Not automatically. It’s a matter of privacy. Their records are private, just as yours are, accessible only by them and anyone else they happened to designate. If you’re jumping in to help, it could cause the process to slowdown if you aren’t specifically chosen by them.

This affects not only spouses or grown children trying to help their aging parents, but also patients who may want their primary caregiver (family or otherwise) to have access to their medical records.

Often paperwork is given at the doctor’s office or the hospital that has the patient provide a name and contact information for anyone additional who is allowed to receive information about the patient’s medical. If this paperwork isn’t given automatically, the patient can and should request an authorization form designating permission.

Incidentally, a doctor is allowed to give information to a spouse or family member if he or she is present during a doctor’s visit or a hospital stay. If the patient has a family member come with them to the doctor, the doctor can assume that the patient wants the family member to have access to the medical information being given unless the patient states otherwise.

While being at the doctor with the patient may allow you to hear current diagnoses or recommendations, it does not guarantee full medical record access. If the patient wants you to be able to access more than the current conversation, have them authorize you in writing.

The post Can You Get Your Senior’s (or Spouse’s) Medical Records? appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Lori-Ann and her father

As my dad was aging, we went to a lot of doctors. It was often difficult to make sure that my dad and my family understood what was happening with his health. Because my dad had been a Methodist minister for over 65 years, many people knew him and were concerned about his health. My dad was a very proud man and didn’t want everyone knowing what he was going through. It was often hard to balance getting all the important information to the people who needed to know but keeping my dad’s private information private.

As a patient or caregiver, health privacy is important for keeping the right people in the know.
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If you are trying to manage this for your family, you need to know some basics about health privacy. First, healthcare providers have specific rules to keep your health information private. It helps to know these rules in order to get the information you need:

1. Only the patient can give authorization to release their health information to family and friends.
2. The patient doesn’t need to sign an authorization if the family member is with them at the time of the doctor visit.
3. Your doctor can give your health information to other healthcare providers who are treating you or your insurance company without your authorizaiton.
4. You are entitled to your health records. If you ask for them, the doctor must give them to you.
5. Your healthcare provider must protect your health information whether it’s on paper or in an electronic format.
6. If you need any specific information, make sure you ask for it.
7. If you only want certain individuals in your family to get health information about your loved one, make sure you are very specific with your healthcare provider.

Knowing these rules helped me manage my dad’s healthcare and keep his information private when necessary.

Have you had any problems with your or your family’s health privacy? I’d love to hear from you!

If you or your loved one is going to be in the hospital, download my FREE ebook, Easy Healthcare: Your Hospital Stay.

With MyHealthSpin, You Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!

The post My Dad and his Health Privacy appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Our helpful health care links

Inside Nepal’s Next Challenge: Overflowing Hospitals

Hospitals throughout Nepal are flooded with patients, with thousands in need of care for acute injuries after a massive earthquake that the country’s leader said may have killed up to 10,000.

A Day in the Life of a Stolen Healthcare Record

The process of divining the provenance of stolen healthcare records. These records typically are processed or handled by a gauntlet of third party firms, most of which have no direct relationship with the patient or customer ultimately harmed by the breach.

P.S.–TODAY is your last day to sign up for the ObamaCare Enrollment Extension!

Spin your healthcare your way and check out our Easy Healthcare eBook Guides.

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HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Choose Your Health Insurance gives you the practical steps you can take to choose the right insurance plan for you and your family.

The post Helpful Healthcare Links: April 30, 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Tell us whether you are concerned about you health information being compromised. We’d love to hear from you!

For more information about your health privacy, see HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare:  Healthcare Privacy.

As Always, we hope we’re helping you “Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!

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P.S.–Please remember that ObamaCare has added an extra enrollment period that from March 15 – April 30, 2015. For more information about your health insurance, see HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Choosing Your Health Insurance 

The post 3 Steps To Follow If Your Health Information Is Hacked appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

The short answer is “yes – it’s likely.”

My daughter, who just started a new job, got a notice from her employer that she was one of the 80 million people who had their health information hacked in February of this year.  She was understandably very concerned.

So what should you do when you become aware  that your information is hacked?

1. If you notice something suspicious, notify your healthcare provider or insurance company immediately.
2. If your healthcare provider or insurance company tells you your information has been compromised, it’s likely that they will provide you with identity theft coverage.  If not, ask for it.
3. Monitor your financial information and immediately report any strange charges.

In the case of the Anthem BCBS breach, BCBS provided 2 years of identity theft repair assistance, credit monitoring, and identity theft insurance to all the people affected by the breach.

One of the areas to pay attention to is your tax returns.  For some of the BCBS customers who were hacked,  the hackers filed fraudulent tax returns using the stolen information.  When the person went to file their taxes, they were informed that they had already filed and received a refund.

Tell us whether you are concerned about hacking of your health information. We’d love to hear from you!

For more information about your health insurance, see HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Choosing Your Health Insurance.

For more information about your health privacy, see HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare:  Healthcare Privacy.

We hope we’re helping you “Spin Your Healthcare Your Way!

The post Is Your Health Information Being Hacked? appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Our helpful health care links

Anthem Health Insurance Was Just Hacked. Here’s What Customers Need to Know

The nation’s second-largest health insurance company just announced that hackers have stolen members’ Social Security numbers, names, birthdays, medical IDs, and more sensitive personal information in a massive data breach.

Apple’s New Plan For Healthcare: The Doctor Will Track You Now

Mayo Clinic has teamed up to test several health care applications for the iPhone, such as a service to alert patients when their Apple apps detected abnormal health results, and help schedule them for follow-up visits.

Time is running out to sign up for Obamacare by the February 15th deadline. HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: ObamaCare leaves the politics behind and gives you a straightforward, timely rundown of the changes the law made and whether or not they impact YOU. If you have any questions, please visit our website at www.myhealthspin.com. 

The post Helpful Health Care Links: February, 6, 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Our helpful health care links

Healthcare Is Headed Down A New Road With New Rules In 2015

Here is the trend of the top ten trends shaping healthcare for 2015.

Government Health Care Website Quietly Sharing Personal Data

The government’s health insurance website is quietly sending consumers’ personal data to private companies that specialize in advertising and analyzing Internet data for performance and marketing.

House Approves Two Obamacare Tweaks Intended To Help Small Businesses

The House of Representatives has already approving two bills that would revise some of the legislation’s most controversial rules for business owners.

Michigan Health Insurance Sign-Ups Near 300,000

Nearly 300,000 Michiganians have signed up for health insurance through the federal government with just over three weeks remaining to enroll.

Hospitals’ Medicare Quality Bonuses Get Wiped Out By Penalties

What Medicare gives with one hand, it’s taking away with another. Most government quality bonuses to hospitals this year are being wiped out by penalties issued for other shortcomings.

The post Helpful Health Care Links: January 23, 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

Our helpful health care links

Johnson & Johnson Will Make Clinical Data Available to Outside Researchers

Healthcare giant, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to make detailed clinical trial data on its medical devices and diagnostic tests available to outside researchers through a collaboration with Yale University.

Obamacare ‘Fine’ Not Dandy, Says California Exchange Boss

The head of California’s Obamacare exchange warns California residents about increased fines under Obamacare this year for not having health insurance.

Still Waiting For Strong Privacy Laws

President Obama this week proposed privacy laws that could give Americans greater control over their personal information.

U.S. Healthcare Executives Say Obamacare Is Not Going Anywhere

U.S. healthcare executives say Obamacare is likely here to stay, despite repeated calls from Republican lawmakers for repeal of the 2010 law aimed at providing health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.

FDA Clears ‘Pacemaker For The Stomach’

Federal regulators approved a novel dieting device that acts like a pacemaker for the stomach by manipulating the nerve pathway that makes people feel hungry or full.

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Healthcare has changed radically. Gone are the days when the only medical professional a patient saw was their trusted local doctor. HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Healthcare Privacy walks you through the practical steps you can take to safeguard your healthcare privacy as a patient.

Available for download NOW!

The post Helpful Health Care Links: January 16, 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

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Healthcare has changed radically. Gone are the days when the only medical professional a patient saw was their trusted local doctor. HealthSpin’s Easy Healthcare: Healthcare Privacy walks you through the practical steps you can take to safeguard your healthcare privacy as a patient.

Available for download NOW!

The post You Own Your Medical Records: VIDEO appeared first on MyHealthSpin.

2015 will continue to see healthcare grow and change.  I hope MyHealthSpin will help you find easy, simple answers to your healthcare questions.  

Here are our Healthcare predictions for 2015:

1.  More Health Insurance Coverage:  More people will continue to be covered by health insurance.  Due to ObamaCare and related penalties, more people will have health insurance.  Whether you like ObamaCare or hate it, more people having health insurance is good for everyone.  Whether we have a government mandate or not, everyone pays for the uninsured.  The costs of the uninsured shows up in your health insurance premiums, your doctor bills and your taxes.   Additionally, statistics show that people that are insured are healthier.  This is good for everyone.  A healthier population is happier and more productive.

2.  Responsibility:  The consumer will have more of the responsibility for keeping healthy.  More and more insurance plans are requiring you to be responsible for your health.  For example, there is often an extra cost for your insurance if you smoke.  You can often get a reduction in your insurance premiums if you go in for an annual physical or join a weight reduction program.  Statistics show that people that smoke or are obese have more health problems than those that do not.  Therefore, insurance companies will be asking you to take responsibility for your health.  If you do not get health insurance, you will pay a penalty.  This penalty helps to offset the cost of your healthcare if you need it and do not have insurance to cover your needs/costs.

3.  Technology:  Technology will continue to grow in healthcare.  You are seeing technology everywhere.  Your doctor is now using an Electronic Medical Record.  Your doctor may be asking you to get your health information through a patient portal.  Your mom or dad may be being monitored at home by their physician using an Tablet. Surgeons are using Google glass in surgery.   All of these advances will continue to grow in 2015 and beyond.

So those are just a few predictions for 2015.

We all struggle to keep up with the many healthcare changes.

 I hope MyHealthSpin can help you find simple, easy answers.  To get started, get a FREE copy of Easy HealthCare:  What You Need First by CLICKING HERE.

Wishing you a wonderful New Year!

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All of this information and more will be explained in MyHealthSpin’s soon-to-be-released book, Easy Healthcare:  Choose Your Health Insurance.  For more information,  go to myhealthspin.com.

The post 3 Healthcare Predictions for 2015 appeared first on MyHealthSpin.