Can someone tell me why the doctor's office needs my kids SS#'s???

[Mskanga]

They asked me today and they told me the next time I will need their SS#'s , when I asked why they said it's so they can verify that the person is the right one. In any case I don't think they have more than one person with the same full name and lastname and giving the kids ss# is something that I refuse to do, they can have mine and dh's for billing purposes but not my kids. Does your doctor ask you for that too??

 

[nativetxn]

It could have something to do with the insurance?? Not sure. I know a lot of computer programs used in doctor's offices require a social security number for the patient.

I'm going to move this over to the Community Board, I know there are several people who work in doctor's offices there, and they can give you a better answer than I can

 

[POLLY ANN]

Never heard of such a thing. Even for insurance purposes, our health insurance company only has my dh's ss#. Sounds strange and I would refuse to give it to them, too.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I can't remember if I put that on their form or not. But they DO have another patient with DS's first and last name! I had them add his middle initial to his chart. When we show up, they always verify the date of birth. The other kid is somewhat older.

 

[wvjules]

Our hospital and DD's dr. use social security numbers when you call to schedule an appointment, speak with a nurse, etc. They look up the patient via SSN even though the medical chart number is different. I know if I had to memorize her chart # in addition to all the numbers swimming around in my head, I'd go nuts. I don't see it as a big deal. It's very common around here.

 

[Mskanga]

well that's interesting because when we check in , at the window they make us tell them our name , DOB and address for verification, so why the SS#?? I don't know but I won't give it to them, they have dh's and mine and that's all they need.

 

[jsmith]

More than likely they need to verify with your medical insurance company that the child is indeed eligible for coverage under that plan, or for verification that they are not billing medicaid illegally for services rendered to your children-that can not be determined from your or your DH's SS#

 

[BethR]

I think that the name and DOB should be sufficient. I think that this is a privacy issue. We just received something from our Medical Flex Fund and it stated that they would not be asking for SS# on their claim forms due to HIPAA (I have no idea what that is) Regulations which will "enhance privacy protection." I would think that that would be similar.

 

[Kermit]

All of my doctor's offices ask for my SS#. I know they aren't supposed to ask for it, but I give it to them. I did get my records mixed up with someone else's before at an office that didn't use them, and it was a big hassle. I trust the people at my doctor's office to not do anything they shouldn't with it. I give them my credit card numbers.

 

[piratesmate]

I'm in PA & I don't provide it either. No one NEEDS to have the number - not even for the person who carries the insurance. It states right on the card that it is NOT to be used for ID. Of course, this doesn't stop the state from telling you that you need it to get a driver's license. I refused there also & they just asked for a different form of ID. It's too easy for people to steal IDs with the SS#.

The practice we use is quite large - and they ask for your date of birth to match your name, etc. In the event two children have the same name & were born on the same day, they come up with another form of ID.


Deb

 

[4greatboys]

I worked in the medical field for many yrs--I was a supervisor in the insurance verification of a large imaging facility. The only needed to verfiy a pts insurance is the policy number of the policy holder. In many cases this is the ss# of the policy holder. They can verify other members of this plan by name and dob. We never needed or asked for the ss# of the dependents. When I go to any drs office the only ss# I give is dh because he is the policy holder. If you are uncormfortable about giving it to them then do not. There are many good reasons these days to keep that info very limited.

 

[4greatboys]

I worked in the medical field for many yrs--I was a supervisor in the insurance verification of a large imaging facility. The only needed to verfiy a pts insurance is the policy number of the policy holder. In many cases this is the ss# of the policy holder. They can verify other members of this plan by name and dob. We never needed or asked for the ss# of the dependents. When I go to any drs office the only ss# I give is dh because he is the policy holder. If you are uncormfortable about giving it to them then do not. There are many good reasons these days to keep that info very limited.

 

[Mom2Em]

I currently work in Insurance Verfication in a local hospital... It is correct you do not need anyone's SS# but the subscriber to the insurance and most insurances make it part of the policy number... As to why they ask, there may be a couple of reasons... First, most medical software systems now ask for the SS# as away to locate the patient... Second, we run into patients who may have been a patient when they were younger who come back married... if we do not have their SS#, we may end up assigning them a new medical record number, thus not having any of their past history available... Finally, we are society of numbers now... It is easier to locate a patient by their SS# then to question, all the other information and depending on their patient to remember the last time they were there and if their name is the same (happens often)... Having said all that, it is up to you if you feel comfortable or not giving out the information... I can state that in the my work, we do not use anyone but the subscriber's number.
HIPAA is a governing act that protects patients' privacy.

 

[browneyes]

My kids dr's require my kids ss#'s. I believe their patient ID# is their SS#. Their SS#'s are on my insurance card as well (as well as their first and last name and DOB), and they have a copy of my insurance card in each of their files. My insurance company uses my insurance number for billing, etc., but if I have to call them to verify something, I have to give my kids' ss#'s too.

If your kids have to go in the hospital, you'll have to give their ss#'s for their records. Maybe the ped uses the ss#'s to verify the child is one of their patients (if the ped is in a group and isn't your child's regular dr, but is on call).

 

[Bob O]

This is another example of why the whole SS program is bad and that number will eventually lead to a big brother scenario. When the program was started your SS wasnt suppossed to be us at all as any type of ID number but as most have seen it is used for ID and some states even use it as a Drivers license number or put it on the license. Typical of a federal program where they say one thing but something totally different happens. And with that number and other info and dishonest hospital employee can pull type of money scams!!!

 

[Mskanga]

I still refuse to give their numbers out....the insurance company has them but I feel nobody else needs them, if doctor's or hospitals want to match up the right person they have other ways to do it.
I think the government should come up with a national ID system for things like this alone and leave the SS#'s for serious things.