I heard that the medical records of animals are confidential. Are my records confidential as well?

It might not seem fair that the medical records of animals are strictly confidential and the records of consumers are not. As a matter of fact, medical records are treated like government property instead of personal property.

Dr. Deborah Peel, past president of the National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers claims, "All medical records will be treated as if they are government property, not individual property.'

It is highly crucial to keep in mind that medical records are not confidential and are shared in a large database that will help insurers identify your premiums.

Many consumers don't know what patient privacy interests were balanced against. According to HHS, here is what they were balanced against:

• Researchers need to access data for studies

• Public health and safety

• Health plan sponsors have "legitimate needs' for medical information

• Administrative burdens

• Great information for health insurers

• Will be used to identify your premiums

• Will have certain evaluations made that will help you later on

• Will help doctors know what you were sick with previously

• Will tell life insurance companies and let them evaluate how long you have to live

• Will identify the negative and positive aspects of your health

• Will be a government-based amount of documents

• No more requirement to get your consent to use these records

As you can see from the results above, you can now know that your medical records will be used for a variety of things, including identifying premiums. The records of animals are different, probably because they don't have to pay for their premiums. Life insurance, health insurance, and even auto insurance companies need to check these records and see how you are doing when it comes to health. Drinking, drugs, attempted suicide, good health, bad health - companies need to know all of these factors.