Regarding your SSN

[windycitymom]

I went to a new dentist yesterday and they requested my social security number. I'm pretty protective of my SSN and didn't want to give it out, but they insisted. They said they need it for billing purposes in case the insurance doesn't pay. Without it, they said they couldn't treat me.

So, who is legally entitled to get your SSN besides an employer who needs it to pay you? Can a dentist, doctor or hospital refuse to treat you if you don't give out your SSN?

I've filled out permission slip forms over the years that have asked for it, but I've always written "available upon request" and no one has ever come back asking for it. I've seen employment applications ask for it, but I've left it blank - when I get a job offer, then I would hand it out.

Your thoughts?

 

[pklein09]

I've never given a doctor/dentist office any of our SSNs. IMHO, they don't need that piece of info.

 

[BoogasMom]

I am a certified coder and work in a physician's billing office. We ask for your SS# for many reasons. A lot of the insurances ask for it from us when we call them in order for the insurance company to verify the patient's identity. We also use it to verify insurance coverage with your insurance company. Some insurances, Medicare for example, use the primary subscriber's SS# as their policy number. Yes, a physician's office can refuse to see you without it. They can also refuse to see you if you show up to the office without your ID.

 

[Schachteles]

We gave ours to my daughters orthodontist. If you are going to a reputable dental office I personally wouldn't be uptight about giving it out.

 

[Nik's Mom]

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

 

[pklein09]

I've never given a doctor/dentist office any of our SSNs. IMHO, they don't need that piece of info.

I've always left it blank, and never had anyone tell me they had to have it. But then again, my insurance always goes through. I'm in NJ, so I wonder if that makes a difference?

 

[SKWDW]

I went to a new dentist yesterday and they requested my social security number. I'm pretty protective of my SSN and didn't want to give it out, but they insisted. They said they need it for billing purposes in case the insurance doesn't pay. Without it, they said they couldn't treat me.

So, who is legally entitled to get your SSN besides an employer who needs it to pay you? Can a dentist, doctor or hospital refuse to treat you if you don't give out your SSN?

I've filled out permission slip forms over the years that have asked for it, but I've always written "available upon request" and no one has ever come back asking for it. I've seen employment applications ask for it, but I've left it blank - when I get a job offer, then I would hand it out.

Your thoughts?

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.

 

[Kathi OD]

technically, your SSN is NOT to be used for identification purposes. It's sole use is for tax purposes. However, over the past 30 years or so, all kinds of companies have found it is an invaluable tool for a variety of purposes; most of them benign.

It wasn't that long ago that the SSN of the primary subscriber for insurance was your ID# for the insurance company.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I am a certified coder and work in a physician's billing office. We ask for your SS# for many reasons. A lot of the insurances ask for it from us when we call them in order for the insurance company to verify the patient's identity. We also use it to verify insurance coverage with your insurance company. Some insurances, Medicare for example, use the primary subscriber's SS# as their policy number. Yes, a physician's office can refuse to see you without it. They can also refuse to see you if you show up to the office without your ID.

I agree with this post and I have worked billing in a doctors office before and you can't usually verify coverage without a SSN or precertify a procedure without it, and that goes for a dentist office as well. Those are 2 places I wouldn't hesitate to give it to, same if you go to the hospital.

For people with similar names, it is very significant.

Suzanne

 

[Arielle22]

If I trust a doctor enough to treat me and my family then I trust the office to have the SSN.

 

[angwill]

I am another who never puts it on the form. I leave it blank and I have never been questioned about it. If it were insisted upon I would put a fake number.

I may trust the doctor but do I trust the rotating staff. NO

 

[JoiseyMom]

I give it to my employer. Doctors office will not get it. They hav my ID number from my insurance company, that is all they need. If the insurance company dones't pay the doctor, then what good does my SSN do them? Nope..they aren't getting it from me. Too many people in a doctors office that can have access to my records.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I am another who never puts it on the form. I leave it blank and I have never been questioned about it. If it were insisted upon I would put a fake number.

I may trust the doctor but do I trust the rotating staff. NO

That can get you in a huge amount of trouble, called fraud, because that could possibly be someone else's SSN. I know if they catch you giving false info like that at the hospital, it will be reported to the proper authority. I work in a hospital and have seen it happen.

Suzanne

 

[CajunDixie]

I do medical billing also but have noticed that SS# are no longer required. We us the "1500" claim form and there is no place for a SS# for the patient. When we call to talk to insurance companies we are asked for the patient's ID#, then verify with the patient's name and date of birth. The only time we use SS# is when we send people to collections.

You should contact your insurance company and ask them straight out if your providers need your SS#. I think you'll find they are trying to get away from that practice and no longer require it.

 

[deerhart]

So, who is legally entitled to get your SSN besides an employer who needs it to pay you? Can a dentist, doctor or hospital refuse to treat you if you don't give out your SSN?

A dentist, doctor, or hospital can refuse to treat you for ANY reason what so ever so long as it is not an emergency and your stable.

They are only required to treat you in an emergency, other then that, just like any other PRIVATE business, they can refuse service to anyone

 

[Kathi OD]

By law, you are NOT required to give your Social Security number to anyone, including creditors, hospitals, doctors, credit bureaus or any other private firm that wants to keep track of you. The only agencies you must give your SSN to is the IRS and SSA. Even state and local governments cannot impose a penalty if you refuse to give your SSN to them.

However, that doesn't mean that those people & companies have to do business with you if you fail to give them your SSN. Many people obtain a TIN, or taxpayer identification number, instead.

 

[peanut12392]

I have never given my SSN to a doctor or dentist. They always ask for it. I reply that they do not need it as they have my insurance ID number. It has never been a problem.
I just got off the phone with a hospital re: a claim for DS. The first thing they ask for is SSN to look it up. I asked what else they could use, sure enough, they could get there with other info (insurance ID, name, date of service, date of birth).

 

[peanut12392]

By law, you are NOT required to give your Social Security number to anyone, including creditors, hospitals, doctors, credit bureaus or any other private firm that wants to keep track of you. The only agencies you must give your SSN to is the IRS and SSA. Even state and local governments cannot impose a penalty if you refuse to give your SSN to them.

THANKS! I have been asking about this for a long time, and was not able to get the answer, but this is what I thought!!

 

[Swimalie]

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.

 

[cats mom]

I used to give it to healthcare providers, but only when it was our insurance ID. Thankfully that has changed, and I haven't given it to a Dr, dentist, etc. since. I've had to stand my ground a time or two, but I've always received service, and without giving them a SS#