Why Health Insurers Want to Read your Facebook Page

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Can your Facebook profile prevent you from getting health insurance?

That might depend on the outcome of an upcoming court case. As Portfolio explains, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is entrenched in two class-action lawsuits regarding whether or not blog posts, LiveJournal entries or any other online writings are fair game for review by health-insurance companies.

The plaintiffs, who are parents of teenagers, took legal action when Horizon denied their kids coverage for anorexia and bulimia. Law.com reports that Horizon claims that the teenagers’ online postings, e-mails, journal and diary entries can offer insight about the cause of the disorder, which would determine whether or not the insurer (in this case, Horizon), is responsible for payment. Under New Jersey law, mental illness coverage is only required if it is biologically based. We don’t know what the other causes might be (Environmental? Peer Pressure? Anyone have an opinion?), but therein lie the conflict.

One of the many good reasons why it's prudent to use an alias when you communicate your thoughts and feelings online.

Or just don't allow insurance companies to add you as a friend on facebook. Although autism is biological so they wouldn't have been able to deny coverage in this case, there's no reason to accept a friend request from the insurance company.

Or just don't allow insurance companies to add you as a friend on facebook. Although autism is biological so they wouldn't have been able to deny coverage in this case, there's no reason to accept a friend request from the insurance company.