Dentist asks for SSN and driver's license number. Why?

[garweft]

lol, Fenn!

Well, he already has my insurance info and I'd be happy to pay the deductible before I leave the office if he would prefer, but I'm still not giving up that info. My mechanic performs work on my car before getting paid without a credit check... then again, the mechanic could probably hold my car until I pay up, the dentist not so much with my teeth.

Depends on what dentist you go to.....

 

[electric head]

I thought of asking, but then I figured that if I asked that I'd get a hassle so I let it be.

The dentist might label you a troublesome patient in your chart.........
and cause you unnecessary pain

 

[rabidhamster]

All I know is if I walk into a dentist and he doesnt have my social or my money when I walk out the door, he's not going to be happy.



Signed

Every musician ever.

 

[LongBeach]

Lot's of deadbeats get work done, then walk out.What can they do? Physically keep you there? It makes sense, unfortunately, in this day and age.

Where the hell is that dentist office
You try that in LB and the office girl
will take your ass down! in a heartbeat!

Rich, I leave those blank as well.
here's my insurance card, etc. etc. but my SS #
and drivers license # have nothing to do with this.
Hell, for 4 extractions (wisdom, all same day), I had to give them my credit card #
prior to having them pulled. (Ins. don't cover everything)

 

[Meatwad]

I says, "License? Hell, I ain't even supposed to be in this country."

Then they got all mad.

 

[TeaForTwo]

I says, "License? Hell, I ain't even supposed to be in this country."

Then they got all mad.

Hmmm, so, you don't tell them the tooth?
"You want the tooth? You can't handle the tooth."
.

 

[VictorB]

Hungry Hungry HIPAA!

 

[LongBeach]

Fear the toof!

 

[TeaForTwo]

Dentists can be brutal in finding out personal info,

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzw1_2b-I7A[/ame]


.

 

[kevinpaul]

Never ever give to any one but the government. The government already has it, they made it up. So just say no.

 

[X–Ray]

I'm just going to leave it alone; if he calls and asks for that info, I'll questions him as to why but, in the mean time, it's one less database where that data is stored.

 

[Meatwad]

 

[kevinpaul]

A dentists records are often used to identify a body. A new tracking tool?

 

[sixstrings]

If you are that worried about it just write down some bogus numbers and leave it up to them to tell you it is incorrect.

 

[X–Ray]

This thread seems to be getting long in the tooth

 

[Rich]

If you are that worried about it just write down some bogus numbers and leave it up to them to tell you it is incorrect.

Nah. Maybe this is more of a pain in the ass than it's worth but, for me, it's the principle. That information is created for specific purposes, not just because it's convenient for other parties to use it and, considering all the damage that can be done with it, I give it out very sparingly. If they need a system for tracking dental records, HIPPA or whatever else, let somebody pony up to come up with that system and identifying code. I'm not putting my SSN on the line for some dentist or government dental records (which are probably just another data aggregation point for who-knows-what purpose).

 

[sixstrings]

Nah. Maybe this is more of a pain in the ass than it's worth but, for me, it's the principle.

That is my point. Many dentists are self owned businesses and when they started, or hired a new billing or office manager, some lady probably proposed a new patient form to the dentist that was the most complete form they can find on the internet or from a past job.

There is no database that a local dentist can access to verify this information.

It is foolish for anyone to give it to them. Unfortunately, many people see a dentist as someone they can trust however the $12 per hour part time office admin with a felon husband shouldn't have access to your SSN while everyone is out to lunch.

 

[CHUNKYNECK]

Maybe because it's less confronting than asking for your next of kin?

 

[DagerOne]

Many insurance companies require a SSN to verify benefits. Having that dental insurance card means nothing unless the responsible party's SSN is also on the prequalification form.

If you don't wish to supply your SSN, you don't have to...but you will be required to pay the full amount (not the co-pay, not the plan-agreed-upon reduced amount...the FULL fee as if you had no insurance) up front and file the insurance yourself to be reimbursed. That often takes weeks. Whether you're aware of it or not, the vast majority of dental and medical offices are extending you credit when they "accept your insurance."

 

[rabidhamster]

Anybody who asks for my social that IMO doesn't need it (fvck you Comcast) get's told "I don't have one, I'm not a US citizen." Trying to figure out what to do from there melts their little data entry brains half the time.

Good on you. Comcast gave me a discount for providing my SSN, but that's the only benefit I've found. No idea why. They can already check your credit as much as they care about without your SSN anyway.


Years ago I worked in a phone job where we were required to collect SSNs because of some dumb regulation, but most people thought it was pointless.
I loved it when people said they didn't have a SSN or weren't citizens because I could disconnect the call. Even if they told me afterwards they really did have one and they were lying, I could, and therefore would, disconnect the call after explaining falsification of information is a crime.
I would actually be rewarded for doing that because my raises were entirely based on call time. Being helpful only hurt my paycheck.

---------

A good tip for those worried about having their personal info stolen over the phone:

Never be anything but courteous to people you talk to at a call center.
If you find yourself losing your temper, you'd better get a manager that speaks English natively on the phone instead of yelling at anyone else - or your info will probably get written down and dropped in the hallway. Less than 1/10 of these people make it more than a year in their positions, so they aren't worried at all about getting fired.

Sucks, but its a true story. Even some of the sweetest little old ladies you'd ever think you'd meet will do that kinda thing. Regular people that wouldn't usually dream of actually "STEALING" anything from anyone. They're gonna let you have it the only way they can, and if it hurts the company they work for too then even better.

When I was a manager at one call center, I'd pick up an average of half a wastebasket full of customers personal info throughout the shift. On the floor, in the cubicles, in the bathrooms, left in the smoking areas...and that's just the stuff that didn't walk out the building. You can't fire everybody...