Information used to sign up for Obamacare may be shared with other agencies

[Wheezer]

Well this has got to give people that warm and fuzzy feeling:

Maryland's Health Connection, the state's Obamacare marketplace, has been plagued by delays in the first days of open enrollment. If users are able to endure long page-loading delays, they are presented with the website's privacy policy, a ubiquitous fine-print feature on websites that often go unread. Nevertheless, users are asked to check off a box that they agree to the terms.

The policy contains many standard statements about information automatically collected regarding Internet browsers and IP addresses, temporary "cookies" used by the site, and website accessibility. However, at least two conditions may give some users pause before proceeding.

The first is regarding personal information submitted with an application for those users who follow through on the sign up process all the way to the end. The policy states that all information to help in applying for coverage and even for making a payment will be kept strictly confidential and only be used to carry out the function of the marketplace. There is, however, an exception:

"[W]e may share information provided in your application with the appropriate authorities for law enforcement and audit activities."

Here is the entire paragraph from the policy the includes the exception [emphasis added]:Should you decide to apply for health coverage through Maryland Health Connection, the information you supply in your application will be used to determine whether you are eligible for health and dental coverage offered through Maryland Health Connection and for insurance affordability programs. It also may be used to assist you in making a payment for the insurance plan you select, and for related automated reminders or other activities permitted by law. We will preserve the privacy of personal records and protect confidential or privileged information in full accordance with federal and State law. We will not sell your information to others. Any information that you provide to us in your application will be used only to carry out the functions of Maryland Health Connection. The only exception to this policy is that we may share information provided in your application with the appropriate authorities for law enforcement and audit activities.

The site does not specify if "appropriate authorities" refers only to state authorities or if it could include the federal government, as well. Neither is there any detail on what type of law enforcement and/or audit activities would justify the release of the personal information, or who exactly is authorized to make such a determination. An email to the Maryland Health Connection's media contact seeking clarification has not yet been answered

The second privacy term that may prompt caution by users relates to email communications. The policy reads: If you send us an e-mail, we use the information you send us to respond to your inquiry. E-mail correspondence may become a public record. As a public record, your correspondence could be disclosed to other parties upon their request in accordance with Maryland’s Public Information Act.

Since emails to the marketplace could conceivably involve private matters regarding finances, health history, and other sensitive issues, the fact that such information could be made part of the "public record" could prevent users from being as free with their information than they might otherwise be. However, as noted, any requests for such emails would still be subject to Maryland's Public Information Act which contains certain exceptions to the disclosure rules.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs...-enforcement-and-audit-activities_762237.html

 

[First]

The only exception to this policy is that we may share information provided in your application with the appropriate authorities for law enforcement and audit activities.

Uh, no shit. lol.

 

[Fern]

I suspect the greater threat is from poor website security. I.e., hackers.

Fern

 

[BoberFett]

Uh, no shit. lol.

The question is for what purposes? As part of a specific investigation and after provided with a valid warrant? Or is this just one more source for NSA snooping?

 

[First]

The question is for what purposes? As part of a specific investigation and after provided with a valid warrant? Or is this just one more source for NSA snooping?

If the NSA wants it, they're going to get it apparently. Abuses in the privacy realm of intelligence gathering need to be fixed, regardless of Obamacare or any other program offering up that private info. Not sure what can be done about it though, don't have any idea.

 

[sactoking]

First issue, on its face, not a big deal. Pretty much every gov't agency has stautory authority to share any information for purposes of enforcing laws. "Audit authority" could reasonably be construed to mean taxes, which are enforceable laws.

Second issue, on its face, not a big deal. Pretty much EVERY communication with a gov't agency is considered part of the public record and subject to disclosure. It's important to note that even an item subject to disclosure is eligible for redaction so that an email to the exchange can be released so long as the sensitive info is redacted.

Without some proof that this is being abused in some way it strikes me as sensationalistic journalism.

 

[Abraxas]

Have any of you looked at any HIPAA disclosures for insurance or hospital care? The exact same disclosure is pretty close to uniquitous in any and every healthcare business/institution.

http://www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/permitted/

 

[Jhhnn]

Have any of you looked at any HIPAA disclosures for insurance or hospital care? The exact same disclosure is pretty close to uniquitous in any and every healthcare business/institution.

http://www.hhs.gov/hipaafaq/permitted/

Couldn't Be! It couldn't just be the right wing noise machine spreading FUD, could it? Not the Weekly Standard!

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Hmmm couldn't be the database so many have denied would come into being would it?

 

[Kadarin]

Of course the info will go to the NSA. The NSA wants all info, period.

 

[shady28]

A bit surprised, I thought people had already read how this works on the multiple NSA threads.

This is the deal :

It is illegal for them to do dragnets or search masses of records and for evidence, the searches are supposed to be narrow and confined.

So what they do, is do a dragnet search, then lie about how they found out about the suspected / illegal activity.

If you are stupid or desperate enough to sign up for Obamacare, then your medical records will likely become part and parcel of this same methodology.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennife...r-government-time-for-a-special-prosecutor-2/


"...DEA and IRS agents are told to lie to judges and defense attorneys about their use of NSA data, and about the very existence of the SOD, and to make up stories about how these investigations started so that no one will know information is coming from the NSA’s top secret surveillance programs."

"...the DEA has a secret division called the Special Operations Division or SOD. The SOD receives intelligence intercepts, wiretaps, informants and a massive database of telephone records from its partner agencies, of which the NSA is just one, to distribute to authorities across the nation to help them launch criminal investigations of Americans. The SOD gets information from the NSA and shares it with, among other agencies, the IRS.

And this is where things get truly ugly. When agents receive SOD information and rely on it to trigger investigations, they are directed to omit the SOD’s involvement from investigative reports, affidavits, discussions with prosecutors and courtroom testimony. "

 

[Abraxas]

What I like here is the assumption that the NSA is this giant, hovering overlord obsessed with consuming every bit of data about every person in the world but that they will throw up their hands and walk away from the data stored in corporate intranets. Those who are worried the NSA will use this to get your data, do you really think they don't already have it?

 

[shady28]

What I like here is the assumption that the NSA is this giant, hovering overlord obsessed with consuming every bit of data about every person in the world but that they will throw up their hands and walk away from the data stored in corporate intranets. Those who are worried the NSA will use this to get your data, do you really think they don't already have it?

They don't have my medical records I'm pretty sure. On the flip side, I rarely go to the doctor, so there's not much to have.

 

[Jhhnn]

The best part, and the part Righties are desperately trying to avoid, is that basically anybody who already has health insurance is subject to the same sort of disclosure they're raving about.

Spiffy, eh?

Teh Ebil Obamacare doesn't change a damned thing about it.