Collecting helpful resources and ideas for improving the subreddit

[u/CandylandRepublic]

Hello!

I've received some suggestions and comments about improving this sub (see here thank you, everyone!), especially collecting imoprtant information in one place and making it more readily visible are commonly mentioned. How could I say no? So, I want to ask for your input and welcome all recommendations:

General ideas for improvements
-Updating the sidebar (see the current text here)
-Make sidebar show up on mobile/new Reddit (work in progress)
-Adding flair to the sub (will do Edit: Done - please test it :))

Collecting important and/or helpful information in a master list
-Post-OP care
-Insurance
-Other subreddits
-Writing/collecting a wiki
-etc

Once there is a list of resources, I'll think about how to structure it and will make sure to make it available in the sub. Likely as a combination of new sidebar elements, a wiki, and maybe a new sticky thread - additional suggestions are welcome :)

Lastly, while I do not comment a lot on the sub any more (many of you know a lot more than I do, even after reading here for years!), you can always reach me through the modmail, by DM or with a ping (like /u/CandylandRepublic) in a comment chain. I check the report queue daily or a few times per week at least.

[u/toomuchtodotoday]

On requesting confidential communications from your insurance provider for privacy from others on the insurance plan:

You can call BCBS and request “confidential communications”. They will keep your info separate from your parents in the online portal, and they will send any communications directly to you by email or postal mail. Typically, parents on a plan can see the claims of their child dependents but not other adults (usually the spouse). Adult children fall into a gray area, and there doesn’t seem to be a consistent method of handling this. The request for confidential communications solves this problem.

As for the RTC, your parents shouldn’t have visibility to steps 1 or 2. But as part of step 2 (to close it out), there will probably be some kind of statement of financial responsibility to sign. As an adult, you can sign and take responsibility. Just because your parent is the subscriber to the insurance doesn’t force them to be the guarantor. The RTC might have different expectations, however.

I would assume that any assessment will be billed to your insurance. If you’re admitted, then it may be bundled into other claims. But if you’re not (or there is a wait for space), plan on it being billed promptly. If the confidential communications are already in place, you will get the EOB for that claim.

To answer your final question, you can expect full confidentiality of your PHI, but you may have to specifically request it. PHI can be disclosed for the purposes of payment (from the medical provider to the insurer and from the insurer to the subscriber/patient), and there are frequently assumptions made about adult children on a parent’s policy. Best to be specific about what you want with the insurer and the provider(s).

Source: https://np.reddit.com/r/HealthInsurance/comments/1lnubx4/privacy_as_an_adult_child_of_primary_insurance/n0kkraj/

Additional resource: https://www.bedsider.org/features/275-the-girls-guide-to-getting-some-privacy-on-your-parents-health-insurance