ACA requires insurers to collect Social Security numbers
Beginning this year, health insurers have to send the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) information about health plan members and their insurance coverage, including their Social Security number (or other tax identification number). It’s one of the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The ACA requires that everyone have qualifying insurance, qualify for an exemption, or potentially pay a tax penalty. The IRS will cross-check the information in tax returns against the information health insurers are required to submit for every person they cover. This IRS review will confirm that individuals have the required coverage and don’t have to pay a tax penalty.
Many insurers including Aetna have been phasing out the use of SSNs for member identification. However, with the ACA requirements, health insurers will now be sending letters or otherwise reaching out to plan members asking for that information if they don’t already have it.
Send information securely
If your clients get a request from their insurer for their Social Security number, make sure they send it in a secure manner. For example, Aetna is asking members to log in to their online portal to submit Social Security numbers through the secure website.
Make sure your clients guard their identity
Be aware that thieves will use any means they can get to obtain pieces of their identity and use them for their own profit. Learn more by reading Six ways to keep your medical identity safe at https://news.aetna.com/six-tips-for-protecting-yourself-against-medical-identity-theft/.
Reach out with questions
Did your client get a request that claims to be from their health plan, but something about the letter or e-mail looks suspicious? Have your client call their health plan directly to make sure the request is legitimate.
Note: this information is not meant as legal or tax advice. Please talk to a legal or tax advisor about any questions.
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