Why do doctors ask for SSN?

Question

I never give my SS when I’m at the doctors but today the gyn I saw asked for ss and i don’t know why I gave it to her 🤦🏽‍♀️ now I’m all paranoid and freaking out! Can they steal my identity?

Answer

For insurance purposes.

Answer

For insurance purposes. I’ve always been asked and it was required for me to ask new patients during intake when I was an assistant in a hospital.

Answer

I think when your a new patient you need to provide all that info.

Answer

No they don’t care about your identity just your info to get paid. All is good!

Answer

To verify your identity through your insurance. Its standard procedure

Answer

Lol idk probably for insurance. Since I’m on my parents insurance (tricare) I always have to give them my dad’s social too. I never really thought that much about it lol

Answer

I always write X's for the first 5 digets and fill in the last 4, I've never been sent paperwork back. I think it's just because if there is someone with the same name or similarity spelt name they have another way to differentiate people in their system. You don't know what happens to the physical piece of paper with your info on it, it's not worth it being stolen from some flimsy file cabinet.

Answer

You don't have to give it on intake paperwork. If there is a reason they need it later (usually for payment plans or some sort of financial reasons or some states that used to require verification of citizenship for charity care/decreased cost) they will tell you they need it and why. I would be more worried about a breach in a system than the clinic stealing your identity. When we intake a new patient we know you name, address, have your info on file, and a copy of an ID. If they were out to steal your identity they wouldn't need you ssn. But with hackers focusing on large medical companies that is the only concern. The practice I ran we didn't ask for ssn unless it was needed specifically to make it easier but honestly you will be fine. The majority of offices are not nig enough or worth someone hacking into so it will just sit as unused info. Not a big deal so try not to stress. Medical offices are normally very careful with patient info as it is their career and has legal consequences if handled poorly.

Answer

I’m not sure exactly why but I have been trying to get my grandmother a vaccine appointment which requires creating online accounts for hospitals and doctors offices. For this, they need to verify identify. So I think it might just be easier for them if they already have done so? I don’t know. Also maybe because of HIPAA and they need to know your exact identity?? Not sure. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. I don’t think they’d do anything bad with it.

Why do doctors ask for SSN?

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