Re: Protocols for Insurance to Maintain Privacy

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Tim May wrote:
>>I'm pretty sure that if you are an unconscious wealthy looking
>>person they don't turn you away.  You really only need to survive
>>until your lawyer gets to the hospital with a suitcase of cash.
>
>Read "The Millionaire Next Door" for tips on what millionaires (who
>are of course the "barely non-poor" these days) are likely to be
>wearing and flaunting. Turns out that most Yuppies driving BMWs and
>wearning Rolexes are doing so on _credit_. Driving a Mercedes or BMW
>has nothing to do with actual ability to pay bills.

Perception, not reality, is what is important here.  A wealthy
appearing person will generally fare better.

It's true, however, that you are probably better off with proof of
insurance than an expensive watch when being wheeled into the
emergency room.  (Except for your privacy, that is.)

Monty Cantsin
Editor in Chief
Smile Magazine
http://www.neoism.org/squares/smile_index.html
http://www.neoism.org/squares/cantsin_10.htm

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQEVAwUBNFqfBJaWtjSmRH/5AQER8Qf/TFHTzT30VZwgeVx8BShmDbmCCn1PnpEf
x8f06xvldW0SQEKZRh31IjXI3SPorWxPoqI/wB0Qq/7hIp9qzKeI7xnGqyOKBbcg
NrqPyxfELm0h5udBAUcVg94SDGcNyccYfSpyw1qoEBHhMLwmLdTsViWTPZcgUQLG
qWgkPm8ZqVlsOkwQZU8QlzT8B/9e8QX1fP/d9Ai8Xwi5cCU+25go2O69a6bq/6Qw
lqEvwUWCIG/6u789fozdS3rPvNjeMP5WFi92cy9MsnYu4I4kjVHsHV6Zwn/f+gZv
4oggD4OehPwSpUXhCbBcZ6FB/9JBWC8xTtjVz8TbGfazaoRG/vwolw==
=dBa3
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

At 10:48 PM -0700 10/31/97, Secret Squirrel wrote:

>Tim May wrote:

>>Read "The Millionaire Next Door" for tips on what millionaires (who
>>are of course the "barely non-poor" these days) are likely to be
>>wearing and flaunting. Turns out that most Yuppies driving BMWs and
>>wearning Rolexes are doing so on _credit_. Driving a Mercedes or BMW
>>has nothing to do with actual ability to pay bills.
>
>Perception, not reality, is what is important here.  A wealthy
>appearing person will generally fare better.
>
>It's true, however, that you are probably better off with proof of
>insurance than an expensive watch when being wheeled into the
>emergency room.  (Except for your privacy, that is.)

Those deciding on admittance don't look for Rolexes (besides, fake Rolexes
sell for about $29 at any flea market).

What an insurance card is really a *line of credit*. Or a *proof of
payment*. The admitting hospital knows they'll at least be reimbursed for
the initial visit and emergency treatment.

By contrast, those lacking such a card may use all sorts of claims to avoid
payment fo the bill.

I certainly agree that there ought to be better ways to tell a hospital:

"Look, I can and will pay for treatment if you admit me to your emergency
room."

Even better,

"And I'd like to pay the "preferred rate," not the 3-4x inflated price you
publish as your "list price.""

However, at this time it looks like a Blue Cross or Blue Shield or
equivalent card is the only recognized way to meet these goals.

Perhaps there's a business idea for some enterprising Cypherpunk. A prepaid
hospital card, good for a few days' worth of treatment (e.g., $5000), but
only at the better rates. This could even be done with Chaumian
privacy-protecting methods. There's an idea.

--Tim May

The Feds have shown their hand: they want a ban on domestic cryptography
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES:   408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Higher Power: 2^2,976,221   | black markets, collapse of governments.
"National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."