Hospitals also keep records on patients they've served. If you file a claim for an emergency room visit, chances are your insurance company will also send that information to the Medical Information Bureau. In one famous case, an Iowa woman sought treatment in an emergency room after an incident of domestic violence. Later, she was turned down for life insurance because of it. Regulators have since taken steps to protect domestic violence victims, but protection varies from state to state.
Pharmacies also store information about the kinds of medication that customers use.
Considering the fatal consequences of certain drug combinations, tracking a patient's medication can be crucial. But in some states, it is perfectly legal for pharmacies to sell your information to drug companies, who can then use it for direct marketing. Sometimes, you may not even know that you're dealing with another company. About half of all life, health and disability insurance companies contract with a third party to collect your medical records. Intellisys differs from the MIB, though, in that it doesn't retain any of the data it acquires.