![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 21:50:17
Okay, so I work at a really small place, a total of 8 employees. So here I am trying to fill out my insurance paperwork, and its asking for any medication I've been prescribed in the last 5 years. If you don't reveal it to them, they might say you were hiding a preexisting condition. So I have to list Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Xanax, and give it to my supervisor! I told him today that it says on the form you can tape together those pages to maintain your privacy, but he said he needed to fax it! He said he understood why I would want to keep these thing private, and maybe he could let me send it myself, but he wasn't sure, he would have to check. So now I feel all weird for even bringing it up (he's probably wondering what on earth I have to hide!!!). But I'd feel even weirder if he knew about the meds I've been on! I just don't want my employers to know about this stuff! Any advice on this matter would be appreciated.
-T
Posted by Dinah on February 23, 2009, at 22:44:02
In reply to Disclosure at work, posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 21:50:17
My situation is similar. In a small office, there is no HR department, and privacy is hard to come by even when they try.
There's nothing to be ashamed of in that listing of medications. A good number of people are on AD's. But I always figure when something is inevitable, it's best to just face it with as much grace as possible. The more matter of fact and calm you are, the less charge the information will have. In the end, people really just don't care all that much about psych meds these days. Even my bosses, who are of my parents' generation, have had personal experience with them. As I of course know, because not even bosses can keep anything private in a small office.
If you appear not to be ashamed or embarrassed, they'll likely accept it as calmly as you do.
Posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 23:07:48
In reply to Re: Disclosure at work » TexasChic, posted by Dinah on February 23, 2009, at 22:44:02
Thanks Dinah! That's good advice - you are so wise. If I find it too difficult to keep that info private, that's what I'll do.
-T
Posted by Phillipa on February 23, 2009, at 23:18:03
In reply to Re: Disclosure at work » Dinah, posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 23:07:48
T even medical professionals are on meds and must do drug screening as long as legit script for the med it's fine. Love Phillipa
Posted by JadeKelly on February 23, 2009, at 23:47:41
In reply to Disclosure at work, posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 21:50:17
Hi TC,
I think its none of their business and unprofessional that they would think it okay for them to see everyones meds! What if someone has something that would be terribly embarressing?
I would calmly tell them that while you have nothing to hide, privacy at work is important to you and you'll be happy to fax it for him. I believe he is violating some privacy law, and the insurer is allowing it. IMHO!!
~Jade
Posted by Dinah on February 24, 2009, at 0:13:06
In reply to Re: Disclosure at work » Dinah, posted by TexasChic on February 23, 2009, at 23:07:48
Not wise. Just very experienced in the difficulties peculiar to very small companies. Things that seem so reasonable in large companies just aren't in a small company.
The upside is that just as everything is known to everyone, there is really very little behind the scenes maneuvering or politics that is the norm in larger companies.
I like it myself, despite the downside.
Posted by TexasChic on February 24, 2009, at 21:59:25
In reply to Re: Disclosure at work » TexasChic, posted by Dinah on February 24, 2009, at 0:13:06
So it came time to fax my paperwork, I tried to explain why I had taped it up with several pieces of tape. I say, "It says right here that if you want to protect your privacy you can tape up pages 2 and 3. But its not really a big deal, I can untape it if needed"". My boss says, "Okay, I promise not to look at it".
Later... my boss comes in and says, "I just wanted to let you know, the insurance may say you have to wait a certain period of time to allow for preexisting conditions. So, if you have some medication you were on, don't get right back on them until that time period is up, or they may try to say it was a preexisting condition and they won't cover it.
So after that, I figure he looked at the meds I was on (it was kind of obvious), but was at least trying to give me some good advice.
And although I agree with JadeKelly that its probably not exactly legal, like Dinah said its different for a small company. Your HR person is also your boss, so what are you going to do, quit?
So.,..there you go. We'll see what happens next.
-T
Posted by Kath on February 25, 2009, at 12:53:00
In reply to Here's what happened..., posted by TexasChic on February 24, 2009, at 21:59:25
Sounds like it was a sort of awkward situation!
But it sounds like it worked out okay. Your boss might not have looked at the sheets; might have just given some thought to the situation & wanted to let you know about the waiting period.
I really agree with some comments above - I think psych meds are not at all uncommon these days. I suspect that almost everyone knows someone who is on anti-depressants or some such meds.
I think that your old job & old boss really did a number on you as to your sense of security. I can't remember if they knew you were on meds, but didn't they knew that you had a medical condition that sometimes had an impact on either your work, or how you dealt with certain aspects of your work? I'm sorry TC - I can't exactly remember, but I thought there was something like that.
That was the job/boss-from-hell - so if they did know, I'd certainly think it would NOT feel like the most comfortable situation for your current boss to know.
I send hugs, Kath
Posted by Phillipa on February 25, 2009, at 19:07:17
In reply to Re: Here's what happened... » TexasChic, posted by Kath on February 25, 2009, at 12:53:00
T did you let your insurance lapse if not must accept the preesisting condition if no insurance at time of employment I think they can not cover. Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.