auto insurance agent asking for health insurance card; why?

[space-time]

we decided to switch to AllState since their quote is competitive, but now this:

"I would just need a copy of the registrations to the vehicles and a copy of your health insurance card."

I never heard of an auto insurer asking for health insurance cards. Is that what they do these days?

[norse]

Not mine.

IMHO, Allstate is not highly rated.

[rjmacs]

space-time wrote:
we decided to switch to AllState since their quote is competitive, but now this:

"I would just need a copy of the registrations to the vehicles and a copy of your health insurance card."

I never heard of an auto insurer asking for health insurance cards. Is that what they do these days?

That doesn't sound legal, but check with your state insurance commissioner.

[AllGold]

Might be trying to lower premiums on the auto insurance by shifting medical claims to your health insurance. Ask him.

Personally, I would be hesitant.

[Buzz]

Most auto insurance includes medical coverage, and it kinda makes sense that they might want to check for terms, to see if the the auto's med coverage would be primary or secondary in the event of an accident, and/or to see how much coverage you have to determine how much auto med coverage you might need.... or they might just be phishing for health insurance leads, and somebody will then try to sell you competing health coverage.
==

[gabester]

I'd say "Oops it's in my other wallet, what do you need that for?"

RED FLAG. This does not sound kosher to me.
Then I'd work with a different agent.

[rz]

Yeah, I'd ask him WHY he needs it. If he can't give a satisfactory answer (or even if he can and you don't like the answer), I'd look elsewhere.

I had a doctor's office a few years ago try to insist I put my SSN on a form. They said it was for insurance purposes. I told them that was BS. My health insurance company had stopped associating SSN with member number years before. After a heated exchange with the receptionist, she went to talk to the office manager, who finally came out and said they didn't need it after all.

[Will Collier]

I'd tell him no, and if he pushed it, hell no.

Ditto to the doctors office asking for an SSN. Per Clark Howard, that's purely to make it easier on bill collection. Given how poorly that data is protected in commercial offices, I'd never give it out fir anything other than credit applications.

[space-time]

rz wrote:
...

I had a doctor's office a few years ago try to insist I put my SSN on a form. They said it was for insurance purposes. I told them that was BS. My health insurance company had stopped associating SSN with member number years before. After a heated exchange with the receptionist, she went to talk to the office manager, who finally came out and said they didn't need it after all.

when a doctor's office asks for SSN, I bring out my foreign accent and tell them I don't have a SSN.

[Mr645]

The agent probably wants to see what health coverage you have in order to suggest proper auto coverage.