Obamacare: Hospitals to start monitoring credit card purchases?
Before Obamacare was passed one of the questions many of us had who oppose the idea that the government can force a person to buy a product (and still oppose this idea) was where does this idea stop? Could the government eventually tell you what to eat, what you cannot eat, and force you to join a gym? Of course, this was laughed off by supporters of the healthcare reform law as tinfoil hat material.
Now it appears as if this scenario might be getting one step closer to reality. According to this story hospitals in North and South Carolina are beginning to compile profiles on patients by using their credit card information to identify high risk people.
You may soon get a call from your doctor if you’ve let your gym membership lapse, made a habit of picking up candy bars at the check-out counter or begin shopping at plus-sized stores.
That’s because some hospitals are starting to use detailed consumer data to create profiles on current and potential patients to identify those most likely to get sick, so the hospitals can intervene before they do.
Information compiled by data brokers from public records and credit card transactions can reveal where a person shops, the food they buy, and whether they smoke. The largest hospital chain in the Carolinas is plugging data for 2 million people into algorithms designed to identify high-risk patients
Of course this is being done for our own good so I suppose we are supposed to accept this but I have one question; how in hell are these hospitals gaining access to people’s personal financial records without their permission?
The government, in my opinion, must be involved and you may remember the Federal government is creating a huge database consisting of the financial data of millions of Americans. Isn’t that convenient?
Is this still tinfoil hat material or is Big Brother watching?
America's Watchtower 
Reblogged this on BLOGGING BAD w/Gunny G ~ "WE THE CLINGERS".
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Thank you.
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I’ve already been getting phone calls from my insurer this year, leaving me messages stating “we have important information about your health, and ways to change habits” etc etc. Thank god I work nights and sleep days… all they get is voice mail… I refuse to speak with these idiots. I have a doctor who knows me and my history, that’s the only person that needs to know anything about my health or advise me how to take care of my health.. that’s what he’s for….. so far, no questions about guns.. until then, I’m keeping him…
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So it is already happening, talk about intrusive! I hadn’t even thought of the gun aspect of this but, yeah, it is only a matter of time before this is part of the program as well. It might be time to start using the ATM and paying for everything in cash instead of debit.
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Reblogged this on Freedom Is Just Another Word… and commented:
Use cash….
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Thank you and I think you are right, it is time to start using the ATM machine.
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For being so into ‘helping the poor’ this acting prez is ‘control and fleece’.! Auto insurances practice the same ‘help’. Instead of checking your driving records (which they have to pay for) they do a free credit check – if it’s bad you get charged more.
‘When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.’ Proverbs 29:2 … the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness… ‘Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.’ In the meantime, we try to live a ‘peaceable life’! 😊 and enjoy the goodness therein!
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But aren’t they supposed to get your permission first?
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Maybe in the small print it’s stated … not necessarily verbally, but one’s rate is greatly determined by their credit rating.
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Interesting…..
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I think when you apply for insurance, you give permission for the insurance company to check your credit. Thing is, you can be denied auto insurance if you’ve got bad credit, not just charged more.
Many employers also use your credit report in deciding whether or not to hire you. I can see thisis you’re hiring someone to work as a cashier, or similar position where you have access to cash, but most jobs in the US aren’t like that – and lots of people, especially today, have clouds on their credit reports because of the recession. So they’re trying to get jobs to get their financial situation back in order, and are being refused employment because they’ve got troubled financial situations.
And some employers won’t hire you, even today, unless you’re currently working.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
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That is interesting, I did’t know companies check credit ratings in many cases. It is troubling to me to learn this.
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I saw the same story and had the same response – where are they getting personally identifying data?
On the other hand, I’m a diabetic and from time to time I’ll get a call from the pharmacy that it’s time to renew a prescription. That I appreciate.
And I get material from my insurance carrier from time to time with information on how to keep my blood sugar under control. Again, even though I’m pretty familiar with the minformation, I don’t resent it – I see the insurance company trying to keep its costs down by educating me on the dangers of eating deep-fried Oreos. Without their education efforts, I just might let my blood sugar get out of control, leading to them having to pay a lot more money for my care – plus now they’re no longer permitted to cancel my coverage if something bad happens to me that causes them to have to spend that money. It’s capitalism – they’re in the risk business, and they’re trying to mitigate that risk.
But monitoring people’s spending habits to try to identify high-risk people? That’s going too far, IMO.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
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I agree with everything you wrote. I see nothing wrong with the pharmacy calling you or with them giving you information which is related to your condition based on what medications you are taking.
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By the way, Steve, relative to your opposition to the government being able to require residents to have a product – by purchase, if necessary. I know you’re aware that SCOTUS confirmed that right – are you familiar with the first time it was exercised, by the Congress and President Washington in the Militia Act of 1791?
Take good care, and may God bless us all!
TGY
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I know it has been ruled constitutional and as such it is constitutional but personally I don’t think it is. The SCOTUS has not always made good decisions as I know you are well aware of.
I was also aware of the Militia Act and I have see it used before by proponents of healthcare reform. To the best of my knowledge this was never challenged and now with the recent ruling it is officially legal. It is interesting that as a supporter of gun control you used this example. 😉
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It was a way different time – for one thing, the government was so new, and the potential for mischief so great if the wrong people got into power, the argument about arming the people in case it became necessary to overthrow an oppressive government held water. Today, it sounds far more like sedition.
But understand I don’t advocate banning all guns or disarming all the people. I’d like to see a sea change in our attitude toward guns, and I’d like to see all loopholes closed with respect to people buying or otherwise acquiring guns – everyone should undergo a background check, and perhaps we should require that all firearms be insured. Who knows? It’s not just illegal guns being used to mow down innocent civilians and toddlers, its’ legally-owned firearms. A lot of firearms owners, though, aren’t taking the personal responsibility to secure their weapons properly or train their family members in their use.
Take good care and may God bless us all!
TGY
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Refuse it ….don’t become a part of their corrupt system.
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