Dr. Office Photo ID

[georgina]

I don’t understand why someone would be concerned about the doctor having a copy of your ID. They have so much personal info already including your ssn

I have always refused to give them my SSN, and the kids' pediatrician also asked for it and I said NO. They have no need of that information. It has nothing to do with health insurance and they cannot require it.

 

[tvguy]

I understand why a doctor’s office would need to see my ID to confirm who I am when I arrive for an appointment. That is different than them keeping a copy on file. A hard copy in a file is not confirming anything when I am not present, and puts me at risk of ID theft.

My main concern would be how they would secure a hard copy of that ID at all times. Do files lay on a desk or in a bin on the wall at any time where anyone could grab the hard copy? How are files secured for long term storage between appointments? If hard copies are converted to digital, who has access to the digital copy and how are the hard copies destroyed?

The number of people who need to verify my identity within a practice is extremely limited. I would not want a copy of my ID to be accessible to anyone who does not specifically need that information.

You realize that in many (if not all) states EVERYTHING on the photo ID if it is a Driver's License is public information and that anyone can walk into a DMV, pay a fee, and get a copy of that information?

 

[luvthatduke]

Oh fudge, I messed up the quotes I wanted to put here.

Just wanted to agree w/others that I refuse to give my SS#.
To the post that said it's not generally required anymore:
The Dr.'s office that made me start this thread is requiring it,
& my other new specialists are also asking.
None of them will be getting it from me.

Regarding others re: not wanting to give their license,
I am in complete agreement w/not wanting anyone to have it.
With all of the privacy issues we face I put a wall up whenever I can.

Regarding "anyone can get license info": Umm... Not in my state?
I just went online to my state DMV to check.
If I (or anyone) wants my license info they have to have
specific information in order to get it.
Yes, if they happen to have that information it would make it easier,
but as w/other agencies I have to trust them to do their jobs

There's actually more to my story:
This new specialist is requiring all new patients to register online w/ZocDoc.
I was told, "It's required & no you cannot print the forms & bring them."
Let me tell you, there have been so many issues w/this online registration
that I'm actually upset w/myself for filling in the forms & hitting "submit."
The mistakes in their forms were so numerous that
I do NOT trust this software firm, as I'm an old-school (read: Dinosaur)
programmer/software tech.
There was no way I was going to upload my DL & insurance card
due to privacy issues (I would have to trust ZocDoc, not just the office),
let alone w/their lack of oversight re: mistakes on their own forms.

As I need to be seen I will give my DL when I go to the office, but I won't be happy about it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don’t have a problem with it. Fraud is a big problem right now. For the first time ever I’ve had to supply copies of my marriage license and my children’s birth certificates to my employer as they attempt to cut down on fraudulent benefits, too.

 

[Southernmiss]

Info is already out there.

Not anything I can do about it.

If an ID helps prevent fraud, I'm OK with it

 

[tvguy]

Regarding "anyone can get license info": Umm... Not in my state?
I just went online to my state DMV to check.
If I (or anyone) wants my license info they have to have
specific information in order to get it.
BET ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN LEXIS-NEXIS.

 

[Skippy918]

I don’t have a problem with it. Fraud is a big problem right now. For the first time ever I’ve had to supply copies of my marriage license and my children’s birth certificates to my employer as they attempt to cut down on fraudulent benefits, too.

That’s standard for dependent verification. I had to scan and upload copies of those docs when I first enrolled in my employer’s insurance.

 

[luvthatduke]

I don’t have a problem with it. Fraud is a big problem right now. For the first time ever I’ve had to supply copies of my marriage license and my children’s birth certificates to my employer as they attempt to cut down on fraudulent benefits, too.

DH's work required this for the first time last year.
It was a nightmare for one of his co-workers from
another country that had been a US citizen for decades!

You realize that in many (if not all) states EVERYTHING on the photo ID if it is a Driver's License is public information and that anyone can walk into a DMV, pay a fee, and get a copy of that information?

"BET ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN LEXIS-NEXIS."

So, which is it? Can someone just walk in & get my info,
or do they apply to Lexis Nexis (which I'd forgotten about)?

 

[tvguy]

"BET ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN LEXIS-NEXIS."

So, which is it? Can someone just walk in & get my info,
or do they apply to Lexis Nexis (which I'd forgotten about)?

Some states they just walk into the DMV. These days, just Googling someone can yield a huge amount of information.
Lexis Nexis is a subscription database that has a lot of information about almost everyone gathered from DMV records, state and federal tax records, court records, professional license records voter registration records, property ownership records, etc.
When my last employer bought a Lexis-Nexis subscription we had a training session with someone from Lexis-Nexis. They used me as the test search person.......and the trainer did comment that she was surprised how little information they had about me. And was surprised given that I was in my 50's, had lived in the same city all my life, owned my own home, and worked in the media.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That’s standard for dependent verification. I had to scan and upload copies of those docs when I first enrolled in my employer’s insurance.

I’m not a new employee, have worked there for years with the same benefits.

 

[Communicore1991]

I'm curious what doctor's offices do if you say you don't have a driver's license. As in, do they just want the DL so they can ensure the name matches the face? Or what piece of information do they need to have on file? I can't imagine they just turn away someone who didn't bring their license with them or doesn't have one.

This is not an attempt to make the thread political but in many states you don't need to present your ID to vote. You just say your name and your address and you sign a form without ever providing photo ID.

For what it's worth, I do always provide my license and insurance card at medical facilities. I don't have an issue providing it but just adding fodder to the discussion.

 

[Marrila]

I'm curious what doctor's offices do if you say you don't have a driver's license. As in, do they just want the DL so they can ensure the name matches the face? Or what piece of information do they need to have on file? I can't imagine they just turn away someone who didn't bring their license with them or doesn't have one.

This is not an attempt to make the thread political but in many states you don't need to present your ID to vote. You just say your name and your address and you sign a form without ever providing photo ID.

For what it's worth, I do always provide my license and insurance card at medical facilities. I don't have an issue providing it but just adding fodder to the discussion.

My office visit email reminders always mention bringing ID, insurance cards and co-pay if you have one.
It's not like it's some surprise.

 

[Pooh2]

I have no issue with showing ID for a doctor's appointment but will not do the SS number.

I did have two encounters where I was asked to show an ID that left me a bit rattled.

One was traveling through NY and they asked for an ID to buy a lottery ticket. I showed my ID and was surprised that they scanned it into the computer.

The second encounter was signing up for a frequent buyer club at an outlet store. I was expecting to just flash my ID but he also entered my license number into the computer.
I asked him to remove it and skip the discount but he said that was not possible..

Going forth, I will say no thanks to such transactions in those types of situations.

 

[Moliphino]

This is not an attempt to make the thread political but in many states you don't need to present your ID to vote. You just say your name and your address and you sign a form without ever providing photo ID.

I don't even have to sign anything. I give my address and name and they check me off on their lists and hand me a ballot.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm curious what doctor's offices do if you say you don't have a driver's license.

Most people have a driver's license, but if not the doctor's office will accept whatever the patient has as ID. Any adult should always have a valid government identification of some sort. If the patient simply has nothing on their person, I've known the office staff to take a photo.

 

[John VN]

Just waiting for the day I get chipped. Will be so much less of a hassle.

 

[RangerPooh]

I've had to provide a copy of my DL license along with my insurance card for easily the last decade; rural towns and larger cities. Some offices will also take an annual picture of you to include with your file. IMO it's not the end of the world. They're trying to prove that you're who you claim to be.

 

[mousefan73]

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!

That is probably because you are know as the patient. The reason is fraud. I personally know of a person who went into urgent care using a buddies insurance card decades ago. They were on the same city sports social team and he hurt himself.

 

[kdonnel]

I don't give my SSN to doctors. That, they don't need.

Is your SSN on your drivers license?

 

[hrhdhd]

Is your SSN on your drivers license?

No. And no one's should have it, according to Section 7214 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 [42 USC 405(c)(2)(C)(vi)(II)]:

"Any State or political subdivision thereof (and any person acting as an agent of such an agency or instrumentality), in the administration of any driver’s license or motor vehicle registration law within its jurisdiction, may not display a social security account number issued by the Commissioner of Social Security (or any derivative of such number) on any driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, or personal identification card (as defined in section 7212(a)(2) of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004), or include, on any such license, registration, or personal identification card, a magnetic strip, bar code, or other means of communication which conveys such number (or derivative thereof)."