[NautiNurse]

Don’t give your SS# to health care providers. If the office staff balks, tell them to make up a number for their records.

[toothfairy86]

I work at a dental office. Most insurance companies still require a Social Security number in order to process claims. If the person refuses to supply a SS#, we tell them to file their own claims. When we tell them that, they usually supply the SS#.

[Vigilanteman]

This is a good solution but it is like locking the doors after the horses broke out of the barn. I refused to give our SSN in the beginning. It was testy. They said they needed it for insurance purposes. I told them they had an insurance card and they could use that number for insurance purposes.

Finally, they agreed.

Cases like this are exactly why every Tom, Dick and Harry operation should not be using SSN's for identification purposes.