new obamacare feature you need to know about

[ayin jade]

My hubby went to the doctor today. As part of the usual once a year update, along with his insurance card, they needed his email addy. If they did not get it, as it is part of obamacare, they would be penalized by the feds. He gave him his current one but we will likely set up email addies that are solely used for this. One problem the doctor office is encountering is how many older folks do not have any email addy. And the doctor office will be fined hefty amounts for each patient who doesnt give them one.

[The_Patriot21]

Ive never been asked for my email when going to the doctor. Course I havent visited my regular doctor in years, but I did just go into the walk in clinic, and that question wasnt even on the paperwork.

[other one]

mine asked for mine the last time I went into the office, and we have medicare.   My wife has company insurance for two more years.  I don't know if they asked her for hers.    I have an email that I give out for trash mail.

[The_Patriot21]

I dont even know what they hope to accomplish with it other then to send junk email. Emails are a dime a dozen these days.

[Guest LadyC]

that's disturbing. i have always given mine out, but it's never been required. it's more of a convenience so they can email me appointment reminders and so that i can log into their website to get my own medical records and pay the bill and things like that.)

 

what disturbed me even more was when i took my mom for some lab-work, and even though she's got insurance, they required that she provide them with a copy of her debit card. they said that it would remain in their file until after insurance paid it's part, so that they could automatically bill her debit card any balance not covered by insurance... which could be as long as 6 or 8 weeks. and then and ONLY then would they delete her credit card information. i was not happy about this at all, but they refused to provide services if she did not hand it over.

 

but if obamacare is requiring email addresses, it sure makes one wonder what purpose it serves. are the doctor's offices required to relinquish that information to the government? i think i should set up a new email for medical stuff only.

[other one]

I dont even know what they hope to accomplish with it other then to send junk email. Emails are a dime a dozen these days.

My doctor uses it to send me notices of appointments.   I'm bad about being late for some reason or another, and results of tests and such.

I don't even know if the government or insurance company had anything to do with it.

 

The VA has had my email address for years and it is our primary way of contact.    

 

Since your email is a completely unique thing, it can be used for identification as to who you are in their systems.   I personally  don't see it as a big deal.

[LadyKay]

That is the strangest thing I have ever heard. Are you sure about that? Cause I wounder what the gov. wants with email address. I feel that we are losing our freedom a little more as time goes by. I better stop now before i go off on one of my rants.

[The_Patriot21]

my thing is though, I fail to see how giving out a email address is really sacrificing our freedom. thats one thing that really would benefit us-being able to be reminded of things. 

[ayin jade]

my thing is though, I fail to see how giving out a email address is really sacrificing our freedom. thats one thing that really would benefit us-being able to be reminded of things. 

 

But this isnt for the purpose of reminding you to keep your appointment. This was specifically (I know because I asked) for the purpose of obamacare as some means of making sure you are covered. Which makes no sense since how does any email prove you are covered by insurance. The doctor office will not be using it for any of their purposes like appointment reminders. And if the doc office doesnt have one for you, then they get fined. That is a loss of freedom.

[The_Patriot21]

exactly but even then, I dont see it as an invasion of privacy, its an email address. How is that getting into your privacy? I mean we give it to everyone else under the sun, banks, organizations, online forums. . . If your that worried about it create a phony account from a email server based somewhere in china and only access it through a proxy.