Dr. Office Photo ID

[luvthatduke]

I'm interested in anyone's experience with being required
to allow your photo ID to be copied & kept by your Dr.'s office.

I have an appt. w/a new podiatrist & their ZocDoc online form is
telling me that they require both my drivers license & insurance card
to be uploaded, which I will not do.
However, I'm anticipating that when I arrive at the office
they will demand my license to be copied (not just verified by reception).

In the past the only thing I've ran into was DS's photo ID
was required to be shown - not copied - in order to receive urgent care,
even w/his insurance card.

TIA for any help!

 

[nw6675]

I have been asked for my ID to be copied at every doctor's office and hospital for at least 20 years.

 

[kymom99]

I believe mine has been copied.

 

[Marrila]

I've had my ID and insurance cards copied before a Dr visit.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm interested in anyone's experience with being required
to allow your photo ID to be copied & kept by your Dr.'s office.

I have an appt. w/a new podiatrist & their ZocDoc online form is
telling me that they require both my drivers license & insurance card
to be uploaded, which I will not do.
However, I'm anticipating that when I arrive at the office
they will demand my license to be copied (not just verified by reception).

In the past the only thing I've ran into was DS's photo ID
was required to be shown - not copied - in order to receive urgent care,
even w/his insurance card.

TIA for any help!

Same here as prior replies.

 

[john7994]

Would agree with others, I thought this was standard practice ...

 

[luvthatduke]

Wow. Guess I've been blessed.
I see my primary, several specialists,
get bloodwork regularly, etc.
& never once was asked for it.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm interested in anyone's experience with being required
to allow your photo ID to be copied & kept by your Dr.'s office.

I, also, have had photo ID copied at various doctor's offices. Also the dentist. In some cases, they just took a photo of me "for their files".

I know my sister-in-law's doctor has a copy of her driver's license on file.

 

[TraderStitch]

If you live in a small town and have been going to the same Dr for years and the insurance hasn't changed that probably why. I've had to give my ID and insurance card whenever I have had to go for as long as I can remember. I believe this is to cut down on medical fraud and being able to track you down to pay your bill.

 

[tvguy]

Wow. Guess I've been blessed.
I see my primary, several specialists,
get bloodwork regularly, etc.
& never once was asked for it.

Thanks for all the replies!

How do they know you are who you say you are without ID? And how do they prove they confirmed your ID without having a copy in their files?
All about protecting your right to privacy about your medical history.

 

[luvthatduke]

How do they know you are who you say you are without ID? And how do they prove they confirmed your ID without having a copy in their files?
All about protecting your right to privacy about your medical history.

Honestly, I have no idea!
It's just that I'd never been asked before and now I was.
I've only ever given my insurance card,
and like I said DS only had to show his ID,
they didn't copy it.
Urgent Care simply looked & him & his ID,
said "thank you," and copied his insurance card.

This was all new to me this week,
& I appreciate all the comments.
Learn something new every day,
especially on the DIS

 

[CynBeth]

I am a medical biller and a lot of insurance companies will reject a claim if the name, address, and DOB do not match what they have in their system and if calling about a claim will not talk to us if unable to confirm certain pieces of info. It could be something simple as the office having a typo in the name or address or a name change so having the ID helps because in most cases we can correct and resend.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Every medical office I've gone to asks for my drivers license and scans it. The last office I went to said appointment can't be fulfilled without it. Personally, I don't like doing it,.

 

[prairie_girl]

I’ve never had to provide any ID beyond my health card (which proves I live in the province I say I live in). We obviously have a very different setup than you do, but that’s still my experience.

 

[Meriweather]

First visit at doctor's offices, yes. They copied ID and insurance.
After that they only ask if insurance has changed and copy that again if it has.
Dentist has not asked for ID

 

[easyas123]

I can't recall NOT having to provide those things, so much so that I automatically have both out when I check in.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I'm with most of the replies - all my doctors offices require my ID and insurance cards. They usually have a little scanner thing that they run them through.

 

[footballmouse]

I work in a hospital and if your ID isn't already attached to your chart, I will scan it in your chart with the expiration date of your ID.
Insurance card & picture ID are required to be in your chart.

 

[_19disnA]

Every doctor/dentist I have been to routinely asks to copy my ID and health care provider information. I would imagine it is for your protection as much as theirs. Clearly, they don't want someone to pretend to be a different person when seeking treatment. They also want to insure you actually have the medical coverage you say you have and that it hasn't expired. Someone, for example, abusing various types of prescription drugs would likely seek out several doctors claiming to have various ailments and perhaps give a bogus name.

 

[RUDisney]

I am a medical biller and a lot of insurance companies will reject a claim if the name, address, and DOB do not match what they have in their system and if calling about a claim will not talk to us if unable to confirm certain pieces of info. It could be something simple as the office having a typo in the name or address or a name change so having the ID helps because in most cases we can correct and resend.

It's not just this... it's to alleviate some of the fraud that is based in medical care claims.

I can claim to be Sally Smith, she is a friend of mine, and I don't have insurance, so she gives me her card to use at the doctor's office. By identifying me, the doctor can prove that she/he is treating the correct Sally Smith, and guarantee payment for the visit.