[Extent to which a claimant's loss-mitigation and cooperation obligations towards the insurer are enforceable--requirements for an expert medical opinion].
A policyholder claiming an annuity benefit on the grounds that, he is no longer able to pursue his occupation must meet certain obligations vis-à-vis the insurer, e.g. duty to mitigate the loss, duty to cooperate with the insurer. These obligations are often curtailed by the claimants' rights. Physicians and providers of expert medical opinions frequently do not share this opinion. Where medical and legal considerations intermingle and, potentially, conflict, there is great uncertainty as to whether, and to what extent, an insurer may require a claimant to undergo medical treatment. Before deciding on whether or not to grant an annuity, the insurer generally calls in medical experts to assess the policyholder's actual degree of disability and offer an opinion on whether and, if so, by what medical means that disability might be mitigated or remedied. Expert medical opinions are often decisive in such cases. The present article discusses the extent to which a claimant's loss-mitigation and cooperation obligations towards the insurer are enforceable; in this context, a number of court decisions are quoted. In addition, the authors define the requirements that an expert medical opinion must meet.