SSN use

reb · Jan 1, 2005

A few weeks ago, I thought I heard something on a newscast about a recent law prohibiting insurance companies from using SSNs on their customers' ID cards. On Christmas day my FIL said he had had discussions with his insurance provider and union on the subject and they had changed their policies to conform with that law. I have been unable to find any information on the subject. Does anyone know anything about it?

MikePA · Jan 1, 2005

It's true. Insurance companies, as well as any other company or state/federal agency that used the SSN as an id, have been spending millions to rewrite their systems to support a random id number. I believe this is a result of, but not required by, the HIPAA Privacy legislation. Enough industries were switching away from the SSN because of privacy concerns, not using the SSN has become an industry standard.

reb · Jan 1, 2005

It is about time. I just checked my mail a few minutes ago. It is interesting to note that my health insurer, who refused my request a couple of years ago to not use my SSN, has mailed me a new card with a different number.

txdon · Jan 1, 2005

Also.. the SSN number is no longer in my college Student's ID number.

Junkman · Jan 2, 2005

Just because they no longer use it, they will still request it so they will have access to your financial credit rating. They use this rating in figuring your premiums. If you have a poor credit score, your insurance will cost you more. They figure that people with poor credit ratings are a bigger insurance risk. This is just one of the many details that goes into determining insurance rates. Sad but true... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

gws · Jan 2, 2005

The company I work for used part of your SSn as a uniq ID. They are switching to a new non ssn based ID.

All I have to say is its about time!!!!. I was able to get my SSN off my DL a number of years ago, Now if I can get it off my heath cards I would have no referance to my ssn anywhere in my wallet.

reb · Jan 2, 2005

( Just because they no longer use it, they will still request it so they will have access to your financial credit rating. They use this rating in figuring your premiums. )
I don't understand that. My auto insurance agent said the company was likely to ask for my SSN. I told him if they thought they needed it to determine what kind of insurance risk I was after over 35+ years with their insurance, I would go to another company.

Junkman · Jan 3, 2005

You might be looking for a long time if your company drops you because you refuse to supply the information that they request. Actually it might not matter, because all the states are now requiring your social security number when you renew your license. I believe that it is part of the Homeland Security Act. When your insurance company checks your driving record, they might be able to obtain it from the state records. State Motor Vehicle Departments often share information with insurance companies that they wouldn't share with the public because of the interaction between the state and the insurance companies. In many states, if you cancel or allow your insurance to lapse and don't turn in the registration plates the insurance company sends notification to the state. In CT, if you don't turn the plates in before the insurance lapses, the state will hit you with a $200 fine. It is one of those things that you either pay or you don't get to register a car until you do.
Another thing that MA & CT both do, if you are a passenger in a car that is stopped for a motor vehicle violation, they might run the drivers license number of all passengers and if they don't have a drivers license, then they ask for your social security number and run that. I don't know what happens when people refuse to give the information. Usually it is the younger people that don't look "family oriented" that have the problem. After 9/11 a lot of things have changed and many people are not aware of the changes until they or someone they know has had an encounter with a police officer that is following every directive to the nth degree.

LBrown59 · Jan 17, 2005

( Just because they no longer use it, they will still request it so they will have access to your financial credit rating. They use this rating in figuring your premiums. If you have a poor credit score, your insurance will cost you more. They figure that people with poor credit ratings are a bigger insurance risk. This is just one of the many details that goes into determining insurance rates. Sad but true... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

They figure that people with poor credit ratings are a bigger insurance risk.
==============
I don't think they believe that at all and know better.
Being as money hungry or worse then the banks they wanted in on the credit scoring fleece the bankers were/are cashing in on.

There is no independent study indicating that poor credit and or scores increases insurance claims.

MikePA · Jan 17, 2005

Being as money hungry or worse then the banks they wanted in on the credit scoring fleece the bankers were/are cashing in on. There is no independent study indicating that poor credit and or scores increases insurance claims. 
Do you have any proof of this, or is this just your opinion?