<p>I did not sign up my son nor myself nor did he or I and my husband waive anything. I believe the records are viewable either because that is how BC/BS does it or because my husband is the primary and it is how his employer set it up.</p>
<p>How it works is on that screen is a tab that lets you select which insured person you want to see the history of. All of our records are accessible through one password and ID–my husband’s.</p>
<p>HIPPA laws relate to viewing actual records of treatment or names of medications dispensed. The doctor’s office must provide them and have them signed. We can only view the name of the provider and dates of service, not actual coding for diagnosis.</p>
<p>Lakemom–if your over 18 year old child did not want that information available to you, he very much could get it taken OFF your record. Call your insurance company and ask. They will tell you the same thing.</p>
Then you must be sure to make any an all payments due after the insurance has paid their portion. From personal experience, I vet each and every bill which comes across my desk and have found a significant number of errors both in the types of procedures billed and the final accounting so that I simply never would pay an insurance bill if I could not verify it’s validity. And, since you are over 18 - when you sign the forms in the Dr.'s office, one of them will include and acceptance of financial responsibility…just be sure you understand this.</p>
<p>I am still certain that final payment for any service received on a policy will eventually arrive at the feet of the policy holder if there is a problem. If the OP follows the route of having all info sent directly to her and if there is a issue with payment…the parents could wind up with a rather nasty note from the insurance or a collection agency.</p>
<p>I agree that Planned Parenthood is a good option. Another idea, though – an ObGyn exam is very frequently part of a physical. A birth control discussion could be as well. I went to my primary care physician to discuss menstrual cramps and got prescribed birth control. So you don’t necessarily need to see an ObGyn. If birth control was discussed as part of a physical, all your parents would know is that you had the physical (which should be fine for you to talk to them about) – they would not get an itemized copy of everything you discussed. And I think many brands of birth control can actually be pretty cheap out of pocket at some stores (Wal-Mart?) so it could be easy to avoid that being on your insurance.</p>
<p>dietz199–probably true unless the OP signs as the responsible party for the bill, then that also will be sent to her–and I would expect that she would also pay that bill :D. It isn’t the insurance company that decides who pays the bill, it’s whom ever signed as the responsible party at whatever clinic, hospital, etc. that is “responsible” for that payment.</p>
<p>If the parents of a college woman expect her to be sexually abstinent AND the woman is fearful of the consequences of their discovery of her sexual activity, there is no reason this woman should assume the risk of discovery associated with providing the family insurance information to any healthcare provider.</p>
<p>I realize good intentions are at the heart of suggestions like, go to an OB/GYN for “cramps” or use a GP. But when the parent receives the EOB, they will ask out of both concern and fiscal tracking to be sure there’s no billing error. This will force this young woman to lie to her parents on top of refusing to respect and obey her parents’ abstinence expectation and engaging in sex without the benefit of marriage. I don’t think that’s really what we want OP to go through! She’s already got plenty on her emotional plate. </p>
<p>OP, best wishes. I hope you’ve already found a nearby Planned Parenthood or Title X family planning clinic that will provide the information and resources you need to make your own informed and mature decisions.</p>
<p>SteveMA: You are correct, the responsible party for all payment is the one that signs the financial form at the Dr. office. This brings up a rather funny catch 22 (not in the case of the OP who is over 18). If you are under 18 ( and not emancipated )you can not legally sign a contract. I had this surreal discussion with the office manager at my OB/GYNs. I tried to make and appointment for my - then 15 year old DD - and was told for privacy reasons I was not allowed to make such an appointment. So I asked what happened when DD made the appointment and subsequently showed her insurance ID card and was asked to sign a financial responsibility form - which would be an invalid contract due to her age. I was told I was the responsible party. But, then I would have to know about the visit…the manager stated ‘public clinics are for people like you’. I’d been with the office for many years, loved the Dr. but we said our goodbyes that day. I understand the the reasons for the HIPAA regs (which start when a young woman is 12!), but the actual implementation is anything but clear cut and private when a parent is the primary policy holder. It will only get more convoluted now that our offspring qualify as ‘kids’ for health insurance purposes until the age of 26.</p>
<p>In these days of identity theft it is simply irresponsible to pay a bill which if one has not verified the validity and correctness of the statement. But then again, I look at each line item on our monthly credit card statement. Both our kids have a copy of the card. If I do not recognize a charge, DH, DS or DD must verify it - or off to dispute it goes. I’d do the same for any healthcare charges.</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers. I think I will just save up work-study money and pay. After all, if I take decisions that I know my parents wouldn’t support, it’s only fair that I be the one to pay for them. Wow, this discussion is pretty scary though. I do now understand how so many young people end up putting themselves in unsafe situation. There doesn’t seem to be as many non-humiliating and discreet ways to get effective contraception or medical check-ups as one would think.</p>
<p>What’s humiliating about this? I don’t see it. As far as the discreet part, it’s because of your parent’s expectations that you need to be discreet. There are many parents who want their adult children to be safe and protected should they, again being adults, decide to become sexually active. I would think there are many students both female and male who openly discuss this among themselves. Your campus clinic should be discreet about it too, they are bound by the same privacy rules as any medical provider.</p>
<p>Arrow: what ever the difficulties or potential humiliation involved in taking care of your needs - it would be far surpassed by not addressing them. I congratulate your forethought and thoughtfulness. PPH and most university clinics are good and confidential sources of reproductive health care. Many private Dr.s will work with you if you are uninsured - or unable to access insured care. In spite of the availability, DD has numerous stories of seemingly educated, intelligent and economically unchallenged young people who simply do not take care of themselves - and just hope for the best.</p>
<p>Your acknowledgement and acceptance of responsibility for choices your parents might not support is to be applauded. The fact that you came here to look for advice instead of ignoring the issue says volumes about your maturity, self respect and an awareness of how the real world works.</p>
<p>In case no one mentioned it when you see a doctor without using insurance, the doctor will charge you his going rate which will be higher than the rate paid by insurance. Ask before you go. Recently, I went to a doctor and was billed $200 but the doctor accepted the insurance $50 copay and $90 from the insurance company as full payment. Presciptions work the same way. One of my daughter’s medicines is $800 without insurance and $30 with.</p>
<p>In your case, I would use the school’s clinic. Just go when no one is there such as early Saturday morning. For general information about BC, there are plenty of books which discuss the pro and cons of each method. You will get way more in depth information than a 15 minute doctor’s visit. If you have any medical issue then see the doctor.</p>
<p>If your parents feel that strongly about this issue then I suspect that they would feel the same way if you lie about why you are seeing the doctor. I would either 1) Be honest, 2)say that you needed medical advice on a personal issue (properly not a realistic option) or 3) pay for it yourself.</p>