Dancer_Mom Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I now have a child in a public high school. In order to participate in sports they have to have medical coverage or buy the policy provided by the district. Fair enough. However they want our specific policy number. Feels unsafe to give that kind of information to them. If my child needs emergency treatment; they don't need a policy number to do so and then we will be contacted and be on site to provide payment particulars. Is there anyway we can prove to them we have coverage without giving out the actual policy number? I actually don't even understand how this provides "proof" of insurance because all they want is the policy name and number... not the phone number or anything. Are they actually vetting all the policy numbers that come in to make sure nobody made a number up? If we have to give it to them I will but I have encountered many medical forms in my life that ask for information that people legally do not need so I wanted to be sure first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nart Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I can't imagine they verify the number. In my kids district they always ask on the permission slip for the insurance carrier and policy number. I write in our insurance carrier and then write the insurers phone number without the dashes so it looks like the policy number. If there is an accident I will be notified and then I can give the number to the hospital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 This could be so that if something happens and you are not there, they can provide the number to the hospital? That still seems odd. All of that information could be obtained from you once you are at the hospital. I would go to the District Office and ask. Not the school. The school could easily give you the run around and just say they need it. This sort of thing is usually district wide, so by going to the District Office you jump a rung on the ladder and might actually get information that is helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda in VT Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 It's a pretty common request, and it's never felt unsafe to me, but since it bothers you, I'd ask if there is some other way you can provide proof of insurance. Around here, the high school athletic director is the person to ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acorn Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I think it is similar to my employer wanting proof of driver's insurance (we used company vehicles at work). My employer has to prove to their insurer that employees carry their own driving insurance. I bet it is a CYA legal hoop for the school's insurance policy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancer_Mom Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 I have never questioned putting down the policy number... but I would guess that if you leave it blank, nobody will notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 ... If my child needs emergency treatment; they don't need a policy number to do so and then we will be contacted and be on site to provide payment particulars. Is there anyway we can prove to them we have coverage without giving out the actual policy number? I actually don't even understand how this provides "proof" of insurance because all they want is the policy name and number... not the phone number or anything. If it is the ER they don't need the policy number. If they sent your child to the GP for a fractured arm for example, they might need to wait for you to arrive with the insurance card. We have to put down medical and dental insurance for YMCA summer camps too. Is the sport provided by the school? My boys' medical and dental insurance are on file with the school admin. The school admin verifies all the information requested, yellow immunization card, medical and dental insurance info. Anything that you (general) did not bring for school registration would have a big ? mark and the admin would call before 1st day of school to nag. If they just want proof of insurance, you can just show your insurance card to whoever checking and the person can just make a note on the form that proof of insurance has been verified. My school admin just put a tick/checkmark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 That's a standard request here. I don't know why it would be unsafe to provide it, but you could omit it and see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linders Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 As others have said, this is a standard request. We simply write the insurance company name and the policy number for DH's company as a whole. We do not give DH's individual ID number, and that has been fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 This has been asked of me for many things (camps, sports, scouts). I write in the blank "number provided at point of medical service", and I have never been challenged on it. I suspect because no one really looks at it, and if they did, someone would probably press me on it. But in many years, no one has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidbits of Learning Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Having a child that has needed immediate medical attention....They NEED the number to get insurance approval prior to administering service. If your child has a SERIOUS injury they can not proceed even if you have signed a consent form without contacting your insurance company. It isn't for the school to have unnecessary info on you. The school keeps those med forms on hand to give to emergency personnel. I hate to say this but it can mean the difference in life or death in extreme medical emergencies. Just food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Ours is also a SSN but we give it freely so that it will be available if something really urgent happens. I want them to see we are insured. Worst case scenario, you will meet them at the hospital and they need the number before then. I don't think they'd let a child die, but in my personal case, it made the difference between needing to have a bone re-broken and re-set and whether or not they used anesthesia on me (I was nine). They didn't because we had low-quality insurance. I don't want my children to face that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Being asked for a policy number is not unusual. I would not worry about it unless your policy number is also an SSN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkT Posted December 20, 2014 Share Posted December 20, 2014 Yeah I have to put that number down on school stuff, church camps, orchestra participation, etc. My children are NOT in public school. But it is standard practice everywhere. Unfortunately, I also have to put down a social security number for her to do things at the college. They won't register them without it. I don't like that. they really can't ask for your SSN - just say NA - tell them to sue you ! - the SSN is not for identification - it is only for tax and gov't benefit purposes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 the SSN is not for identification - it is only for tax and gov't benefit purposes Yeah, because who needs government benefits like scholarships, need-based non-loan aid, free tutoring for first-generation and low-income college students, or e-mails about new programs supporting recent high school grads based on family income? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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