Navigating Health Insurance Privacy: A Personal Dilemma

As a young adult still covered by my parents’ health insurance, I’ve recently encountered a situation that’s left me feeling anxious and vulnerable. A $500 charge has appeared on our insurance statement for what is labeled as an “emergency room visit.” However, the vague description of the charge has me worried—particularly because I’ve expressed a different reason to my mom.

I initially told her that I went to the ER due to food poisoning, but the truth is far more serious. My visit stemmed from a traumatic experience, and while I did not proceed with a rape kit, I did seek help while in the hospital. Now, I find myself concerned that my mother may attempt to uncover the true nature of my visit by contacting either the hospital or the insurance company.

One of my biggest worries is whether the hospital can retroactively change how the reason for my visit is documented, especially since I did not undergo certain procedures that might have recorded the event differently. Given that I’m still on my mom’s plan, I’m uncertain about what information she can access regarding my healthcare, even though I am legally considered an adult.

Questions flood my mind: Can she obtain more than the billing code associated with my visit? Is it possible for me to request the hospital to adjust their record of the visit to maintain my privacy? The overwhelming nature of this situation has left me searching for guidance and support.

If anyone has experienced something similar or possesses insights on healthcare privacy, your advice would be invaluable to me. Thank you for reading and for any help you might offer.