Showing posts with label Privacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Privacy. Show all posts

Medical Privacy Issues - The Internet, Employers, Insurance Companies Are Not Your Friend

Latest update: August 31, 2022. Page URL indicates original publication date; meanwhile, times change and the updates continue.

Beware Medical Discrimination by Employers and Insurance Companies


I'm retired and don't care, but younger people should very much care; especially don't post anything medical on social media or anywhere else online. Potential employers routinely check social media accounts these days.

Potential employers will discriminate against you and not hire anyone they suspect will increase their medical insurance rates. This practice is supposed to be illegal in many states, but quite bluntly that doesn't stop them. They simply claim there was some other factor that caused them to not hire you. It's just a fact of life. So if you have any medical issues, keep them to yourself. Don't even tell your real-world friends. If you have to tell, then make it only the immediate family and those you trust; and remind them about the posting-on-line caveat.

And certainly protect your kids in this regard. Definitely don't mention any of their long-term medical problems online.

HIPAA Medical Privacy Rule

See HHS.gov/... for expanded information. The associated News Room access also has relevant information, particularly as to privacy relating to COVID-19 vaccinations. 

And for folks of all ages, don't mention online that you are going to the doctor, hospital, or anywhere else on a particular day. Doing so announces to the world that your home may be vacant for burglars to enter. The internet is not always your friend.

And while we are at it...Never make a doctor's appointment for a Monday or a Friday. Both the doctor's office and the medical transportation will be total chaos; personal experience talking here.

Another note... Pharmacists say don't keep any prescription medications in the bathroom medicine cabinet. I'm guessing this has to do with both heat and humidity issues; especially heat destroys the active ingredients. Same probably applies to OTC medications and vitamin pills. Makes me think that having prescription medicine or anything else that is heat-sensitive mailed to you during the summer months may also not be a good idea.

Update. Regarding pandemics, it is a pretty good bet that medical privacy goes out the window during those. If you do happen to be exposed to COVID-19, you definitely do not want to advertise that fact. It is well-known that the disease can have future and very long-term effects. Employers and medical insurance companies won't hesitate to discriminate against you as a result.

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