Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number
Posted 12/14/12

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. In consideration of documentation and record requests, third-party payers, liability claims, certification, and appeals, your Social Security Number (SSN) is at a much greater risk for theft when it is included on claims for health or dental services. In order to protect their SSN from being disclosed to patients, health plans, and third parties, many providers choose the option of utilizing their Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) instead of their SSN when submitting claims.

Your EIN/TIN is a nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service for tax reporting.  Corporations and partnerships must have an EIN/TIN. Although sole proprietors are not required to obtain one, many choose to use an EIN/TIN because it reduces the risk of identity theft. Some banks require you to have an EIN/TIN to open a business account. Providers also have to obtain an EIN/TIN if they have one or more non-contract employees. EGID highly recommends using your EIN/TIN when filing claims for services rendered to HealthChoice members.