Re: SSN

[Twila <twila@cchc-mn.org>]

At the August 1998 National Committee on Vital Health Statistics hearing on
the Unique Patient ID, it was stated that approximately 15% of companies do
not require SSNs. You may have to look further to find one. If none of
those companies are certified in your state then you may have no other
option.

Twila Brase, R.N.
President

>Worse than that.  On the group insurance my employer obtains for employees,
>the insurance company can no longer turn anybody down.  Not so with the
>individual insurance I would try to buy, and insurance companies for single
>insurance INSIST on the SSN, so they can check with MIB (because its single,
>not group) and check your credit rating (so they'll be sure you are good for
>the premiums) and they REFUSE to sell it to you if you won't  give it to
>them.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Twila <twila@cchc-mn.org>
>To: Multiple recipients of list MED-PRIVACY <med-privacy@essential.org>
>Date: Thursday, April 29, 1999 7:26 PM
>Subject: SSN
>
>
>>If you get employer-sponsored insurance, and your employer refuses to NOT
>>give the SSN to the insurance company, it appears that you have no option,
>>unless you refuse the employer-sponsored insurance and ask your employer
>>for compensation in order to purchase your own policy. I doubt that your
>>employer is required to give it to you, but some employees do have that
>>option. It should be noted that the compensation you receive may not in any
>>way equal the contribution made by the employer with your wages to the
>>company plan. Complicating this more,  employers often receive a discount
>>on premiums for all employees enrolled according to the number of employees
>>enrolled.
>>
>>Twila Brase, R.N.
>>President
>>
>>>Please, tell me how do I refuse to give my Medical Insurance company my
>SSN.
>>>My employer enrolls me there, they get it from the employer, and my
>employer
>>>will NOT use another number.  I can't get medical insurance elsewhere.
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Twila <twila@cchc-mn.org>
>>>To: Multiple recipients of list MED-PRIVACY <med-privacy@essential.org>
>>>Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 9:07 PM
>>>Subject: Re: A trail
>>>
>>>
>>>>Unless I am misunderstanding Kendra's answer, I must respond to correct a
>>>>misperception of laws affecting SSNs. There is a law, the Federal Privacy
>>>>Act, which prevents government agencies and officials from asking for SSN
>>>>or requiring the SSN for service unless Congress has enacted an exemption
>>>>to the law, which they have done many times since the 1974 law was
>enacted.
>>>>There is no law to my knowledge prohibiting the private sector from
>asking
>>>>for or requiring the SSN. There is also no law requiring that you do
>>>>business with the private company or person that says they require it
>from
>>>>you. If more people refuse to give the SSN to the private sector, the
>>>>businesses which do not require it may find themselves with easy access
>to
>>>>market share. It could be a selling feature of an organization.
>>>>
>>>>Twila Brase, R.N.
>>>>President
>>>>Citizens' Council on Health Care
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>In a message dated 4/27/99 8:31:21 PM Central Daylight Time,
>>>>>Flyawaynot@aol.com writes:
>>>>><< Any way we can go forward with composing a bill  that would prevent
>>>anyone
>>>>>other than SS from requesting SSN on ANY form.   >>
>>>>>
>>>>>This is already the law.  You don't have to supply your SSN for any
>>>purpose
>>>>>other than Social Security purposes.  You just have to insist that
>people
>>>>>follow the law.   It's often more trouble than it's worth.  Kind of like
>>>>>trying to close the barn door after the horse is already out of the
>barn,
>>>but
>>>>>you can try.   I just tell people, sorry I don't give that out.  Here is
>>>>>"some other item" to verify my identity.
>>>>>
>>>>>Kendra
>>>>
>>>>==================================
>>>>Citizens' Council on Health Care
>>>>1954 University Ave., Suite 8
>>>>St. Paul, MN  55104
>>>>651-646-8935ph
>>>>651-646-0100fx
>>>>http://www.cchc-mn.org
>>
>>==================================
>>Citizens' Council on Health Care
>>1954 University Ave., Suite 8
>>St. Paul, MN  55104
>>651-646-8935ph
>>651-646-0100fx
>>http://www.cchc-mn.org

==================================
Citizens' Council on Health Care
1954 University Ave., Suite 8
St. Paul, MN  55104
651-646-8935ph
651-646-0100fx
http://www.cchc-mn.org