Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I try to protect my SS number whenever possible. My understanding is that it is not supposed to serve as an ID number, and only people who pay you money have a need to know it. However, I find that many healthcare providers continue to demand it. I politely refuse and some will accept that. But about half the time they will insist to the point of refusing service if I do not provide it. Even the blood bank where I donate makes a fuss about it. I have private health insurance, and the company even advises that they do not need the SS number to process a claim. I don't use Medicare (still working), but I notice that my Medicare number is the same as my SS number as well. No one has been able to explain why they need it. Why do they need it? Do they do a credit check? How do you deal with this?
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- nisiprius
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Oh, man. That pushes my hot button, too. Here's what I do: I cave and I try not to worry about it.
What ticks me off is that Social Security and everyone else tells you not to give your number out, but a) in practice it's impractical, b) the SSA will not go to bat for you, they will not lift a finger for you, when there's a demand for it from someone that has no business asking for it. It's hypocrisy. It's like the law prohibiting both the rich and poor from sleeping under bridges. The law does not require you to give your social security number to them, but it does not prohibit them from denying you credit or medical care if you refuse. You can't get any fairer than that. [Irony alert, insert tongue-in-cheek icon here]
In my case, I was in the emergency room with chest pains (turned out to be nothing) and I was flatly told I would not be seen unless I completed the form, including the Social Security number. People have told me that it's against the law for an emergency room to deny me treatment blah blah but let's get practical: if you're in the emergency room, what's the sane thing to do? Go home and come back the next day during business hours with a lawyer? "Vote with my dollars" and go tooling around town for a hospital willing to see me without my disclosing my Social Security number, and be part of the Invisible Hand that will spank the hospitals that require Social Security numbers? Don't be silly.
The reason they "need" it has something to do with the so-called Medical Information Bureau, a mysterious and shadowy private snooping organization whose existence I resent. If you check the fine print, you will often find that when you sign authorizing the insurer to pay the hospital, you are also authorizing the hospital to disclose medical information to the Medical Information Bureau. The MIB collects information on serious health conditions for the benefit of the insurance industry, so that when you apply for life insurance they'll already know about anything serious. In order to fend off legislation, the MIB voluntarily agreed to give people copies of their MIB report on request. You can request it at this URL. It's probably a good idea to do this routinely just the way you with with your credit report. At the same website you can read all about the wonderful work MIB does and why consumers should be happy that they do it. [Irony alert, insert tongue-in-cheek icon here]
If you get the report, you will probably find the MIB knows stuff about you even if you cannot for the life of you remember when you authorized anyone to give it to them.
What ticks me off is that Social Security and everyone else tells you not to give your number out, but a) in practice it's impractical, b) the SSA will not go to bat for you, they will not lift a finger for you, when there's a demand for it from someone that has no business asking for it. It's hypocrisy. It's like the law prohibiting both the rich and poor from sleeping under bridges. The law does not require you to give your social security number to them, but it does not prohibit them from denying you credit or medical care if you refuse. You can't get any fairer than that. [Irony alert, insert tongue-in-cheek icon here]
In my case, I was in the emergency room with chest pains (turned out to be nothing) and I was flatly told I would not be seen unless I completed the form, including the Social Security number. People have told me that it's against the law for an emergency room to deny me treatment blah blah but let's get practical: if you're in the emergency room, what's the sane thing to do? Go home and come back the next day during business hours with a lawyer? "Vote with my dollars" and go tooling around town for a hospital willing to see me without my disclosing my Social Security number, and be part of the Invisible Hand that will spank the hospitals that require Social Security numbers? Don't be silly.
The reason they "need" it has something to do with the so-called Medical Information Bureau, a mysterious and shadowy private snooping organization whose existence I resent. If you check the fine print, you will often find that when you sign authorizing the insurer to pay the hospital, you are also authorizing the hospital to disclose medical information to the Medical Information Bureau. The MIB collects information on serious health conditions for the benefit of the insurance industry, so that when you apply for life insurance they'll already know about anything serious. In order to fend off legislation, the MIB voluntarily agreed to give people copies of their MIB report on request. You can request it at this URL. It's probably a good idea to do this routinely just the way you with with your credit report. At the same website you can read all about the wonderful work MIB does and why consumers should be happy that they do it. [Irony alert, insert tongue-in-cheek icon here]
If you get the report, you will probably find the MIB knows stuff about you even if you cannot for the life of you remember when you authorized anyone to give it to them.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Good post, Nisiprius!
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Thanks for that reply, Nisiprius, and for the information. I will check it out. I can't top your story, but I once was all numbed up for a minor surgery while still argueing with the buisness manager. Another surgeon told me he would not be able to get me admitted to a hospital without the SS number. I've just seen too many TV news stories about a load of medical records turning up in some dumpster or landfill.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
If it is on a form, I leave it blank. If they notice and ask me to write it, I ask why. In my experience, they don't need it and they don't really have an answer to this question, so they let it be.
If they insist, I tell them I don't remember it.
Once I was really pressed, I don't remember where, so I wrote in my old student id, and that was that.
If they insist, I tell them I don't remember it.
Once I was really pressed, I don't remember where, so I wrote in my old student id, and that was that.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I've always assumed that my doctor/dentist is considered a creditor if they are going to be billing me and not demanding payment up front or at time of service (which some do anyway). In this case they have a reasonably legitimate need for the SS. I also do not like giving out my SS, but I do it anyway. I also do not like the idea of the MiB, but haven't checked out my file yet.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
The way I figure it is that every financial institution, place you rent anything from, educational source, etc have it. Doctors offices probably are less risky than banks for ID theft. I do what others do (and I'm a doctor). I say that my insurance ID is adequate and about 90% say fine. Places like outpatient surgery tend to insist probably because you will owe them money.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I have been successful in not giving out my social security number to health care providers.
What I did was that I left the SSN field blank on the form, and someone in the office always asked for it. I told him/her that they already had a copy of my driver's license and insurance card and there would be no possible legal reasons for them to have my SSN on file. Usually the front office person would consult some supervisor and that was the end of their quest for my SSN.
I did the same thing to my local telephone company when I first signed up. The person on the line asked for my SSN and I declined and offered to provide them with my driver's license information. Again, no problems.
I have never been admitted to a hospital, so I don't know what I might do if they insist on obtaining my SSN while blood is coming out of my body.
What I did was that I left the SSN field blank on the form, and someone in the office always asked for it. I told him/her that they already had a copy of my driver's license and insurance card and there would be no possible legal reasons for them to have my SSN on file. Usually the front office person would consult some supervisor and that was the end of their quest for my SSN.
I did the same thing to my local telephone company when I first signed up. The person on the line asked for my SSN and I declined and offered to provide them with my driver's license information. Again, no problems.
I have never been admitted to a hospital, so I don't know what I might do if they insist on obtaining my SSN while blood is coming out of my body.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
When you are on Medicare, they get it automatically from your Medicare card. Your SS Number is your Medicare number (plus a letter).
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Whenever I read a post like this that is about giving out your SS#, I am reminded of when I worked selling annuities to teachers (TSA) years ago. The application that we were trained to complete had the SS# as question #1. We were advised to ask~ "Now, what is your social security number?" ~ after going thru the sales pitch. If the sucker, err teacher, immediately gave up their SS# the sale was assured.
I think that the idea was that once they advised me of their SS#, they had succumbed to the sales pitch and would give me any additional info that I asked them for. I can't recall it ever not working, so there must be some truth to it.
I think that the idea was that once they advised me of their SS#, they had succumbed to the sales pitch and would give me any additional info that I asked them for. I can't recall it ever not working, so there must be some truth to it.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I just went to a new physician and left the SS number space blank on the patient information form. When I handed in the form, the receptionist said "You didn't fill out the SS number." I replied "I don't see why you need it." The receptionist made no reply, so I didn't need to supply it. As other posters have said, providers can refuse to serve you if you don't give it, but I see no reason to surrender automatically just because it is on the form. With an emergency room, I might be tempted to give them a wrong number (transpose a couple digits, perhaps). Should the error come up later, you could just claim you were under stress and got it wrong. (Hey, my father didn't remember his home phone number after having had it for 30 years because he called it so seldom...that could be an approach for the SSN.)
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Several years ago, our local TV station had a report on a medical facility going out of business. The investigative reporter found that when the clinic was cleaning out the office, the medical files were just thrown into a dumpster instead of being shredded.
Based on that experience, whenever I am asked for my social security number, I respond by saying that I will provide it if they will in turn provide me with a written document(signed by the doctor) guaranteeing the privacy of my data.
At this point, they accept a blank social security space.
1210
Based on that experience, whenever I am asked for my social security number, I respond by saying that I will provide it if they will in turn provide me with a written document(signed by the doctor) guaranteeing the privacy of my data.
At this point, they accept a blank social security space.
1210
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
My guess is that you made the mistake of telling them you had insurance. A second guess: your social security number is used by your insurance company as an identifier. A third guess: if you had had no insurance and shown up at the emergency room without "documents," they would have treated you.nisiprius wrote: In my case, I was in the emergency room with chest pains (turned out to be nothing) and I was flatly told I would not be seen unless I completed the form, including the Social Security number. People have told me that it's against the law for an emergency room to deny me treatment blah blah but let's get practical: if you're in the emergency room, what's the sane thing to do?
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
All well and good, but Huey is wrong; the test case isn't "blood," the test case is "a kidney stone." You are at the ER intake desk. Past the desk is a room with a curtain. In the room, there will be Toradol. The only thing standing between you and the Toradol is your Social Security number and a point of principle.
You will give them your library card number, your TrueBlue Frequent Flyer number, the first thirty digits of pi--any number they ask for.
You will not take the extra twenty seconds required to ask them whether they actually need those numbers. There is Toradol in the other room.
You are at a disadvantage in this transaction.
You will give them your library card number, your TrueBlue Frequent Flyer number, the first thirty digits of pi--any number they ask for.
You will not take the extra twenty seconds required to ask them whether they actually need those numbers. There is Toradol in the other room.
You are at a disadvantage in this transaction.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Thanks Geologist. Sounds like a reasonable approach.Geologist wrote:With an emergency room, I might be tempted to give them a wrong number (transpose a couple digits, perhaps). Should the error come up later, you could just claim you were under stress and got it wrong.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
That's another part of my complaint. I don't see why it has to be that way.Sheepdog wrote:When you are on Medicare, they get it automatically from your Medicare card. Your SS Number is your Medicare number (plus a letter).
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I went to a medical facility for the first time and they asked for my SS no. I declined to provide it, and they insisted they needed it. I stood firm. A few minutes later they said, never mind, they already had it. It turned out that I had used another branch of that hospital complex many years previous (long forgotten). The moral of this is: Once they have the number, that information may never go away. Computers can store information forever.
Jeff
Jeff
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
My, how times change.
When I graduated from college and got my Navy commission, we were asigned a "Service Number" Mine was 690353. Three or four years later all branches of the service dropped the service number and shifted to social security numbers. Nobody had any problem with that, in fact most of us thought it was a good idea. One less number to remember.
In order to cash a check at the Navy Exchange you had to put your SS number on the check. I had my checks printed with the SS number on them and I continued to use those checks well into the mid 1990's, well after I retired. Never had a single problem of any kind. My retired ID card, good for life, still has my SS number on it. However my wife's dependent ID card, which had to be renewed every four years until age 65, now has a "benefits number" that is not her SS number.
So I guess if I ever get captured I have to give name, rank and social security number.
Chris
When I graduated from college and got my Navy commission, we were asigned a "Service Number" Mine was 690353. Three or four years later all branches of the service dropped the service number and shifted to social security numbers. Nobody had any problem with that, in fact most of us thought it was a good idea. One less number to remember.
In order to cash a check at the Navy Exchange you had to put your SS number on the check. I had my checks printed with the SS number on them and I continued to use those checks well into the mid 1990's, well after I retired. Never had a single problem of any kind. My retired ID card, good for life, still has my SS number on it. However my wife's dependent ID card, which had to be renewed every four years until age 65, now has a "benefits number" that is not her SS number.
So I guess if I ever get captured I have to give name, rank and social security number.
Chris
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Some insurers will deny payment to a physician or hospital if SSN is not included in the bill to the insurer. They use any excuse they can to deny payment and sometimes fraudelently deny payment.
I sympathize with not wanting to give out your SSN willy nilly. A group that allows me to work in their facility, but does not pay me requested my SSN and date of birth. I declined to do so, so far.
I sympathize with not wanting to give out your SSN willy nilly. A group that allows me to work in their facility, but does not pay me requested my SSN and date of birth. I declined to do so, so far.
"Let us endeavor, so to live, that when we die, even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
As a long time kidney stone patient, I'm with Nisiprius about telling the ER people anything they want to hear if it will get me to the painkillers.
Of course they'll just get my SS# anyway from my Medicare card, as Sheepdog pointed out.
John
Of course they'll just get my SS# anyway from my Medicare card, as Sheepdog pointed out.
John
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Clever code, eh?Your SS Number is your Medicare number (plus a letter).
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
My cable company, Comcast, wants me to confirm the last 4 of my social every time I call. I always tell them no, and then they have a fit asking for a million other things to prove I am who I say I am. To this day I don't know how they got my social in the first place. It's not like they don't know where I live!
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I enrolled in Medicare a few years ago. I was surprised to learn my Medicare number was my social security number followed by a letter. I made a high quality copy of my Medicare card, removed the last four digits of my S.S. number and laminated the card. I put my original Medicare card in a safe place.
I've used my "secure" copy of my Medicare card several times. On every occasion when I presented my secure card the medical personnel quickly understood the situation and added the missing digits I provided to the form they were completing with no problem. On multiple occasions the person volunteered that what I did made a lot of sense as they could not understand why Medicare would use a person's S.S. number because of the identity theft issue.
On a related note I was further surprised to learn that Medicare and their contractors frequently include my Medicare number (S.S.N.) in correspondence.
I've used my "secure" copy of my Medicare card several times. On every occasion when I presented my secure card the medical personnel quickly understood the situation and added the missing digits I provided to the form they were completing with no problem. On multiple occasions the person volunteered that what I did made a lot of sense as they could not understand why Medicare would use a person's S.S. number because of the identity theft issue.
On a related note I was further surprised to learn that Medicare and their contractors frequently include my Medicare number (S.S.N.) in correspondence.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
This. Totally.nisiprius wrote:All well and good, but Huey is wrong; the test case isn't "blood," the test case is "a kidney stone." ....You are at a disadvantage in this transaction.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I always leave the SSN field blank, until they ask for it at health providers. When they do, I tell them I'm not required to furnish my SSN and that I'm afraid of identity theft. For some reason, more than half the time, I too, cave...just to avoid having to explain and start off on the wrong foot with staff whom I will be talking to, calling and seeing on occasion for as long as I'm happy with my healthcare provider. Some understand and says it's okay then.
Besides MIB, I think they want it to ensure payment if you decide to skip on the bill by sending the bill to collections...and they need your SSN to get to your credit report. (just my thinking)
Besides MIB, I think they want it to ensure payment if you decide to skip on the bill by sending the bill to collections...and they need your SSN to get to your credit report. (just my thinking)
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
The absurdity here is that Comcast has your SSN from public sources, but is pretending that the knowledge of your SSN is a secret that can be used to confirm your identify.Cloud wrote:My cable company, Comcast, wants me to confirm the last 4 of my social every time I call. I always tell them no, and then they have a fit asking for a million other things to prove I am who I say I am. To this day I don't know how they got my social in the first place. It's not like they don't know where I live!
Unfortunately your refusal to play along does not help. Someone intent on fraud would be quite happy to search the public sources and participate in Comcast's little jest.
Most of the participants in this thread think we need tighter controls on the disclosure. I think the solution is for the SSA to publish them all and then punish anyone who relies on them being "secret".
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I'm in the "don't give it out" camp. I don't leave it blank, I put a line through the space, so it's clear that I didn't "forget." At the point where they're extending me credit, I will give them the number so they can do the credit check.
The most egregious I've seen was a form that asked for my wife's SSN as well!
The most egregious I've seen was a form that asked for my wife's SSN as well!
I'm not a financial advisor, I just play one on the Internet.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
In California a large number of the residents have no social security number. I wonder how these individuals and their families receive medical treatment. Will the hospital accept a tax ID number? If so I suppose a crafty person could obtain one from the IRS and protect his identity. A friend told me that the the personnel at medical clinics also steal credit card numbers.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Thanks for all the excellent responses.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I am asked for it almost any time I see a new Doctor. I tell them I do not want to give it. I explain it used to be part of my insurance ID and they removed it so we do not need to give our SS number. So far, that has been accepted. I'll have to see how I handle it if they insist. It can be carried to extremes. Several years ago I was completing the form at a new doctor. The form asked for my SS number which I scratched a line through. Just below that, was spousal information, and they actually asked for the spouses SS number.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I see people all the time who don't provide social security numbers. Occasionally a few just do it out of privacy issues, but the vast majority do it because they are drug seeking and doctor shopping. So I always get suspicious when there is no social security number on the face sheet.JPH wrote:I try to protect my SS number whenever possible. My understanding is that it is not supposed to serve as an ID number, and only people who pay you money have a need to know it. However, I find that many healthcare providers continue to demand it. I politely refuse and some will accept that. But about half the time they will insist to the point of refusing service if I do not provide it. Even the blood bank where I donate makes a fuss about it. I have private health insurance, and the company even advises that they do not need the SS number to process a claim. I don't use Medicare (still working), but I notice that my Medicare number is the same as my SS number as well. No one has been able to explain why they need it. Why do they need it? Do they do a credit check? How do you deal with this?
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
That is not true. EMTALA requires that emergency rooms provide a medical screening exam to determine if a true medical emergency exists. If it does, then they must stabilize you. There is no law that requires treatment for stable patients, non-emergent patients, etc.nisiprius wrote:People have told me that it's against the law for an emergency room to deny me treatment blah blah but let's get practical: if you're in the emergency room, what's the sane thing to do? Go home and come back the next day during business hours with a lawyer? "Vote with my dollars" and go tooling around town for a hospital willing to see me without my disclosing my Social Security number, and be part of the Invisible Hand that will spank the hospitals that require Social Security numbers? Don't be silly.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
In some states this is considered healthcare fraud and can land you in jail.Geologist wrote:With an emergency room, I might be tempted to give them a wrong number (transpose a couple digits, perhaps). Should the error come up later, you could just claim you were under stress and got it wrong. (Hey, my father didn't remember his home phone number after having had it for 30 years because he called it so seldom...that could be an approach for the SSN.)
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I stopped giving SSN about 5 years back and receptionists didn't bother to ask me. I haven't gone to ER, but I think I would give them anything they ask for the service. Anyone (including Illegal immigrants) can also use ER, so I don't expect to be treated any faster just because I have insurance.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I have two social security numbers.....one for the usual and one for identification purposes. When i filed for SS they asked me if i had two SS numbers and i replied in the affirmative.....they knew which one was for their system and i had zero issues after answering that question.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
What exactly can "evil doers" do with a SS number if they get it?
Cody
Cody
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
averageJoe wrote:I have two social security numbers.....one for the usual and one for identification purposes. When i filed for SS they asked me if i had two SS numbers and i replied in the affirmative.....they knew which one was for their system and i had zero issues after answering that question.
That's a new one. Are you saying that the SSA knowingly issued you two different SS#s? Can anyone get an additional # or do you have a special situation (residing is a government hideout)?
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
When ask for m SS # I reply "which one". This is always good for a laugh. Then I explain to the clerk that I was told not to give that out. I've never had an issue with that.
Even educators need education. And some can be hard headed to the point of needing time out.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Do you really have two SSNs, or is one of them an ITIN?averageJoe wrote:I have two social security numbers.....one for the usual and one for identification purposes. When i filed for SS they asked me if i had two SS numbers and i replied in the affirmative.....they knew which one was for their system and i had zero issues after answering that question.
The only people with multiple SSNs appear to be illegal immigrants AFAIK.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Apply for oodles and oodles of credit in your name, charge all those credit lines up to the limit, then split with the loot.... leaving you with a big nasty mess to clean up on all of your credit reports. It can take months (or years) and far too many hours to clean up after something like that.Cody wrote:What exactly can "evil doers" do with a SS number if they get it?
They can also use your SSN to file fraudulent tax returns with a modest to large refund, take the money and run... leaving you to deal with the IRS. I don't think I need to go into more detail about how that could be annoying.
They could sell your SSN to an undocumented worker, who would then use it to obtain a job. This might seem great at first (woo, inflated SS reporting so a bigger SS check in the future!), except that also usually means the IRS will be getting W2s with your SSN on it that you aren't reporting on your tax return. Again, this leaves you to deal with the IRS.
I'm sure there are more scenarios, but these are the "big three" of identity theft.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
HueyLD wrote:Do you really have two SSNs, or is one of them an ITIN?averageJoe wrote:I have two social security numbers.....one for the usual and one for identification purposes. When i filed for SS they asked me if i had two SS numbers and i replied in the affirmative.....they knew which one was for their system and i had zero issues after answering that question.
The only people with multiple SSNs appear to be illegal immigrants AFAIK.
ITIN.....i'll have to look that up a bit later but that's possibly what it's called......same format as the ss# except the first three numbers are 999 and BTW my Congressman made it happen for me.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Good thing I didn't stand up for my imaginary rights!southerndoc wrote:That is not true. EMTALA requires that emergency rooms provide a medical screening exam to determine if a true medical emergency exists. If it does, then they must stabilize you. There is no law that requires treatment for stable patients, non-emergent patients, etc.nisiprius wrote:People have told me that it's against the law for an emergency room to deny me treatment blah blah but let's get practical: if you're in the emergency room, what's the sane thing to do?
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I have been denied payment without a SSN on a bill to medicare. As an aside a few patients have their spouses SSN with a letter after it on medicare card.Allocationist wrote:I enrolled in Medicare a few years ago. I was surprised to learn my Medicare number was my social security number followed by a letter. I made a high quality copy of my Medicare card, removed the last four digits of my S.S. number and laminated the card. I put my original Medicare card in a safe place.
I've used my "secure" copy of my Medicare card several times. On every occasion when I presented my secure card the medical personnel quickly understood the situation and added the missing digits I provided to the form they were completing with no problem. On multiple occasions the person volunteered that what I did made a lot of sense as they could not understand why Medicare would use a person's S.S. number because of the identity theft issue.
On a related note I was further surprised to learn that Medicare and their contractors frequently include my Medicare number (S.S.N.) in correspondence.
"Let us endeavor, so to live, that when we die, even the undertaker will be sorry." Mark Twain
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
If you lose your SS card, they will only replace it X times. After that last time, they will give you a new number.
So I guess that's one way to deal with this issue. Keep reporting a lost card, get a new number and then give out your old number to healthcare providers.
So I guess that's one way to deal with this issue. Keep reporting a lost card, get a new number and then give out your old number to healthcare providers.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
New for 2011, New York requires that a taxpayer's date of birth (and spouse's if joint return) be listed on page one of the state tax return, right next to their social security number. Leaving it blank may work for paper-filed returns, but not for efiled returns. I expect some taxpayers will not like this. Is mother's maiden name next?Mudpuppy wrote:Apply for oodles and oodles of credit in your name, charge all those credit lines up to the limit, then split with the loot.... leaving you with a big nasty mess to clean up on all of your credit reports. It can take months (or years) and far too many hours to clean up after something like that.Cody wrote:What exactly can "evil doers" do with a SS number if they get it?
They can also use your SSN to file fraudulent tax returns with a modest to large refund, take the money and run... leaving you to deal with the IRS. I don't think I need to go into more detail about how that could be annoying.
They could sell your SSN to an undocumented worker, who would then use it to obtain a job. This might seem great at first (woo, inflated SS reporting so a bigger SS check in the future!), except that also usually means the IRS will be getting W2s with your SSN on it that you aren't reporting on your tax return. Again, this leaves you to deal with the IRS.
I'm sure there are more scenarios, but these are the "big three" of identity theft.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
Don't see why this matters. I froze my credit reports since so many people already have your SS#
in their databases. Who cares if my doctor has it too.
in their databases. Who cares if my doctor has it too.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
One doesn't want to get too fancy with all this. Having multiple Social Security numbers may baffle the identity thieves, but, bureaucracies and data processing systems being what they are, I prefer to be typical rather than exceptional. In theory, I'm sure that having a new Social Security number isn't supposed to be a problem when it comes time to pay you benefits, but if there's a little glitch in the system, software QA is likely to catch the bug that affects almost everyone and might miss the bug that only affects people with multiple Social Security numbers. Or may lead to you being the person whose paperwork gets held up at the TSA's we-don't-"clear"-anyone-but-if-you-tell-us-everything-you-may-get-pulled-out-of-line-less-often office. Am I counseling docility in the face of petty bureaucracy? Yes.MossySF wrote:If you lose your SS card, they will only replace it X times. After that last time, they will give you a new number.
So I guess that's one way to deal with this issue. Keep reporting a lost card, get a new number and then give out your old number to healthcare providers.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness; Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.
Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
How stupid is that? It has burned my butt since the first day I got my Medicare card!Sheepdog wrote:When you are on Medicare, they get it automatically from your Medicare card. Your SS Number is your Medicare number (plus a letter).
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
I give toradol, but not narcotics unless you check in with ID. Don't care so much about SS, but the registration people probably do.
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Re: Giving SS number to healthcare providers
The real question is why we do not have a Healthcare Identifier - so that when providers share our information, they do know that it is the same patient without having to use our SSN.