Privacy concerns over health care website prompt reversal

[Politically_Incorrect12]

Privacy concerns over health care website prompt reversal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bowing to privacy concerns, the Obama administration reversed itself Friday, scaling back the release of consumers' personal information from the government's health insurance website to private companies with a commercial interest in the data.


The administration made the changes to HealthCare.gov after The Associated Press reported earlier this week that the website was quietly sending consumers' personal data to companies that specialize in advertising and analyzing Internet data for performance and marketing.

The personal details included age, income, ZIP code, tobacco use and whether a woman is pregnant.

That prompted lawmakers to demand an explanation, while privacy advocates called on the administration to make changes.

Analysis of the website Friday by the AP showed that the administration had made changes to reduce the outbound flow of personal information. Before that, the website was explicitly sending personal data to third-party sites.

The site is used by millions to sign up for coverage under the health care law, or to merely browse for insurance plans in their communities.

Read more at: news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-govt-reverses-health-care-182935939.html

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Selling personal info should be banned altogether. Marketing companies when calling should ask first if you are willing to take part in whatever they are trying to accomplish.

Personal data, especially the health related data should be absolutely private and for the use of the health insurance and doctors only. No tird parties- ie online pharmacies- should have acces to it.

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I'm guessing no one saw THIS coming...