Medical - In confidence

[farsouth]

My new employer offer Health Insurance as a benefit.
They have sent me an application form to fill in with a full detailed medical history, but then want it sent back to their HR department, rather than direct to the medical insurers.
Is it normal for the HR department to have full knowledge of your entire medical history, or is that something that would normally be entitled to be kept medical in confidence?

I do not have anything specific that I have any issue with them knowing, but just feel that they should not have the right to know every little thing about my medical background - am I being over sensitive?

[cavortingcheetah]

Here's a little something from the TUC that might muddy things up some more.
In these troubled days in the ongoing British medical entitlement saga' I should have thought that private medical insurance would have been an excellent benefit. Were it possible for you to do so, it might even be worth a thought about keeping it on yourself after your employment's eventual if inevitable natural termination.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace-issues/employment-rights/health-and-safety/sickness-absence/confidentiality-and-medical

[farsouth]

Thanks for that - gave me a starting point to do a bit more reading, and it seems I probably am being over sensitive!

As far as I can find out, it is considered reasonable for the employer HR to be able to see the medical information on the insurance application form, but they must have procedures in place to keep the information confidential and not to use it for any purpose other than what it was provided for.

I agree that Health insurance is a good benefit - however, unlike my last employer who had a "Medical History Disregarded" scheme (in other words, no medical questionnaire, and pre-existing conditions covered, a scheme that apparently costs the employer around 30% more than basic cover), my new employer has a "Full Medical Underwriting" scheme, where they want to know about every visit you have ever made to the doctor, and then apply exclusions. At my age, there is a lot to go on the form!!!

[cavortingcheetah]

If you have a Class I medical then why not attach the standard set of ticket or crossed boxes with the explanation that you hold a Class I? That's the sort of short cut they might appreciate especially if you invite them to contact your AME or physician.
https://www.caa.co.uk/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=4294973562

[Radgirl]

Sorry CC the PMI (insurer) is interested in pre existing disease and the risk of recurrence. The AME is interested in sudden incapacitation and death. The PMI may well give you a discount for a failed medical!!!! The AME may pass you for having had the operation to treat the condition. Opposite corners.

There are no rules but I see no reason for HR to see the information. They cant modify the underwriting or the premium and will need to demonstrate additional levels of staff training and security to handle the information. And if some 16 year old intern blabbers stand by for a big pay out. If it were my company I would keep HR out of it, and that is the norm many of my patients tell me about.

[farsouth]

Thanks radgirl.
I have sent the form to HR but got them to confirm in writing that they have procedures in place to ensure data protection and that the information is not used for any purpose other than the health insurance application. At least if they try to use it for anything else, I have that in writing for the subsequent action!!

[gingernut]

Medical - In confidence

So. We are in confidence. What is the underlying issue ?

[Radgirl]

Loads Gingernut

First, confidentiality. My doctor, nurse, physio have been formally trained about patient confidentiality. In many countries they will be inspected in this respect and in the UK they have to be data licensed. If they blabber, their regulator will throw the book at them. Employees in HR will not have this training, will not be inspected, and if they ring up a tabloid there is no regulator to sanction them nor indeed any easy way the individual can obtain compensation.

Second, conflict of interest. The doctor's interest is primarily the patient. Even OH has restrictions on what can be disclosed. HR's responsibility is solely to the company, so if they find the individual may not be able to work so hard or so long, or if they identify the individual may become a financial burden by taking time off or invoking insurance or pension rights the company contributes to, they have a responsibility to inform the company

Third, western countries recognise our medical information is and needs to remain separate to ensure patients have the confidence to be completely open with their doctor. If this practice were widespread, patients will clam up or lie. That effects their health and doctors wouldn't believe their patients further magnifying the issue.

Finally, the likelihood of a complete and open declaration to the insurer falls, increasing the premiums of others and further risking the future of an already commercially precarious product.

Otherwise no issues at all!

[gingernut]

sorry, misread post 1