How to Keep Health Records Private When Making an Insurance Claim

Are you wondering how to keep health records private when you make an insurance claim? You may worry that an insurer, a potential employer or other organizations may obtain your personal health information. There are some ways to protect the privacy of your health records.

Instructions

• 1

  Know your rights. Privacy rights, especially for health records and insurance claims, can seem complicated. The federal government keeps a simple explanation of your rights and how to protect them at hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa. Many states have also passed privacy laws that protect health records involved in insurance claims. Georgetown University maintains a state-by-state list of these laws. Visit the website at georgetown.edu/privacy/records.html.

• 2

  Share your concerns. If you want to know how your insurance company, healthcare provider or hospital handles your records, ask. You can inquire if access is limited to certain staff members. You can ask if staff members receive privacy training. You might want to find out if the system used to store your records has been certified for security. Not satisfied with the answers? You can request changes to increase privacy, or choose another provider. If you believe the privacy of your records has been violated, you also have the right to file a complaint. See Step 6 below.

• 3

  Check the information in your health records. You have the right to review the records kept by your doctor and hospital. Make sure the information is correct. If you find an error, request that the record be changed. This helps ensures your medical records are accurate and may prevent incorrect information from being passed to insurers or other organizations. You can also request a report on any other organizations or individuals who obtained access to your health records.

• 4

  Review information compiled about you for insurance purposes. Many people do not realize that insurance companies share health-related information through the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). In addition, two organizations--IntelliScript and MedPoint--inform insurers about individual's prescription drug histories. Once a year, you can request copies of any reports these organizations keep on you. To learn more, visit the Federal Trade Commission website, ftc.gov.
  Again, if you find errors in these reports, you have the right to request corrections.

• 5

  Ask for control of your personal data. You can request that a hospital or health provider not share some of the information in your personal health record. Note that the provider may decide whether to agree to this request.

• 6

  File a complaint. If you feel that your personal health information has been misused, you can file a complaint with your insurance company, hospital or doctor. In addition, you can file a complaint with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Learn more online at hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html.