My mom and I go to the same psychiatrist (no crazy jokes, this shit runs in the family). I started out going there on my parents insurance, but I haven't been on their insurance in almost 6 years. I still live at home, to help out and get on my feet so that I never have to move out and then move back in six months later. So my address hasn't changed.
Two days ago my psychiatrist's office sends my parents a bill. It's an itemization of all services and charges, what's been sent to insurance and what insurance isn't paying, etc etc. Complete with social security numbers.
WITH MY INFORMATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL SECURITY, PLASTERED ALL OVER IT.
Now, granted, yes they just sent my info to my parents. It's not like they sent it to someone else who has my name (I have a common name, it's happened before). However, anyone heard of HIPAA? I could slap them with a lawsuit if I was really vindictive. Luckily, I'm not.
So, my mother calls up the office, tells them the problem. And what do they say? "No, we separated those out. I know because I told Dr. So-and-so that that's what I did." Well, congratulations honey. No apology, no nothing. Just flatly telling us that what we're seeing with our own eyes is completely wrong. I work in medical billing. I deal with it every day. If I pulled that sort of crapsuckery, I'd be fired on the spot. We ended up faxing them what we'd received and still haven't gotten a response.