Obvious exaggeration, but I swear we’re heading that way…
Anyone else feel requests for info like this are getting out of hand, despite the warnings and problems in recent years with ID theft? I actually had my new dentist ask for a bunch of info, NONE of which they needed and they acted miffed when I wouldn’t give it, including SSN, DOB, occupation, marital status (etc etc). They were baffled by the idea that all they really need is on my insurance card: name, phone, address, and medical billing info. I can see simply asking my age, but a DOB isn’t necessary. They copped an attitude after that and gave me a half-ass checkup so I went elsewhere.
My new doctor actually asked for my sexual preferences (cue the lame jokes which are no doubt on the way). wtf? In the form where it asked what they were, I put “none of your business.” Unlike the above, they were good-natured about it and let it go, but I still couldn’t believe they asked.
I’m not even fond of employers asking my DOB/age (which is still legal, unfortunately), esp when they want it for reasons other than a credit/background check, or other info which has nothing to do with my ability to do the job.
I think I’ll start telling these people “OK I’ll give you mine if you give me yours.”
Tell them you will pay cash up front, and you should have no additional requests for typical identifying information. Most the identity typq questions relate to helping insure they can find you if you fail to pay your bills.
The sexual preference question, I would assume is your doctor wanting to know if you are at some level of greater health risk. ???
At the clinic I go to, if you have to ask them a question, they don’t even ask your name at first, only your date of birth, to call up your file. I can understand why: less duplication with birthdates than with similar names, faster and more efficient data access.
What happens if your insurance card is fake? Or what about the amount your insurance doesn’t cover that they bill directly to you - how do they collect when you don’t pay?
They’re running a business, they need to make sure they get paid. Don’t assume that just because you have good, real insurance that will cover every last bit of your treatment and you are a stand-up guy who would never run out on a bill that everyone else that walks through their door is the same way.
? My SSN and DOB are not required to bill me, nor are they required to file a claim.
I just think generally speaking that a lot of places ask for info like this or other stuff which is not required and advise caution in dishing it out. Another one is email - if you need to talk to me, CALL me. You have no other need for that info and I don’t want to be on your little distribution list.
They are if you don’t pay and a collection agency wants to find you.
As said above, pay in full, up front and there are no problems. In my practice, we wouldn’t see you if you didn’t provide information that is necessary for us to collect a debt if you don’t pay on the date of service. If you do, none of that information is required.
When I went to a new doctor, I was asked, as part of the new patient forms, whether I had German ethnicity. I do have some German in my family tree (considering the region and the timeframe, probably Pennsylvania Dutch). I put yes. I wasn’t offered any genetic screening based on my responses and I’m not sure what exactly they were after.
They are absolutely required to file a claim. When a claim comes in they compare your ID number and name, of course, but they need the rest of that information to verify your claim. After all, how are they supposed to determine whether a claim was for oreally Jr or oreally Sr if you’re both on the same policy? How are they supposed to determine that this claim is actually for oreally whose ID# is 123456 instead of oreilly whose ID# is 123455?
I worked in insurance for a long time and I promise they will reject a claim without that information.
You don’t think it’s relevant for your doctor to know if you’re gay, bisexual, or straight? It can be an embarrassing topic, but your sexual habits can affect your health and good doctors shouldn’t avoid the subject just because it can be awkward.
For example, the doctor may want to know if his male patients are having sex with other men to have an opportunity to talk to them about HIV prevention and anal cancer surveillance. Just as the sexually transmitted HPV virus can cause cervical cancer, HPV can also cause anal cancer. Men who have sex with men AND are HIV positive are at especially high risk for anal cancer, so there is good reason why a doctor might want to be aware of this so the patient can be monitored for cancer.
DOB is often used to help confirm a patient’s identity and avoid medical errors. It’s very easy to mix up the files for John A. Smith and John D. Smith, which is why nowadays hospitals require confirming not just a patient’s name but also another piece of identifying info like their DOB before giving a medication.
While you may disagree with their reasons for asking, they do have reasons for wanting this info.
It’s usually for billing purposes. they want as much info as they can get in order to better harass you should you skip or be late with a payment.
I was almost surprised they didn’t want a chart of my weekly bowel movements last time I applied for a loan.
Also, last time I was in an emergency room I spent exactly 5 seconds with a doctor and aprox 10 minutes with some administrative assistant talking about my mother’s maiden name and whether or not she could also have my landlord’s phone number.
No. HIV/AIDS is no longer a “gay disease” FYI and I have no idea where you’re going with the “anal cancer” and “monitor for cancer” thing. I’ve never heard of “monitoring” for this - only testing if some symptom or other cause arises. Fine - THEN ask. Also lots of heterosexuals have oral and/or anal cancer - so we’re back to this being irrelevant and basically none of their flipping business. If that is really such a concern, then hand out a pamphlet explaining the increased risks for cancer due to oral/anal sex. Surprise, I wasn’t.
As for administrative incompetence, I agree it’s an issue (rampant, from what I can tell), but if you can’t get someone’s name straight, you can just as easily screw up their DOB as well. You want another piece of “identifying information” - sure - here’s my insurance membership ID.
That all said, I’m not saying your reasons are way out, understand where you’re coming from - I simply disagree. The only people who really need my SSN and/or (perhaps) my DOB, IMO, are the gov’t, my employer, and my bank (or other financial places eg if I’m floating a loan), and that only for up-front credit or background checks.
And NONE of them need my marital status, sexual orientations, occupation, mother’s maiden name, favorite color, or Lord knows what else.
Do what I do, just say no. When questions say, “I’m reticent as I’ve had a bad experience in the past, forgive me!” Seems to work a charm for me.
On the other hand, I would expect my doctor to know my sexual preference. Why wouldn’t I share that with my Dr? She’s see up my hoo ha, her and I have no secrets!
Public health policies have shifted focus a little on AIDS. Instead of targeting the “gay” community, they try to get to all population sectors who are at risk. This is why they say “men who have sex with men” (MSM), because of all the male potential carriers out there who have sex with men but will loudly protest (HELL NO I AIN"T NO G—D— GAY! WHY, THE VERY IDEA! HOW DARE YOU IMPLY… etc.).
I can remember going to some walk in pay up front with cash clinic in Houston and the info forms had at least four pages irrelevant bullshit like of sexual pref questions and sex acts etc etc, I just filled out the front questions and ignored the rest, crazyness!
