How to get healthcare anonymously?
Is it possible to get healthcare anonymously, without revealing your name, address, or social security number? Yes, it is. We'll show you how to arrange an appointment, pay for your care, and even get the best possible price.
What kind of patients want healthcare anonymously?
People might want to receive healthcare anonymously for various reasons, but generally they want privacy around sensitive health topics. Common topics include:
- Sexually transmitted disease
- Pregnancy
- Mental health
- Domestic abuse
How to prepare
Before getting started, prepare yourself for some slightly awkward conversations. Anonymous healthcare is legitimate, but rare. Not everyone has encountered a patient who wants to remain anonymous. You may need to repeat what you want. Just remember, you're not doing anything wrong. You want healthcare, and your provider wants to get paid for providing healthcare. Both of those things are going to happen – just without you giving your identifying information.
To get started, you need to choose a healthcare provider to visit. Maybe you must schedule an appointment in advance, or maybe you can walk in at your convenience. Regardless, you should probably choose a healthcare provider who is not already familiar with you (possibly using reviews on Yelp, Google, etc. to guide your choice). If you already have a good relationship with a particular healthcare provider, and feel strongly you would get the best care from that provider, you could contact them and ask them about doing something anonymously. But even if they allow it, it's easier for someone who knows you to accidentally create a paper trail with your name. Exercise your own judgment in choosing the best healthcare provider.
The next consideration is price. Healthcare is notoriously expensive, so paying without the help of health insurance can seem daunting. But don't worry. Most healthcare providers offer something they call a "cash-pay discount" or "self-pay discount" that make it more affordable (especially for tests). Feel free to call around and ask for the "cash-pay price" for the service you need. For example, you might ask, "What's your cash-pay price for your comprehensive STD test?" Obviously you need to know what you want, so do your homework before calling around. For example, maybe you don't want a comprehensive test, only a test for HPV specifically. Of course, it's possible you don't know what you want beforehand – maybe you're visiting a healthcare provider to find out. That's okay, just ask for the price for an "office visit" – that's the price of getting in the door and speaking to a healthcare provider.
How to handle the visit
Once you've found the right healthcare provider, it's time to schedule an appointment or walk in to the clinic. Many people wonder, "What should I say when they ask me my name?" That's easy – give them a fake name. Many people use common placeholder names like "John Doe" or "Jane Doe". But don't pretend this placeholder is your real name, because that would be lying. Remember, you're not doing anything wrong and you shouldn't lie. Say something like, "I'd like to receive service anonymously, because I'm uncomfortable sharing my identity. Please enter my name as John Doe."
Even after learning you want to remain anonymous, they might still ask identifying questions (when they shouldn't). For example, they might ask for your address or social security number. This is usually because they are inexperienced and still following their standard checklist in spite of the special circumstances. For any identifying questions, answer with something like, "You won't need that information because I'd like to receive service anonymously and I will be paying cash." Don't forget the part about paying cash, it's important.
They key to getting healthcare anonymously is paying cash – yes, the green paper kind. Cash is truly anonymous, unlike the other payment options your healthcare provider might accept. Don't pay by credit card, debit card, or bank account. And certainly don't pay through your health insurance company. All of these payments create a paper trail, one which may never be deleted. Pay with cash to stay anonymous.
At the same time, paying with cash means your healthcare provider doesn't need any identifying information from you. They don't need to bill you, or your insurance, because your transaction will be complete by the time you walk out the door. If they are ever in doubt about working with you, remind them you will be paying cash during your visit. Cash tends to cure all worries.
Special circumstances to be prepared for
In very rare circumstances, a healthcare provider will stubbornly insist they need identifying information from you even if you are paying cash. For example, one dentist in Austin insists she needs identifying information from all patients "in case they die in a fire and need to be identified by dental records" (seriously). This is probably an ethics violation, because a physician should not refuse a patient simply because the individual wants to remain anonymous for the sake of their physical safety and/or mental health. But it's probably not worth arguing. If you can't change someone's mind in one of these rare circumstances, just move on to the next-best candidate on your list.
During your visit, watch out for anything that might cost more money. For example, after you asked for that HPV test, you might hear, "Great, now we'll send this off for a comprehensive STD test." Stop them and tell them that's not what you expected. For any potential deviation from your plan, ask questions about how it will be valuable to you and, without a doubt, ask for the "cash-pay price". Don't allow careless healthcare providers to lead you into financial difficulty. They may not warn you about a higher pricetag, but they will try to hold you accountable for it. It feels like a bait-and-switch, but it is just business as usual – they are thinking about providing you the best care, not minimizing your cost. So let them focus on your care, while you focus on the cost.
On that note, it's a good idea to bring more cash than you think you need. It's not uncommon for a healthcare provider to suggest something extra, with an excellent justification. Do you really want to come all the way back for another visit after a trip to the ATM? No, one anonymous visit is probably enough. If you can, bring extra cash to protect yourself from the hassle of running short.
There's one other thing to remember: some offices will ask you to pay up front, before receiving service. That's fairly normal for cash-pay patients, so don't let it worry you too much. You're still entitled to top-quality service regardless of whether you pay at the beginning or the end.
You're ready to get healthcare anonymously
Now you're equipped to go out and get healthcare anonymously. It might be an unusual approach, but sometimes the best solutions are. You should do what is best for you and your health. Be confident that you deserve healthcare you are willing to pay for, regardless of your name.