Comments on: Do I Have To Give My Social Security Number To A Doctor, Even If I Have My Valid Private Insurance Card?

By: zippythe

zippythe — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:04:19 +0000

Uh yes, I think so.
ANYONE who you may have to owe for a medical service can have your social. If you don’t pay you co-pay, they have a right to come after you.

By: WJVV

WJVV — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:22:20 +0000

Yes, because that is a secondary identifier. There have been cases where insurance companies have issued the same number to two separate people – I know of one case myself. This way, even if the insurance id number is incorrect (either by fault of the insurance company or the office staff) there won’t be problems getting claims paid because they can identify you with your SSN. Otherwise, if the insurance company has the wrong id#, they may deny the claim, therefore you’ll get billed by the doctor’s office, and then it’s up to you to pay the charges or get it reprocessed by the insurance.
Also- make sure the doctor is HIPAA compliant – this means that they MUST disclose to you EXACTLY how they use your information and who has access to it. (In my office, we only use the SSN for insurance purposes and only office staff has access and faxes and the computer are all secure.)

By: chicago_

chicago_ — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:53:54 +0000

No, you do not have to give your social security number. However, the doctor may not accept you as a patient unless you give it.

By: bbumple

bbumple — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:51:29 +0000

If your insurance company has assigned you an ID number, there is no need for your SSN for insurance processing purposes. It used to be that your one and only ID number was your Social.
Most doctors & dentists ask for a SSN in case your account (or any patient’s account) goes into default. That way, if the account goes to a collection agency, it can be reported to the credit bureaus.
If you are in good standing with the doctor, ask if you may omit your Social Security Number from your form.
I hope this helps.

By: nomine81

nomine81 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:53:36 +0000

Stop being so paranoid. Who cares if you give your ssn to a doctor’s office. Trust me they won’t give it out to anyone. They won’t even tell someone if you have an outstanding bill with them, let alone give out your ssn. Lighten up, you should have bigger and better things to worry about.

By: I care about my answers

I care about my answers — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:56:15 +0000

No, you do not have to give it, especially since your ins is valid, however it does help if balences need to be collected. Just make sure that your doctors office is always up to date with your info, i.e. change of ins, phone #, address, or job. I never heard of a Dr.’s office refusing a pt. for not giving out their SS #

By: mbrcatz

mbrcatz — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:04:26 +0000

Personally, I don’t feel it is necessary, even if it is their “office practice”. They can call your insurer; however, if your insurer has only your SSN as your subscriber number, then you need to. Insurers are getting away from this practice, however, due to identify theft. If you have a subscriber ID, it should suffice, and I personally would refuse to provide it. I do not give out my children’s SSN’s, as they are listed under my husband’s subscriber ID. If the doctor’s office gives you a hard time, I would suggest you change practitioners.