I got new dental insurance, which unfortunately also resulted in needing to get a new dentist covered by the new insurance.

I found a local dentist through the insurance's website, however when I called to make an appointment I was told that my SS# was required to secure the appointment. The receptionist said it was standard practice with all patients, and ensured that they would be paid in the event the insurance didn't cover something.

I've always paid my bills on time and I've never encountered this before. In the doctor's office when they've requested my SS#, I've always told them I'd rather not give it out, and they've always accepted my decision, and moved on.

I certainly understand that the dentist wants to make sure he is paid, but aren't there other ways to collect money if it came to that? I even asked if there were other alternatives to giving out my SS#, but she said that the SS# was absolutely required. She said they wouldn't even accept cash without the SS#.

I passed on making the appointment, and I'm going to search for another dentist that is covered under my insurance, but now I'm afraid that every dentist I call is going to want my SS# for a checkup and cleaning! That isn't what a SS# is for!!

Do you give you SS# out to medical/dental providers?

By Ginny~moderator on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 02:45 pm:

I have in the past, and don't like it. Ask them if they will accept just the last four digits of your SS number. Unfortunately, many medical providers, if not most, use the SS # and date of birth to identify files. Seems they haven't caught up to the rest of us in being concerned about identity theft.

By Happynerdmom on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 04:29 pm:

Some doctors ask for it and some don't. Some just want dh's ss# since he is the insurance carrier. My ds hurt his shoulder a few weeks ago and the ortho doctor and the rehab place both asked for ds's ss#. I gave it, so I don't know how they would have handled it if I refused.

By Tink on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 04:45 pm:

I think some of the medical professions that are more likely to get left with unpaid bills are doing this. I've gone to the same PCP since I became an adult and he's with the same practice I've gone to since birth. When I tore a ligament in my ankle in October, I had to see an ortho and they required my SS# because insurance often doesn't pay for ortho care and they needed to make sure they could receive payment if my insurance didn't pay for my care. Dentistry is another business where bills are often left unpaid so my guess is that this group has started trying to cover their butts, especially with new patients.

By Debbie on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 06:04 pm:

Ditto everyone else. I know the boy's dentist makes me pay upfront for any service if it is even questionable about insurance coverage. They will then give me a refund if it does end up being covered. I don't mind because their dentist is great. When I was talking to the receptionist about it, she did say that they have A LOT of people that don't pay them.

So, if you are uncomfortable about giving out your SSN, then I would just keep checking around for one that doesn't ask for it. It may be hard to find one though.

By Amecmom on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 06:42 pm:

Ditto the others ... Ask them if they will accept a "retainer" (no pun intended, although that would really apply more to an orthodontist ) You pay them cash up front, more than the required amount and then they can refund you when you are done. Or, they can keep a credit card number on file for you.
I can understand them wanting that info, but honestly, most insurers don't even use SS numbers for identification anymore because it exposes you to risk. I would not want my social on file if I can help it.
Many professionals get stiffed on payment and it is sad. My husband, as an attorney, has to keep working on a case even if the retainer has been used and he's not been paid, unless he gets the court to allow him to remove himself as attorney in the matter. It really is not nice ...
Ame

By Amecmom on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 06:44 pm:

Hey - I just had another thought. Is there a way for them to check SS numbers? Could you just give them the number with a few digits scrambled? If they do catch it, you can always just say it was a mistake.
Ame

By Bellajoe on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 06:54 pm:

I know we ask for SS# when they do have insurance. That's how we check the insurance. They use the SS# a lot of times instead of a group #. or some cards do not even have group #'s on them so we have to use their social.

We do make our newer patients pay in full before their exams, etc. We don't know them well enough to trust they will pay afterwards. You just learn who are the good people who always pay, and who are the "whoops, i forgot my credit card at home" (yea, sure you did) people.

To ask for the SS# before you even go in there, is a bit much though. You don't know them. How do they expect you to do that? I bet they wouldn't do it themselves.

By Hol on Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 08:33 pm:

I am the office manager for an endochrinologist (a specialist who treats glandular diseases like diabetes). We only see patients by referral from another physician, usually the patient's primary care physician. Most send us a demographics sheet with name, address, phone number, date of birth, and insurance info. Most don't send the SS#. When the appointment has been made, we send the new patient a packet to fill out and bring to their first appointment. There is a place to write in the SS#. Some patients give it, some prefer not to. Also, one of the sheets is a financial agreement for the patient to sign that states that they will pay us if the insurance company doesn't. Because we accept assignment from most insurance carriers, we cannot charge above and beyond the insurance payment, except for the co-pay. We don't have a terminal for debit or credit cards. The doctor doesn't want the monthly expense. So co-payments (or full payments if the patient is uninsured) have to paid by check or cash. We collect BEFORE the visit, when they check in. We very seldom get "stuck" for payment, and the doctor I work for refuses to charge for missed appointments, and won't send people to collections for non-payment. The only non-payers we get are occassional university students. They leave the school, move to who knows where, and we can't find them. But that only happens about once or twice a year.

I personally would refuse to give my SS# to a new professional's office. They would have to accept some other form of "retainer", or I'd find another provider.

One other thing....I have seen medical offices be very careless with such sensitive information. My DH is retired military and we have Tricare as a secondary insurance for the family. Our military ID cards are our medical cards. I have had office personnel make a photocopy, and if two inadvertantly come out of the machine, just throw it in the wastebasket. I have asked for it, and I take it home to destroy it.

In my office, we shred all paperwork that has a patient's SS# after it is in the computer.