[brlewis]

I once insisted with an optometrist that they only take my insurance number and not my SSN. They contacted my insurance and the insurance sent them my SSN.

I can't avoid medical insurance having my SSN because of tax reporting requirements.

[karma_pharmer]

Actually you can. Just don't give them your SSN. I did this with Kaiser Permanente and it continues to work just fine.

[cwillu]

> They contacted my insurance and the insurance sent them my SSN

If all you're doing is making them get the information from someone else, what exactly are you accomplishing? Adding a bit of friction to a process?

I mean, fine, if that's the aim, but it sounds like this was intended as more of a “they don't need this information at all, and if you don't give it to them, then they won't have it” technique, and (apparently) that doesn't work.

[karma_pharmer]

I told them they shouldn't give the insurance company their SSN.

There is no "someone else" who will give the insurer this information.