[784caroline]

Just having moved to TV we are in the process of finding new Drs and we have insurance under Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO. We just went to a Dermatologist that required upon "new patient" sign in, both my wife and my (subscriber) SSN before we could see the Dr..even though this Dr is on the BC/BS PPO preferred list. If we did not give the number, he would not see us or we would have to pay the entire office vist up front (not just the co-pay). The Dr claims he cannot get paid from the insurance company unless he has the patient and subscribers SSN. I called BC and they said we are not required to give a "Preferred Provider" our SSN for treatment and he cannot require full payment....in fact their is not a space on the providers calim form to insert the patients or subscribers SSN.

BUT what are you to do when you waited for weeks for the new appointment and then this happens...PLUS this Dr was pretty good and we would like to maintain a relationship with him. The Dr calims if their is a problem with the claim the insurance company wants to verify who the patient /subscriber is and the only way to quickly resolve the problem is through the use of a SSN.

I protested by ended up giving the numbers! Any advice? Even if I file a formal complaint with BC, the Dr now has our numbers in his system but it may help future patients but I doubt it. Worse senario is that the Dr will pull out of the BC Preferred Provider plan for my insurance then I will be paying alot more!