Copyright 2000 Daily News, L.P.
Daily News (New
York)
May 22, 2000, Monday SPORTS FINAL EDITION
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 46 ASK ASA
LENGTH: 379 words
HEADLINE:
YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS AREN'T SO CONFIDENTIAL
BYLINE: BY
ASA AARONS
BODY:
Caroline Lyons of Manhattan
wonders where necessary sharing of medical information ends and
invasion of privacy begins.
She's been concerned ever
since she saw a reference to the Medical Information Bureau in a recent column.
"What is this organization? And what does it do?" she asked. The bureau
has the power to use the medical treatment you receive today to haunt you in the
form of higher insurance premiums tomorrow.
It was founded in 1902 by
physicians who were medical directors of about 15 life insurance companies. They
believed that a confidential exchange of underwriting information - information
significant to health or longevity - would help combat insurance fraud.
Today, the organization has a membership of about 600 life insurance
companies that often ask consumers for permission to check their files when they
apply for life, health or disability insurance.
The most commonly
reported conditions include height and weight, blood pressure, EKGs and X-ray
findings.
There also are five codes for reporting nonmedical information
that can affect insurability, like a poor driving record or participation in
hazardous sports.
The bureau's reports are kept for seven years, after
which they are automatically purged from the master data file.
Insurance
companies say they use the information as a starting point. If information on
file is inconsistent with information supplied by the consumer, the company
seeks additional information from medical professionals, test laboratories and
hospitals.
The bureau estimates that it has a file on one or two out of
10 people - and it claims an accuracy rate of 97%.
The only way to know
for sure what's on file about you or whether it's accurate is to request a copy
of your report.
To learn more, write for the Consumer's MIB Fact Sheet
and instructions on how to request a copy of your personal file at Box 105,
Essex Station, Boston, Mass. 92112, or by calling (617) 426-3660.
Asa
Aarons is a consumer reporter who appears on WNBC-TV, Channel 4, News. His
special Daily News column appears Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Send
your questions to: Ask Asa, P.O. Box 3310, New York, N.Y. 10116 or E-mail him at
DNconsumer@aol.com. Questions can be answered only through this column.
LOAD-DATE: May 22, 2000 
