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Paying Cash At The Doctor's Office? Refuse To Give 'Em Your Social Security Number! Plus: Last-Minute Shipping? Beware "Upcharges" At Your Local UPS Store-Type Business
December 18, 2003
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Dear Ben: I've never written to the paper before, but I'm so upset about the answer you gave to Steve M. (in last week's column); he was complaining about having to give his Social Security Number (and driver's license number) at the doctor's office. Believe me, we'd be thrilled if we didn't have to deal with all the forms required by the insurance companies-as well as the government. The obvious answer to "Steve's" concern would be that he pay the total bill in cash at the time of service, and file his own insurance. What other business allows you to receive services and pay at some future date? If Steve doesn't trust the doctor with his personal information, why should the doctor trust him to pay any uncovered charges later? A Social Security Number is required on all insurance claims filed and many insurance companies require that we inform the patient in writing that they'll be responsible for any unpaid charges.
Ginger, via e-mail
Dear Ginger: Why are you so upset over my correct answer? "Steve" was concerned about his Social Security Number (SSN) being plastered all over his health insurance-related paperwork and the potential for this information to end up in the wrong hands. Identity theft has reached epidemic proportions in this country...he should be concerned! But you're also right: If Steve doesn't want his SSN floating around for any receptionist, nurse, orderly, file clerk, custodial cleaning crew member or anyone else to have authorized-or un-authorized access to-he should pay out of pocket, file his own insurance and pray that they (eventually) reimburse him. The position health care providers have been gradually forced into over the years stinks, but I think the widespread use of our SSNs by the insurance industry-as well as most educational institutions-stinks even more.
As I wrote in my February 21, 2002 column, we have to be incredibly stingy with our SSNs, even when we are paying cash at the doctor's office. While you contention that paying cash and filing for reimbursement from our health insurance provider is a way around the SSN disclosure dilemma, I beg to differ. I went to a "Doc-in-the-Box" a couple of years ago and the intake receptionist insisted I give up my SSN because "company policy requires that I gather this information; our computer must have a SSN in order for us to allow the doctor to see you." At that point I took the path of least resistance (because I was sick and just wanted to see someone who could write me a prescription so I could home and to bed) and I think I may have "accidentally" transposed the last couple of digits of my SSN. (My memory tends to fade with my advancing years, you know.)
I wasn't applying for credit or any type of public financial aid, nor was I being asked by a member of the law enforcement community for my SSN: They had no right to that number. The moral of my story is extremely important for everyone to understand: Always challenge anyone who asks you for the most influential, 9-digit number of your life. And while you're at it, you'd better make a habit of regularly viewing-at least once a year-copies of all three of your credit bureau reports. I've got all of the credit bureau's contact information, as well as additional advice on how to battle the frequent mis-information reported by the credit bureaus assembled on my website: www.bendover.com/creditreporthelp.asp.
Dose of Dover For The Week: With Christmas one week from today and many of you preparing to pay premium shipping dollars to get your holiday cargo into the recipient's hands in time, I'd like to remind you about the special section devoted to this topic on my website. You'll read my segment notes from News 8 At 9/Good Morning Texas on WFAA-TV/Channel 8 as originally reported in December, 1998, as well as a related column on the topic from earlier this year: www.bendover.com/holidayshipping.asp. Bottom line? Regardless of the time of year, you're almost always going to pay a substantial premium-anywhere from 70-100 percent-whenever you originate your shipment from a (hopefully convenient) neighborhood shipping centers instead of the actual carrier, such as Federal Express, UPS of the U.S. Post Office.
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