Regarding your SSN

[windycitymom]

Check out page 3 http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf

Under HIPPA laws, doctor's offices can no longer require you to give a social security number for identification. In fact, they shouldn't even be asking any more. When they ask me now, I tell them they can not ask under HIPPA laws. At that point, they never ask again. They have my id #, that's all my insurance company requires.

I went to the page and it says that is protected information, but it doesn't specify that a patient is not required to give that information to a doctor. The office is suppose to protect all information I give them - so they could say that will protect my SSN.

I'd like to print out the specific page that says the patient is not required to turn over that information. Is page 3 good enough? or page 6?

p.s. I appreciate everyone's replies.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Today our SSN's are so missed used. They shouldn't be used like they are. They want your SSN# to hit your credit if you don't pay.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Our insurance has a member number and we use that instead of our SS#.

I wouldn't give it out, frankly.

 

[windycitymom]

Today our SSN's are so missed used. They shouldn't be used like they are. They want your SSN# to hit your credit if you don't pay.

EXACTLY! I wish I had something in writing that says I don't have to give it out. If you keep on reading the hippa laws, it say it can be used to get payment. Hence, professionals can refuse to service you if you don't give it to them.

 

[ceecee]

I work for a dentist as well. We use ssn # to verify insurance and if the account needs to go to a collection agency, they ask for it. 75% of insurance co are still using ssn and not id # without it we can't bill the insurance. If the patient wants to pay us and submit it on their own, great we don't need it.

 

[minnie1928]

Keep in mind, it wasn't that long ago that SSN was used as the ID number (or the basis of it anyway) for some insurance cards. The doctors that haven't asked for it, might already have it if you've had a relationship with them for a while.

 

[Tink-aholic]

They want your SSN# to hit your credit if you don't pay.

I teach medical coding and billing. This is exactly why I teach my students to ask for it. By using insurance, you are asking the provider to give you "credit" and accept payment at a later date for services provided that day. If a patient is willing to pay for the entire service in lieu of SS#, I would accept that (and refund patient after the insurance paid). Otherwise, that patient is not seeing the doctor that day.

If someone provided a fake SS# in order to get treatment, that is fraud and possibly identity theft.

 

[Swimalie]

EXACTLY! I wish I had something in writing that says I don't have to give it out. If you keep on reading the hippa laws, it say it can be used to get payment. Hence, professionals can refuse to service you if you don't give it to them.

I'm still trying to find the wording so it can be printed off. My parents have it but I they are 800 miles away.

But to me, if a doctor refuses to see me because I won't give my private social security number... then I won't see him/her!

 

[Green Tea]

They always ask for at least the primary insurance holder's ssn#. Isn't that how they verify insurance?

Offices still ask me for DH SS yet the insurance switched away from using it a few years ago. I'm with the OP. I don't think they need it. I wonder if it is habit since the SS # used to be so readily used. It wasn't too terribly long ago I had it on my checks, just as it was on our driver's license.

 

[AndreaDM]

Yikes! Do NOT give out a fake SS#! I was pulled over for a speeding ticket last year and the police ran my plates and saw it was registered to my husband. He then proceeds to ask me if I'm aware there is a warrant out for his arrest for parole violation! I was freaking out because DH has NEVER been arrested for anything, let alone been on parole. After some investigation it was determined that someone else who had been arrested spouted off some numbers when asked for his SS# and it just happened to be my husband's! Thank God I was the one to get pulled over cause had it been DH he would have been arrested, taken to jail and the details sorted out later.

Back to topic, I have no problem putting my SS# on Doctor/Dentist office forms.

 

[Muushka]

I teach medical coding and billing. This is exactly why I teach my students to ask for it. By using insurance, you are asking the provider to give you "credit" and accept payment at a later date for services provided that day. If a patient is willing to pay for the entire service in lieu of SS#, I would accept that (and refund patient after the insurance paid). Otherwise, that patient is not seeing the doctor that day.

If someone provided a fake SS# in order to get treatment, that is fraud and possibly identity theft.

How is having a SSN going to get you paid? For the record, as someone who had their name and SSN stolen and have dealt with it for the past 5 years, a SSN is not going to get you payment. It only makes tracking someone down easier. This is what I go through:

I get the letter from the collection agency. I call to dispute the charges. They ask for my SSN. I refuse to give it to them. They actually have it and tell me the last 4 digits (which are correct). I file a police report. I then have to prove that I am not the person that they are looking for (the thief lives in NY and I live in NC and so far all the charges have been utilities that I could not possibly use here in NC). I have gone through this scenario 5 times.

The collection agency ends up writing off the bad debt. I know because they let me know what becomes of it.

My docs ask for the SSN, but they will take a photo ID with name and address matching the info I gave them.

No, you cannot have my SSN. I will find a doc who does not require it and trusts me.

PS many times they ask for a SSN is because they are too lazy to create a unique identifier.

Can you tell I am a little bitter on this subject?

 

[eliza61]

Offices still ask me for DH SS yet the insurance switched away from using it a few years ago. I'm with the OP. I don't think they need it. I wonder if it is habit since the SS # used to be so readily used. It wasn't too terribly long ago I had it on my checks, just as it was on our driver's license.

It use to be a common way to identify you as previous posters have said. Many insurance agencies are moving away from it but it's still primarily used. Probably because most people don't remember their account numbers. Every call a cc company or a doctors office and don't know your account #? what's the next thing they ask you in order to verify your identity? Your ss#

 

[Muushka]

It use to be a common way to identify you as previous posters have said. Many insurance agencies are moving away from it but it's still primarily used. Probably because most people don't remember their account numbers. Every call a cc company or a doctors office and don't know your account #? what's the next thing they ask you in order to verify your identity? Your ss#

Are you stalking me???

Like I said, they are too lazy to create unique identifiers!

 

[Kathi OD]

I work for a dentist as well. We use ssn # to verify insurance and if the account needs to go to a collection agency, they ask for it. 75% of insurance co are still using ssn and not id # without it we can't bill the insurance. If the patient wants to pay us and submit it on their own, great we don't need it.

I teach medical coding and billing. This is exactly why I teach my students to ask for it. By using insurance, you are asking the provider to give you "credit" and accept payment at a later date for services provided that day. If a patient is willing to pay for the entire service in lieu of SS#, I would accept that (and refund patient after the insurance paid). Otherwise, that patient is not seeing the doctor that day.

If someone provided a fake SS# in order to get treatment, that is fraud and possibly identity theft.

The point is that a doctor's office does not NEED your SSN. There are other ways that you can be identified that don't require a SSN.

In fact, according the the SSA (Social Security Administration), you are only required to give your number to specific entities. Doctors, insurance companies, and credit card companies are NOT on the list. These businesses are all just too lazy to develop their own way of identifying people. Until the digital age, when identity theft blossomed, people didn't think too much about safeguarding their SSN. Today they need to do so. It's nice to think that all of the people who work in these businesses are honest, but the truth of the matter is, they aren't. The majority of identity theft comes from people on the "inside."

At any rate...from the SSA's website:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=78

The SSN was originally devised to keep an accurate record of each individual’s earnings, and to subsequently monitor benefits paid under the Social Security program. However, use of the Social Security number as a general identifier has grown to the point where it is the most commonly used and convenient identifier for all types of record-keeping systems in the United States.

Specific laws require a person to provide his or her SSN for certain purposes. While we cannot give you a comprehensive list of all situations where an SSN might be required or requested, an SSN is required or requested by the following organizations:

* Internal Revenue Service for tax returns and federal loans;
* Employers for wage and tax reporting purposes;
* Employers enrolled in E-Verify;
* States for the school lunch program;
* Banks for monetary transactions;
* Veterans Administration as a hospital admission number;
* Department of Labor for workers’ compensation;
* Department of Education for Student Loans;
* States to administer any tax, general public assistance, motor vehicle or drivers license law within its jurisdiction;
* States for child support enforcement;
* States for commercial drivers’ licenses;
* States for Food Stamps;
* States for Medicaid;
* States for Unemployment Compensation;
* States for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families; or
* U.S. Treasury for U.S. Savings Bonds

The Privacy Act regulates the use of SSNs by government agencies. When a federal, state, or local government agency asks an individual to disclose his or her SSN, the Privacy Act requires the agency to inform the person of the following: the statutory or other authority for requesting the information; whether disclosure is mandatory or voluntary; what uses will be made of the information; and the consequences, if any, of failure to provide the information.

If a business or other enterprise asks you for your SSN, 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 an SSN, but do not need it; they can do a credit check or identify the person in their records by alternative means.

Giving your SSN is voluntary, even when you are asked for the number directly. If requested, you should ask why your SSN 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.

and from another SSA webpage http://www.socialsecurity.gov
/pubs/10002.html

How can I protect my Social Security number?

You should treat your Social Security number as confidential information and avoid giving it out unnecessarily. You should keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Do not carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider.

We do several things to protect your number from misuse. For example, we require and carefully inspect proof of identity from people who apply to replace lost or stolen Social Security cards, or for corrected cards. One reason we do this is to prevent people from fraudulently obtaining Social Security numbers to establish false identities. We maintain the privacy of Social Security records unless:

* The law requires us to disclose information to another government agency; or
* Your information is needed to conduct Social Security or other government health or welfare program business.

You should be very careful about sharing your number and card to protect against misuse of your number. 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 happens if you refuse; and
* What law requires you to give your number.

The answers to these questions can help you decide if you want to give your Social Security number. The decision is yours

 

[OceanAnnie]

Check out page 3 http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/privacysummary.pdf

Under HIPPA laws, doctor's offices can no longer require you to give a social security number for identification. In fact, they shouldn't even be asking any more. When they ask me now, I tell them they can not ask under HIPPA laws. At that point, they never ask again. They have my id #, that's all my insurance company requires.

Thank you for posting that!

 

[hipchickie]

I give my SSN to medical providers because it's often required by the insurance companies.

If I trust the office enough to have access to my mouth, they can have access to my SSN.

not picking on you, because other besides you said this - but....
this is such a odd correlation! What does trusting a Dr. to do a medical procedure have to do with trusting all of his/her staff?

 

[Muushka]

not picking on you, because other besides you said this - but....
this is such a odd correlation! What does trusting a Dr. to do a medical procedure have to do with trusting all of his/her staff?

Plus, you have absolutely no idea who has access to files in a doc office. Don't forget the cleaning crew or anyone else.
I do not trust anyone at this point. I was very protective of my SSN, yet someone got it.

 

[OceanAnnie]

How is having a SSN going to get you paid? For the record, as someone who had their name and SSN stolen and have dealt with it for the past 5 years, a SSN is not going to get you payment. It only makes tracking someone down easier. This is what I go through:

I get the letter from the collection agency. I call to dispute the charges. They ask for my SSN. I refuse to give it to them. They actually have it and tell me the last 4 digits (which are correct). I file a police report. I then have to prove that I am not the person that they are looking for (the thief lives in NY and I live in NC and so far all the charges have been utilities that I could not possibly use here in NC). I have gone through this scenario 5 times.

The collection agency ends up writing off the bad debt. I know because they let me know what becomes of it.

My docs ask for the SSN, but they will take a photo ID with name and address matching the info I gave them.

No, you cannot have my SSN. I will find a doc who does not require it and trusts me.

PS many times they ask for a SSN is because they are too lazy to create a unique identifier.

Can you tell I am a little bitter on this subject?

I agree. It's a strange practice to me. SSNs were never intended for this purpose nor should it be. I was glad to see it was against HIPPA's rules and regs..

I have given my drivers license with picture and address. I think asking for a SSN is going too far.

 

[mhsjax]

Today our SSN's are so missed used. They shouldn't be used like they are. They want your SSN# to hit your credit if you don't pay.

deleted

 

[Nancy F]

Some insurance plans only use that. Even if they say they don't. So if the only way to get paid is with a SSN and the patient doesn't want to give it, they have to pay up front. We own a Pearle Vision Center and I do all the Drs. billing. That's how we handle it.