How might an insurance company violate my privacy?
The reports which your therapist submits to the insurance company may be read by clerical workers, other office staff, and clinical reviewers. You have only limited control over who sees these records, how many people see them, how they are handled, or how securely they are stored. In short, once your records are in the hands of your insurance company, they may become part of a paper trail that is beyond your control.
Once your records are sent to the insurance company, they may become part of a permanent data bank. Federal legislation regulating use of your personal information once it gets to the insurance company has only recently taken effect (in 2003), and it is still unclear as to whether it provides adequate protection. Furthermore, recent proposals requiring that all people have a universal medical identification number would facilitate the exchange of all medical information. The legal exchange of confidential information may affect your future employment or acceptance for health, life or disability insurance.
What can I do to see my medical records?
If you do elect to use insurance coverage for your therapy, you should ask to see whatever reports your therapist submits about you to your insurance company.
Additionally, you can periodically contact the following national data bank to see what information is on file for you (but be advised there is a small cost involved):
The Medical Information Bureau (in Massachusetts), at 781-329-4500 or www.mib.com.