Will my employer find out if I use my job-based health insurance?

[nuance]

When we sign HIPPA waiver, what are we waiving? Seems like any future doctor you go to will know you got the implant but no one outside the medical system?

[LastHope]

and designated entities in the waiver such as Researchers, attorneys, family members...

[nuance]

But not employer?

[LastHope]

But not employer?

Have you designated the specific employer in your waiver? If yes, then yes!

[nuance]

Ok so if we didn’t specify anyone, employer wouldn’t know other than the default list you mentioned?

[LastHope]

The authorization must explicitly specify which organizations or individuals (e.g., a specific law firm to work on a case, healthcare organization, or family members) are authorized to access our health information. It's a purposeful document signed as needed only. Some examples are for healthcare payments, transfer of care from one doctor to another, 2nd opinions...

Employers have no business with this information.

Generic waivers not practiced and if done are only for research and public health studies. Here they will de-identify personally identifiable information that's unnecessary for researchers. This is done with patient's consent. For instance, if I receive services from Stanford Hospital, I can sign a generic waiver permitting the use of my health data for research purposes. Similarly, if I participate in a clinical trial, I may be required to sign a generic waiver allowing the use of my data by a specific pharma company or government agency (ex: CDC, VA...) for research purposes.