have it fixed.  I went to a chiropractor for a back adjustment for 8 months and Auto-Owners paid for that.  Auto-Owners called me and tried to get me to accept home health care which I refused.  I didn't need help bathing or getting dressed or cleaning my house.  I no longer see the Chiropractor. 

Now in October 2025, I receive paperwork requesting my signature so that Auto-Owners can obtain my medical records going back to January 2020 to the present and including all radiology reports including my mammograms, CT scans, Pet scan, Ultrasounds, any Nuclear Medicines,x-rays, MRIs, Interventional Rediology.  Plus they want all other health care providers records too and the paperwork says this information may no longer be protected by HIPAA. 

Is this a scam? Can they ask for this information?  Are I obligated to provide them with this? 

[ml80219575]

iI'm responding to myself.  I consulted an attorney and I was told that I should read my policy, that it may say that I'm obligated to sign.  I've read my policy and it only said that they MAY ASK for my records.  I failed to say in my original statement that included in my package with the disclosure papers were the medical records of a unrelated third person, which completely eroded my trust in their ability to keep my personal medical records confidential and safe from similar serious errors in the future.  I have written to the agent telling him that I will refuse to sign the documents at this time, that I have this medical record of someone else, that he needs to tell me what to do with them.  He also needs to tell me how he plans to keep my records confidential and that I am only willing to authorize the release of the specific, relevant medical information and test results that are necessary to address my current medical condition.  We will see how they respond. Either way, I'm looking for other insurance coverage. 

[CBtoo]

My understanding is that they can ask for medical records related specifically to the accident and claimed injuries; that they are not to be asking for a blanket release. I'd suggest you consult with an attorney over how to handle this. I know the post is older and someone bumped it so you may have signed the release already. It is not prudent to sign a blanket, open ended release.

Also if you get the records yourself  you can redact the information in there that is not relevant to the accident and injuries. Medical records often list all your past conditions, meds, etc and if none of those had anything to do with you hitting the deer they are not relevant nor the business of the auto insurance company.

[GailL1]

@ml80219575 

You did not say specifically but did your doctor or an emergency room refer you to the chiropractor AFTER the accident and after test or images were taken to help diagnosis the problem. Why did you end up at a chiropractor rather than an orthopedic doctor or even a neurologist.  

Auto insurance is always primary in an accident, then other insurance, like Medicare pays second.  Your auto insurance must pay for accident-related medical expenses first, up to your policy limits.

Sounds like you have discontinued treatment - have you signed a release with the insurance company yet?

It sounds like the insurance company is trying to determine if you had other orthopedic problems before the accident and if so, maybe they want your health insurance to play a part of the cost if the complete cause of the problem isn’t clear.  

Whatever entity is paying for your care does have certain rights to make sure that they are paying only for the accident-related medical expenses

Sounds like a question for them to answer so ask them why or consult a lawyer or your insurance agent if it isn’t clear in your policy.

[SereneSeagull]

I don’t know, but bumping this cuz I think someone here might.