Thursday, February 9, 2012

Do You Have To Be Honest On A Medical Information Form For Health Care Renewal, Isn’t That Private Info?

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Thursday, August 6, 2009, 6:42
This news item was posted in Medical Information category and has 2 Comments so far.

When starting new employment, or often every year when companies renew their health care plans they have employees fill out “medical information” forms. I am very oposed to this and don’t like to disclose personal information like that to my employer. This should be private between me and my doctor. It is not right that medical conditions are used to base health care premiums on, it’s like inviting discrimination against people with health issues. What happens if I don’t disclose soemthing on one of these forms, do you complete them honestly?

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2 Responses to “Do You Have To Be Honest On A Medical Information Form For Health Care Renewal, Isn’t That Private Info?”

  1. Cindi A said on Thursday, August 6, 2009, 9:46

    You are very much correct that, being expected to disclose personal information as such is discriminatory. However the only terms in which an employer has the right to demand such information is when it is RELATIVELY JOB RELATED.
    RELATIVELY – means in relation to what others are also expected to disclose. This may include employees in the whole organisation, or specifically to fellow employees who preform the same or similar work in the current labour market.

  2. Sabine M said on Thursday, August 6, 2009, 14:03

    Sooner or later your employer will know. All they have to do is ask their insurer what kind of medical treatments you’re receiving through the plan. God forbid you work for a hospital or place like Wal-Mart/Costco/Target that have their own in-house pharmacies.
    Absolutely it should be private, but it’s not…
    Also, failure to disclose some things to your employer could be used as a basis to fire you in the future. They could say you were dishonest and claim fraud. I’m reaching here, but only slightly, as I’ve seen it happen.
    At some point, under your healthcare plan, your patient records will have to be made available to your “new” provider and you can’t hide your history.
    One way disclosure works in your favor is if you notified them of a disability because it would make it harder for them to 1) not hire you and 2) having hired you, then fire you. You could claim discrimination either way.

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