The working spouse, probably through his company, is the subscriber on your medical insurance policy. He has access to your personal medical information after separation and divorce IF you are still covered under his policy.
Why? The answer is easy. He receives the explanation of benefits along with any reimbursement that YOU should have received. He knows which doctors you went to see and why. In addition, since he knows all of your pertinent personal information, he can easily obtain your prescription record from your pharmacy.
Here is how easy it is. You go into your pharmacy with a prescription for high blood pressure. (Who wouldn’t have high blood pressure with all of the stress?) They check your insurance coverage. You pay the co-pay and off you go. Your ex or soon to be ex receives the explanation of benefits and therefore knows everything about your health issues. In addition, if he wants more specific information about you, all that he has to do is, call the pharmacy and give them a change of address for you. He offers your social security number, your birthday, the subscriber number, etc. Conveniently, he states your new address as his address. Sometime later, he calls the pharmacy and asks for a printout of your records to be mailed to the address on file. Bingo! He has all of the information that he wants.
He can use the information in what ever way that he so desires. (This is not legal and it certainly isn’t fair but the damage is done. Your health issues are now public knowledge.)
How do you avoid this problem?
Immediately, select a new pin for your medical records. (Along with every other record and don’t pick anything that he could possibly guess!) Because doctors and pharmacies don’t want to violate HIPAA, they are usually very agreeable.
Tell them to highlight, in someway at the TOP of your record,DO NOT RELEASE ANY INFORMATION WITHOUT THIS PIN!!! DIVORCE CASE. CHECK ID.
