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Kentucky Marketplace: ‘WARNING: No Explicit or Implicit Expectation of Privacy’ [Obamacare Follies]
Washington Free Beacon ^ | 10/4/2013 | Elizabeth Harrington

Posted on 10/05/2013 4:03:14 AM PDT by markomalley

The Kentucky Obamacare marketplace has no “expectation of privacy,” warning its prospective customers that their information can be monitored and shared with government bureaucrats.

When clicking “let’s get started” on the state-run health insurance marketplace “kynect,” the user is quickly prompted to a “WARNING NOTICE.”

“This is a government computer system and is the property of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” it states. “It is for authorized use only regardless of time of day, location or method of access. “

“Users (authorized or unauthorized) have no explicit or implicit expectation of privacy,” the disclaimer reads. “Any or all uses of this system and all files on the system may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized state government and law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.”

Such information includes Social Security numbers. When calling kynect to enroll in the marketplace a person is told to have their Social Security card, immigration status, pay stubs, alimony payments, student loan information, and current health insurance information at the ready.

The kynect disclaimer says users information can be shared at the will of state government agencies.

“By using this system,” the warning states, “the user consents to such at the discretion of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

“Unauthorized or improper use of this system may result in administrative disciplinary action and/or civil and criminal penalties,” it says. “The unauthorized disclosure of Data containing privacy or health data may result in criminal penalties under Federal authority.”

A spokesperson for kynect called the disclaimer “problematic,” and said it was a mistake.

“The disclaimer is a federal requirement intended to let all who come on the website know this is a governmental entity and sensitive information is contained within,” said Gwenda Bond, assistant communications director for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told the Washington Free Beacon.

“While the language sounds severe, it actually is a warning to those who might try to inappropriately use the website or any personal information contained within,” she said. “We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we are working to modify the language so the message is more clear.”

Bond said kynect will update its website to read: “This website is the property of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange. This is to notify you that you are only authorized to use this site, or any information accessed through this site, for its intended purpose of assisting individuals, employers or employees in the selection or purchase of health plans or other benefits.”

“Unauthorized access or disclosure of personal and confidential information may be punishable by fines under state and federal law. Unauthorized access to this website or access in excess of your authorization may also be criminally punishable. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange follow applicable federal and state guidelines to protect information from misuse or unauthorized access.”

Problems with the health insurance exchanges since their launch on Tuesday have been widespread, with reports of long wait times, glitches, and security concerns, with the disclosure of over 2,000 Social Security numbers in Minnesota.

The federal government is interested in sharing social and behavioral health data between agencies, the Free Beacon previously reported.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: aca; obama; obamacare; privacy

1 posted on 10/05/2013 4:03:14 AM PDT by markomalley
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To: markomalley

And by “inappropriately use the website” they mean actually trying to use it.


2 posted on 10/05/2013 4:10:38 AM PDT by Darksheare (Try my coffee, first one's free..... Even robots will kill for it!)
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To: markomalley

So you are forced to use a system that takes your private information and tough excrement for you if it misuses it, gives it to a criminal, distorts it or uses it improperly.


3 posted on 10/05/2013 4:30:02 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible traitors. Complicit in the destruction of our country.)
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To: markomalley

I think the first disclaimer was completely accurate!


4 posted on 10/05/2013 4:33:29 AM PDT by samsmom
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To: markomalley

the Kentucky website is then blatantly illegal and violates HIPPAA. Shut it down.


5 posted on 10/05/2013 4:36:00 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: markomalley

No wonder Big Pharma was all for ObamaCare and helped birth this monstrosity. ObamaCare will supply these companies with the list of people with various ailments so they can market their drugs directly to those unfortunate souls. The more money the drug companies make, the more taxes the government gets, a classic example of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.”


6 posted on 10/05/2013 4:43:01 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: markomalley

Paid a visit to my primary care doc yesterday. Check-in included a form to sign indicating that a “privacy rights” disclosure was available, should I want to take a look at it. I asked for it and read it.

Bottom line, as flowered up as they tried to make it sound, HIPAA no longer exists. There is no such thing as medical privacy anymore.

Between the information the doctor’s office can release “without your permission” and the leaky-as-a-sieve Obamacare system...we’re going to be flayed alive.


7 posted on 10/05/2013 6:09:16 AM PDT by moovova
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To: markomalley

ObamaCare is a massive 4th Amendment violation. Wish someone would bring a case against it.


8 posted on 10/05/2013 6:12:06 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Making good people helpless doesn't make bad people harmless.)
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To: moovova

That’s really interesting.

One of the things I disliked about visiting Drs was having to fill out the HIPPA form when everybody knew there were several already on file.

That raises the question...... is the info gathered prior to Tuesday secure and that gathered since not? It would seem that gathered prior must be maintained securely because there can not be a law retroactively changing the rules under which it was collected.


9 posted on 10/05/2013 6:21:18 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Travon... Felony assault and battery hate crime)
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To: markomalley

10 posted on 10/05/2013 6:34:30 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: markomalley

They might as well come clean and say that “all your private info are belong to the Democrat Party.”


11 posted on 10/05/2013 6:50:34 AM PDT by randita
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To: markomalley

They might as well come clean and say that “all your private info are belong to the Democrat Party.”


12 posted on 10/05/2013 6:50:34 AM PDT by randita
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To: randita

If they really and truly want to be more clear, they should just tell the truth.......

WARNING! OBAMACARE is a RISKY government insurance ponzi SCHEME!


13 posted on 10/05/2013 7:10:38 AM PDT by Heart of Georgia
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To: bert

“That raises the question...... is the info gathered prior to Tuesday secure and that gathered since not?”

I would guess No. Unfortunately, we’ve discovered that “law” doesn’t apply when it comes to Obamacare.


14 posted on 10/05/2013 7:22:13 AM PDT by moovova
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