What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington
I'm going to try and explain this best I can, but this gives me the heebee-jeebees.
I'll start from the beginning. Recently, my employer has switched to a self-insured medical policy. This has been raising a lot of questions and feelings of my medical privacy slipping away.
To save more money they (my employer from here on out) have implemented a nicotine test to save an additional $100 a month on my part of the premiums. I have quit smoking 2 years ago but I still continue using nicotine gum and lozenges. As such I have been labeled a smoker according to their policy, I dont agree with this but nothing I can do. However, there is "reasonable alternative" I can complete which will make me eligible for the non-smoker discount. This consists of a month long online program to help quit smoking known as Quitnet through meyouhealth.co. I have no problems jumping through a few hoops for a savings of $1200/yr. This is where I have the problem. In signing up for this program, I am required to authorize Wellness IQ to disclose my Protected Health Information to MeYou Health. If I decline, no savings.
First question, is this legal to require an employee to sign away his rights of medical privacy or face higher insurance premiums?
Second question, is there any reason I should hesitate signing this authorization form?
I don't know if I am overreacting to this in thinking it is a violation of my privacy. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated folks. I am running out of time to get this signed if I am going to move forward with it or just bite the big one and pay the extra dough.
Thanks in advance.
I'm going to try and explain this best I can, but this gives me the heebee-jeebees.
I'll start from the beginning. Recently, my employer has switched to a self-insured medical policy. This has been raising a lot of questions and feelings of my medical privacy slipping away.
To save more money they (my employer from here on out) have implemented a nicotine test to save an additional $100 a month on my part of the premiums. I have quit smoking 2 years ago but I still continue using nicotine gum and lozenges. As such I have been labeled a smoker according to their policy, I dont agree with this but nothing I can do. However, there is "reasonable alternative" I can complete which will make me eligible for the non-smoker discount. This consists of a month long online program to help quit smoking known as Quitnet through meyouhealth.co. I have no problems jumping through a few hoops for a savings of $1200/yr. This is where I have the problem. In signing up for this program, I am required to authorize Wellness IQ to disclose my Protected Health Information to MeYou Health. If I decline, no savings.
First question, is this legal to require an employee to sign away his rights of medical privacy or face higher insurance premiums?
Second question, is there any reason I should hesitate signing this authorization form?
I don't know if I am overreacting to this in thinking it is a violation of my privacy. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated folks. I am running out of time to get this signed if I am going to move forward with it or just bite the big one and pay the extra dough.
Thanks in advance.
