Dr's office/PT requiring SS#'s...do you give your's?

[cepmom]

I just came back from an appointment for physical therapy. It was supposed to be my first evaluation appointment. The girl at the front desk asked me my insurance info etc and then asked for my SS#. I refused and she said they could not see me without it so I left. I just didn't feel comfortable giving out my SS#...am I the only one?

DH said he would have given it and has for his Dr's appointments. Just seems these days you can't be too careful about giving out that sort of information. I suppose I could have made one up, but I didn't think of that until after I left

 

[HelenePA]

All the dr's paperwork I've seen has a spot with it.. I leave it blank specially if they want my childrens SS# they do not need the kids SS# they aren't paying we are.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Nope.

They only get my DH's if it is his insurance id. Right now it is--so they get his.

They do not need your SSN to treat you.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I think it has to do with payment...if you don't pay, they can try to track you down.

 

[cepmom]

All the dr's paperwork I've seen has a spot with it.. I leave it blank specially if they want my childrens SS# they do not need the kids SS# they aren't paying we are.

I have seen that before and always leave it blank too....no one has ever said anything before. Today the receptionist was asking my info and point blank said they would not treat me without the SS#. I asked why and she said in case your insurance won't pay, they can track me down with it I told her she had my insurance info and she could get prior authorization for treatment, but she told me the insurance was closed now and they absolutely would not be able to see me without the SS# unless I wanted to pay up front. Now I have to find someplace else to go to

 

[mhsjax]

I don't know how it is now, but years ago most insurance companies used a SS# for the policy number, Medicare still does. Anyway, I don't have a problem with it, I worked in a medical office for years and really we could care less about reading your SS# number, they usually just want it for insurance purposes. All of this time that I have given out my SS# without hesitation to Dr's and hospitals, but yet 2 years ago, I was ripped off twice by using a debit card that was never out of my hand, they had camera's i the ATM machines, I am much more worried about ATMs than the ladies in the Dr office. They have better things to do than to rip you off with your social.

 

[My sister's princess]

Personally I would give my my social security number to a Dr, or anything else where my identity is VERY important (which Jane Smith are you?)...... not that I just hand it out to anyone or anything!
Really though that type of information is not NEARLY as private or personal as people think it is.

I wouldn't ever make one up, that could be very bad in the long run!

 

[Mermaid02]

I don't give it out- they don't need it, they want it.

 

[preschoolmom]

This exact thing happened to me with a new doctor a few months ago. They insisted on my SS# - and they refused to let me speak to the office manager or the doctor. So, I left, and sent a scathing letter to the doctor.

He actually replied to me, apologized, and offered to see me without my SS#. I haven't made another appointment.

My husband's insurance company uses an id number, not his social security number for claims - so if his insurance company doesn't need it - I can't see why a doctor's office would need it.

 

[cepmom]

our insurance has stopped using SS #'s for member id a few years ago. We now have unique id #'s instead.The owner was not in when I was there, but I was told it was his policy and it was "pretty black and white". I told htem they should let patients know this up front when they call for appointments since I have been waiting 2 weeks to have something done with my knee, now I am back to square one. The girl told me I could have asked about it when I called for my appointment!

 

[JoiseyMom]

Nope, I don't and won't. Our insurance info isn't tied into it..we have separate ID numbers. I leave it blank, and haven't been asked for it, so far so good!

 

[disfan07]

I guess i'm the odd man out....i dont see a problem with it.
I always give my SS# for Drs appointments, radiology exams, surgeies and inpatient hospital information. My parents have never told me not to put it.

Personally, i think that is a crazy reason not to see a doctor...JMHO

 

[Just Jan]

I work in a medical office. When registering a pt for their first appointment there is a spot for the SS# in the computer. If patient services had not entered the # I used to ask for it. If a patient refused that was fine that's their right too. We never make an issue of it and the patient is always seen.

Though in one instance it did help when wrong info was listed in the patients demographics and we were able to straighten out the error and correct pt acct.

 

[Imzadi]

I went to a new dentist a while ago who also asked for my SS# on the form. I left it blank and the receptionist asked me for it again. I was a bit perturbed by it, but ended up giving it. They were taking the first new set of xrays of my teeth done in a few years. I figured, if the remains of my body are someday buried under the rubble of another NYC terrorist attack, the recovery personel might use SS#s to try to track down dentists who can hand over xrays for positive I.D. dental matches of the recovered bodies. Oh, the joys of the city I live in.

 

[solotraveler]

I have seen that before and always leave it blank too....no one has ever said anything before. Today the receptionist was asking my info and point blank said they would not treat me without the SS#. I asked why and she said in case your insurance won't pay, they can track me down with it I told her she had my insurance info and she could get prior authorization for treatment, but she told me the insurance was closed now and they absolutely would not be able to see me without the SS# unless I wanted to pay up front. Now I have to find someplace else to go to

Sounds like an office that has been burned one too many times wen it comes to payment. Working in the medical insurance field, I totally understand their position.

If the doctor comes recommended, I might consider contacting the office and see about having them obtain an authorization with your insurance company if you are unwilling to give them the information they need. Getting in to see a specialist can be tough sometimes, SSN or no...

 

[merryweather20]

I guess i'm the odd man out....i dont see a problem with it.
I always give my SS# for Drs appointments, radiology exams, surgeies and inpatient hospital information. My parents have never told me not to put it.

Personally, i think that is a crazy reason not to see a doctor...JMHO

The number belongs to the government. You are supposed to safeguard it and not give it out to every Joe, Bob and Steven. Go to the social security website and scroll through how many documents there are are, and how much money they have spent on misuse and over disclosure of SS's.

 

[mickeymedic]

I could be wrong, but isn't illegal for them to insist on you giving out your ss#?

 

[My sister's princess]

I could be wrong, but isn't illegal for them to insist on you giving out your ss#?

They said they would treat her if she would pay up front.

 

[cepmom]

Sounds like an office that has been burned one too many times wen it comes to payment. Working in the medical insurance field, I totally understand their position.

If the doctor comes recommended, I might consider contacting the office and see about having them obtain an authorization with your insurance company if you are unwilling to give them the information they need. Getting in to see a specialist can be tough sometimes, SSN or no...

I should clarify...it's not a Dr I was going to see, just a physical therapy center. I already saw my primary care Dr and she sent me for PT but did not recommend any specific place. I just chose this place because my DD went there when she injured her knee a few years ago. She did not need to give her SS # at that time. I figured they have been burned on getting paid also, but I still don't really feel comfortable in giving my SS# out in this case. I feel they can get prior authorization to guarantee payment but she wasn't willing to do that I guess.

Calling insurance tomorrow to get authorization for PT then calling my Dr's to get a referral for another PT center

 

[mickeymedic]

They said they would treat her if she would pay up front.

Oh, I wasn't going from the aspect of refusing care. I thought that it was illegal for a private business to insist on a person disclosing their ss#. However, I just looked it up and the social security web site and this is what I found:

"If a business or other enterprise asks you for your number, you can refuse to give it. However, that may mean doing without the purchase or service for which your number was requested. For example, utility companies and other services ask for a Social Security number, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means.

Giving your number is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask why your number is needed, how your number will be used, what law requires you to give your number and what the consequences are if you refuse. The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours. "