2010.10.10 - filed complaint with CA DMHC

URL: http://www.hmohelp.ca.gov/dmhc_consumer/forms/complaint.html

Please explain your complaint

See my blog account of this ongoing issue: http://ssnfail.blogspot.com/

Previous to my current job, I worked for a company called Zendesk, which used Trinet to administer benefits and standard government-mandated employment documentation (e.g. W-2's). Before enrolling for benefits, I notified Trinet that I did not wish for them to disclose my Social Security number to any of my benefit providers. Trinet disregarded this, and disclosed my SSN to Delta Dental without my permission. I have filed a grievance with Delta Dental, requesting them to purge the SSN from their records. However they state that law requires them to retain all records for "seven years". They are unable to cite which specific law says this, and I speculate that the law may not apply in cases where the information was disclosed to them without the member's consent.

What is your health problem related to this complaint?

The problem in this case is not related to my health. My concern is based on a few considerations:

1) There have been a number of major data breaches in the insurance industry in recent history. The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse documents several of them here.
http://www.privacyrights.org/data-breach-asc?title=insurance

2) When Social Security numbers were first issued in 1936, the federal government assured the public that use of the numbers would be limited to Social Security programs such as calculating retirement benefits. Use of the SSN for other purposes is an unnecessary risk.

3) Because I am under 45 and not on Medicare, there is no legal reason for my insurance companies to need my SSN. I did the legal research, which is discussed on my blog here: http://ssnfail.blogspot.com/2010/08/2010330-setting-trinet-straight-about.html

What treatment(s) have you had for this health problem?

I filed a grievance with Delta Dental. However they failed to comply. A scan of the letter they sent me is available here:

http://ssnfail.blogspot.com/2010/10/2010923-delta-writes-letter-denying.html

As well as in paper form, attached to this complaint.