third-party apps
Through mobile apps, you will have digital access to your personal information so you can better understand and manage your health care needs.
Overview
One way we support Wyoming is by helping you get and pay for the health care you need to live a healthy and productive life. Part of this commitment is ensuring the information you need about your BCBSWY coverage is available to support you when and where you need it.
You own your health coverage information and should be able to easily get to it and share it with others. Through mobile apps, you will have digital access to your personal information so you can better understand and manage your health care needs from a smartphone, tablet, laptop computer and other mobile devices.
What Are Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps are developed by independent IT experts that are not part of BCBSWY. The apps require a Patient Access API (application programming interface) to securely connect you to your BCBSWY coverage information using your own personal mobile device. You can choose to download these apps from your app store but be aware that these apps are not subject to HIPAA rules and other privacy and security laws which generally protect your health information.
Who Can Use Third-Party Apps
Coverage information will be available through third-party apps for current BCBSWY members who have purchased their health plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace or Healthcare.gov.
What to Expect
Third-party apps will allow you to look at your BCBSWY medical claims and personal medical information.
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What to Consider
Before using a third-party app, use caution and watch for these things.
- An easy-to-read privacy and security policy that clearly explains how the app will use your data and answers the following questions to your satisfaction:
- What health data will this app collect? Will this app collect non-health data from my device, such as my location?
- Will my data be stored in a de-identified or anonymized form?
- How will this app use my data?
- Will this app disclose my data to third parties?
- Will this app sell my data for any reason, such as advertising or research?
- Will this app share my data for any reason? If so, with whom? For what purpose?
- How can I limit this app’s use and disclosure of my data?
- What security measures does this app use to protect my data?
- What impact could sharing my data with this app have on others, such as my family members?
- How can I access my data and correct inaccuracies in data retrieved by this app?
- Does this app have a process for collecting and responding to user complaints?
- If I no longer want to use this app, or if I no longer want this app to have access to my health information, how do I terminate the app’s access to my data.
- What is the app’s policy for deleting my data once I terminate access? Do I have to do more than just delete the app from my device?
- How does this app inform users of changes that could affect its privacy practices?
- If the app’s privacy policy does not clearly answer these questions, patients should reconsider using the app to access their health information. Health information is very sensitive information, and patients should be careful to choose apps with strong privacy and security standards to protect it.
- What are a patient’s rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and who must follow HIPAA?
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and the Patient Safety Act and Rule.
You can find more information about patient rights under HIPAA and who is obligated to follow HIPAA here: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/guidance-materials-for-consumers/index.html
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- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and the Patient Safety Act and Rule.