House discusses bill to stop printing Social Security numbers on health insurance cards; members 'circle' the bill

Representative Cheryl L. Allen described House Bill 181 as a consumer-protection measure to prevent Social Security numbers from being preprinted and visibly displayed on health insurance cards. Allen said the bill would take effect July 1, 2004, and would not prevent insurers or hospitals from using Social Security numbers as internal identifiers; it would simply stop prominent display on cards carried in wallets.

Allen said she worked with the insurance industry to avoid imposing extra costs, and the bill includes an administrative option allowing insurers to seek a six-month extension from the state insurance commissioner if they have timing difficulties in reissuing cards. She told the House that Medicare and ERISA plans are governed by federal law and would not be affected by the state bill.

Representative Shurtleff and Representative Donaldson raised questions on the floor. Shurtleff asked whether the bill would affect Medicare cards; Allen replied Medicare would not be affected because it is a federal program. Donaldson asked whether the language could open the door to a national ID; Allen replied she was not aware of any federal national ID system and that federal law would take precedence if such a system existed. Following debate, Representative Donaldson moved to "circle" the bill (hold it for further consideration). The motion to circle HB 181 passed on a voice vote as recorded in the transcript excerpt.

The transcript excerpt does not include a final recorded roll-call tally or an amended bill text; it records members' questions, the sponsor's answers, and the procedural decision to circle the bill for further work.