I had an appointment to see a new family doctor and on their forms they asked for my social security number and my driver's license number. I left both of them blank and turned in the forms. The lady calls me back up to the window and says our office policy is we need you're social. How can they require your social security number?

Because if you don't pay, it's easier to send you to collections. We don't "require" it, but if you refuse to give it, you can pay everything up front and just let insurance reimburse you instead of us. Essentially when you walk out of a doctors office without paying because they are waiting on insurance, they are loaning you the money until insurance pays. It's just like if you are borrowing money for anything else, they want your license and ss#.

Their house, their rules.

Well said.

Dr. B

Beware what you give them. Depending on whether you're hmo or ppo they are limited. Doctors in HMOs agree to a capitation amount which is what the insurance company agrees to pay them for specific services. They are not entitled to collect more but many will try to bill unsuspecting patients. This is where the line between billing fraud and capitation amount is crossed. Exercise your rights and don't fall victim to shady medical billing and fraud. If the doctor agreed to $20 but bills you $80 it's his tough luck. He gets $20 and is not entitled to a penny more. When the collector comes calling tell him and the doctor's office to pound sand. Threaten to report the doctor and collection/billing agency to the FTC and state insurance department. Watch how fast they back down and never try to over charge you again.

this. Every office has their rules. Don't like it, find another physician.

Most billing errors are a mistake. Take off the tinfoil hat and step away from the Clark Howard show for a minute. Pound sand comments get you an instant trip to the collections office with me.

Sounds like a democrat.

So you trust them with your Medical health and decisions that could kill you, but not your SSN??? I don't follow your reasoning.

Amen same here

Anyway, the lady at the window said I'll check with the office manager and be back in a moment. Comes back and told me, "We are gonna need you to provide that or we can cancel your visit."

Now, may be it was her attitude or she just caught me at a bad moment or perhaps I'm becoming a little more cantankerous as I get older, but I looked at her and said, "See ya." Left, went to urgent care and was out in half an hour.

I must be absolutely missing something here...what's the big deal about giving them some simple information?
It's not like they're giving it to the KGB or selling it identity thieves.

Some of you folks need to get laid more often.

Anything you provide them can and will be held against you in future care.If that sounds like legal mumbo jumbo it is.

Wow, where've you been? One of the biggies in the opposition to Obamacare was that ALL information you give is to be logged into and kept in a national health database...which essentially means that they ARE giving it to the KGB!

...and for what it's worth, I totally agree with needing to get laid more often!

If you knew all the places where your ss# is already, it really wouldn't bother you so much

I went to new eye doctor ,first question on form was reason for visit, so I wrote down check my hemorrhiid's. Why else would I be at the eye doctor's?

lots of truth there, sadly...

No definitely not a stinking democrat and no tinfoil hat. It's the law if a provider signed contract agreeing to capitation with an HMO. Collections isn't going to help you because you are billing beyond what is legal and agreed to. You can send any patient to collections but with an HMO they're not required to pay anything extra beyond capitation. Reputable physicians know this is law and Bill according to their agreement with HMOs. The shady ones bill their patients beyond agreed upon amount thinking they won't catch on and just pay it. Poor old lady sees the bill from the nice doctor and pays him excess he is really not entitled to. Most folks trust their doctors and pay bills without question. If the physician agreed that they'll accept $30 for an exam plus the copayment that's all that's required. Collections won't help you one bit.

I love a smart ass who is a spelling bee champion.

Dr. B

When social security was formed they stated they would never use it as an ID. Bull crap, everyone wants it nowadays. That contributes to all the stolen identities. You can't believe a damn thing the Gov't says . PLAIN AND SIMPLE Birdcarver the lady meant are you here for disease, cataracts , eye test. She should have smacked you in your smartassed head. If I had been the Dr I would have made you pull your pants down while I checked your eyes.Grow up, everyone has a job. You don't have to be an ahole to a lady trying to do hers.

Exactly. Dude doesn't realize there's about 500 reasons as to why he could be there. It's not all normal eye exams!