It’s not a law but the reasoning behind it is simple. Some people simply do not pay their bills, and hospitals and doctors often have little recourse if they can't contact you. As the one universal identifier of all Americans, Social Security numbers give health care providers the last-ditch means to collect on medical debt.
According to a report from the American Hospital Association, over $40 billion dollars in hospital bills are unpaid each year. This doesn't include the unpaid bills to private practice physicians or other forms of non-hospital-based care. It is an enormous problem that only serves to drive up healthcare costs nationwide.
They may refuse you treatment.
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