Who sold my name to Gerber life insurance? The hospital or my health insurer? You be the judge

Today I got a flyer in the mail (with my name on it) to sign up for Gerber Life insurance. As you probably know, this is not the best way to buy life insurance, and is typically marketed to new parents. I haven’t gotten anything similar in the mail for many years.

Two months ago, my daughter (same last name, same address), gave birth to a baby. She is on my insurance, and so the hospital had my name as the named insured for her. That’s my only connection to the hospital, and they don’t even have a record of me visiting (unless they’re doing facial recognition at the door). They also attempted to charge my insurance for the baby’s care after he was born, but the charge was denied. My insurer sent me an EOB saying they would reconsider the charges after I add him as my child (which I can’t do because he isn’t my child).

Which of these two parties do you think sold my name to Gerber? The hospital (I was never listed as a patient or the father) or my health insurer? I may end up complaining to both my state insurance commissioner and my state’s health department about both just to be on the safe side.

I’d think more likely from the birth certificate filing or any of the baby oriented companies she may have registered with during pregnancy. I’d circular file it and move on.

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Cross referencing an address to get a name can likely be done in more ways than can be counted.

Since it’s your insurance you are recorded as the responsible party. When you sign up for insurance you likely agree to “affiliate marketing” in the fine print somewhere.

Throw it away and move on.

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Perhaps. But if my employer is subjecting me to “affiliate marketing” by signing up for health insurance, then I have a different complaint. But still a complaint.

I’m probably not too far out on a limb in saying that virtually everything you can sign up for has affiliate marketing in the mouse print.