Community Chat

[Linmo]

Let's keep in mind that OP received second hand info from her daughter.  It's entirely possible that only the last 4 of her SSN was requested which wouldn't be a problem.

[lmt]

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

But Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, the Wright Center CEO, says that's because she does not want to put a shot in the arm of someone who has never been a patient of the center before without knowing their medical history, especially after a year where so many people have skipped their regular doctors' appointments due to COVID-19.

"With our hypervigilance, we wanted not only to protect every patient when they came in to get the vaccine, but to really appreciate their story, where they were after the long pandemic, knowing that many people did not seek primary health services for the prior nine months, or might have not had really significant and serious chronic medical issues addressed."

@lmt 

Soooo, charging people $400.00 means they are new patients?  The explanation is for some who won't question this.  Not for me.  LOL. What a load!  I knew some were going to try to make money off of this.  I knew it.  It's a shame. Drugstores are administering the vaccine, so are people who go to CVS for their shots considered patients of Walgreens or your neighborhood Pharmacy?

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@gertrudecloset   It sounds like the above mentioned clinic is walking a fine line with their wording of service vs visit.

[pitdakota]

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

@pitdakotaI understand.  But they should assign other numbers then.  This is my opinion.  I don't think they need to have your SS# in order to contact you.  This is unncessary.

Recordkeeping too.  Since when does your SS# identify you?.  Actually, your SS# is not a valid form of identification when applying for a lot of things.

Thanks for your explanation but I won't be giving them mine.

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@gertrudecloset  It is not a requirement to have the SS# across the board.  If someone is already established, let's say like they have an account in a MyChart, they already know the status.  If someone already has an account let's say through Walgreen's for prescriptions, they already know all about you, so they may not ask for the number. 

  But when they are requesting the last 4 digits of a SSN, that is one way they are trying to keep track of how many US citizens are receiving the vaccine and the other categories that are eligible for vaccination.  There are those that have green cards, international study students, etc. that are eligible and they have a different code they enter when they are asked.  It is one way they are trying to verify the vaccine is going where it is supposed to go.  

[gertrudecloset]

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@Linmo wrote:

Let's keep in mind that OP received second hand info from her daughter.  It's entirely possible that only the last 4 of her SSN was requested which wouldn't be a problem.

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It's very possible @Linmo.  The doesn't change the fact that some posters right here have said they are being asked for the SSN.  There is nothing being done uniformly as the states/localities are doing what they want with the resources they have (it appears).

[pitdakota]

I would definitely have a problem with any health care provider charging to be seen as a patient in order to receive a covid-19 vaccination.  That is not the way it is supposed to work.  

The questions that are asked pre vaccination are enough to screen for the vaccine.  

[gertrudecloset]

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@pitdakota wrote:

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

@pitdakotaI understand.  But they should assign other numbers then.  This is my opinion.  I don't think they need to have your SS# in order to contact you.  This is unncessary.

Recordkeeping too.  Since when does your SS# identify you?.  Actually, your SS# is not a valid form of identification when applying for a lot of things.

Thanks for your explanation but I won't be giving them mine.

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@gertrudecloset  It is not a requirement to have the SS# across the board.  If someone is already established, let's say like they have an account in a MyChart, they already know the status.  If someone already has an account let's say through Walgreen's for prescriptions, they already know all about you, so they may not ask for the number. 

  But when they are requesting the last 4 digits of a SSN, that is one way they are trying to keep track of how many US citizens are receiving the vaccine and the other categories that are eligible for vaccination.  There are those that have green cards, international study students, etc. that are eligible and they have a different code they enter when they are asked.  It is one way they are trying to verify the vaccine is going where it is supposed to go.  

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@pitdakota, I'm trying to understand this.  The rationale makes no sense for me.  I may not get my vaccine where I get my regular care.

Walgreen's would not have my social security #.  My doctor's office doesn't have my social security #.  Only the insurance company would have my social security #.  My doctor can obtain my social security # from my insurance company.

Even would be employers have stopped requesting this information until you are actually hired.  No one will needlessly get my social security #.

[pitdakota]

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

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@pitdakota wrote:

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@gertrudecloset wrote:

@pitdakotaI understand.  But they should assign other numbers then.  This is my opinion.  I don't think they need to have your SS# in order to contact you.  This is unncessary.

Recordkeeping too.  Since when does your SS# identify you?.  Actually, your SS# is not a valid form of identification when applying for a lot of things.

Thanks for your explanation but I won't be giving them mine.

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________________________________________________________---

@gertrudecloset  It is not a requirement to have the SS# across the board.  If someone is already established, let's say like they have an account in a MyChart, they already know the status.  If someone already has an account let's say through Walgreen's for prescriptions, they already know all about you, so they may not ask for the number. 

  But when they are requesting the last 4 digits of a SSN, that is one way they are trying to keep track of how many US citizens are receiving the vaccine and the other categories that are eligible for vaccination.  There are those that have green cards, international study students, etc. that are eligible and they have a different code they enter when they are asked.  It is one way they are trying to verify the vaccine is going where it is supposed to go.  

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@pitdakota, I'm trying to understand this.  The rationale makes no sense for me.  I may not get my vaccine where I get my regular care.

Walgreen's would not have my social security #.  My doctor's office doesn't have my social security #.  Only the insurance company would have my social security #.  My doctor can obtain my social security # from my insurance company.

Even would be employers have stopped requesting this information until you are actually hired.  No one will needlessly get my social security #.

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@gertrudecloset,Walgreen's doesn't need your ssn if you already have an account with them for prescriptions.  They have access to your health insurance information and can tell your status by the health insurance information on file.

[DiAnne]

There were no uniform Federal Gov. guidelines so every state is doing it differently and you are getting info from people in different states which why they differ.  

[sann]

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@Carmie wrote:

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@sann wrote:

Well if its free then why did they want to see my insurance cards when I had my first vaccine?

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The vaccine is free, but if you have insurance, they will send the administrive fee for reimbursement.

If you have no insurance, they cannot charge you for the administrive fee upfront or after the fact.  The costs are supposed to be picked up by the money allowed in the stimulus package which will fund this.

Sometimes the people administering the shot are volunteers and sometimes they are paid nurses, etc.

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Look I don't have a problem with whatever fees or cost involved that's why I have insurance !!!!!

[Stray]

We had to submit our SS#. I have no issue as the websites are secure. The SS# is the only unique identifier. The insurance companies and Medicare pay for the vaccine. If you don’t want to submit your Ss# you can search for a place that doesn’t require it.