Your insurance company knows what you’re eating.
Have you noticed how many stores these days are trying to get you to sign up for their loyalty rewards programs? When you do, every time you use your card you can save something like 5 percent on your purchases. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? I mean, you were probably going to shop there anyway, but now you have an added incentive to visit that particular store rather than a competitor because it’ll save you money.
Actually, it is a very sweet deal…for the store. But it could be a very sour deal for you. The real reason that stores want their customers using these cards is not so that they can keep you coming back, although that’s an added bonus, but rather because they can sell your purchasing habits to a variety of marketing firms, health insurance companies and other businesses that are interested in keeping tabs on you.
Some of those companies that buy your information won’t do anything more annoying than target you with some ads. But others, such as health insurance companies, could be using your purchasing habits to turn you down for coverage, adjust your rates or maybe even deny your claims altogether. How is that possible?
Well, if they see that you’re buying a lot of ice cream, they may think you’re a health risk for diabetes. If you buy a lot of processed meats and homogenized milk, they may peg you as a risk for cardiovascular disease. If you buy a lot of processed foods with chemical sweeteners and preservatives, they may see you as a cancer risk.
Check out this article, “Grocery Loyalty Card Purchases Surveyed by Insurance Companies to Raise Rates and Deny Claims.” It’s gotten so you can’t even go out and pick up a few groceries for your family without Big Brother watching over your shoulder.
The writer of this article says that if you’re going to get a store’s loyalty rewards card, use a fictitious name. That way, you can enjoy the discounts without giving them your personal information and risking having your insurance rates raised.
Do you believe that your grocery store should have the right to sell information about you and your purchasing habits to third parties including insurance companies? Do you think it’s worth the 5 percent savings to allow companies to know what you’re buying? Please let me know what you think about this important topic.
Ten years ago my computer prof told our class about this. He had worked for the gov but quit when he saw what they were up to. Also told us that TVs would contain a spy camera when they went digital. So cover your TV when not in use. Now do you see why they tried so hard to “subsidize” those converter boxes? Start thinking like a paranoid because you’ll be right at least half the time.
The NSA program for collecting Unlawful & Unconstitutional confiscation of all personal information & spying on American citizens, which when the original NSA & Homeland Security programs were submitted after 9/11 was disguised to be used for national security and to be used for seeking any & all information on any terrorist groups & their affiliates & especially nuclear threats against the U.S.A. & it’s citizens. Since this program NSA & Homeland Security was accepted under the original status presented to the American citizens and 13 plus years later there have been plenty of Whistleblowers”BEAST” their computer’s name & if we don’t accept their mark on our hand, forehead, or implanted chip, or possibly a type of “Tattoo” when our economy collapses we will be unable to buy or sell food, water, gasoline, & needs to sustain life & we won’t have the $1.00 bill anymore cuz BHO has already come up with a replacement monetary system, cuz the USA is already a bankrupt nation for printing paper reserve notes without gold backing out of thin air, also thanks to BHO for his wasteful spending of tax payer unlawful/forced contributions. Either we will be caught up (Raptured) from this planet if we have been born again & accepted Jesus Christ as Our Savior & Lord who paid the price for all mankind sins when He was Crucified on the “CROSS” @ Mount Calvary or we can still make it to Heaven if we are martyr’s for the cause of Jesus Christ sake & are beheaded by the anti-christ for not accepting him as a god or our god, by refusing to take the Mark of the Beast, Or we can accept the “MARK of the BEAST” & be given temporary food, housing (FEMA CAMPS) etc. provided by the USA government. The downside to the latter choice we will be spending eternity in hell with all the demons & minion followers of lucifer (the devil & imposter god the anti-christ) & be tortured by them forever in hell. There is as of this day still time to make the right choice which GOD do you want to follow & serve is the GOD of the Universe & Creator GOD of all things & believing in the “TRINITY” Our Creator God & Father God, Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of GOD (the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world) or paid the price for all mankind sins from Adam & Eve up to the very last human being born on Earth & the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT whom Jesus Christ left here on earth to help the believers in the Gospel of the Holy Bible & teacher of these truths when Jesus Christ ascended unto Heaven when He was resurrected after being crucified ending His physical life of 33 years of age.
This is why I never use rewards cards of any type. It is bad enough that all our phone calls, cell and land line are monitored for “buz words” all of our email stored and monitored, traffic cams, road cams, store cams, school cams, cameras every damn place watching all of us. Not gonna make it any easier for the government and big bro to be in my business. Let’s face it people we have long surpassed George Orwell ‘s book “1984”. It is now a way of life, and a lot of us said it would never happen. So what do you think now????
It is no body’s business what I buy and besides since there is a diabetic living in my home not all the food is going to everyone living here. I don’t need or want big brother checking up on me, I can take care of myself without there over site.
I couldn’t agree MORE!
Both Safeway and Giant here in the Washington DC metropolitan area accept phone numbers for their loyalty cards. So, I just use the number 202-456-1414, which is the White House Main Switchboard. You could also use the number of a local prison, or the nearest State Police Barracks (a lady I knew did that when creeps asked for her number.)
Great idea. LOVE IT!
Pay CASH for everything. It is difficult to trace who purchases with cash, No rewards cards. I do the reward card for office supplies. WE all need ink or things I buy for my work. AARP keeps harassing me too. I just shred their garbage.
No they shouldn’t. It’s downright disguding .
I purchased a really nice shirt at a department store this week. It was originally priced at $50.00 but was on sale for $19.99. I used the 15% off coupon from an ad flyer and $10.00 from customer rewards points I had accumulated. So with tax I paid $7.59 for a $50 shirt. Who cares that I bought my husband a shirt? I also got him a beautiful, like new shirt at Goodwill this week too. My point is that when money is tight, I do whatever I have to, that is legal, in order to make it. We are both on social “insecurity” and my husband just started a part time job and needed a few more nice shirts for work. Even with the job on top of our social security, our budget is too tight to be able to afford basic essentials that I once didn’t think twice about buying before. The powers that be in this country know that the financial squeeze will cause some of us to give up personal information in order to save a little money. But, thanks Frank, I did not know that my favorite department store might be selling my personal information.
I remember when I went to a Baskin Robbins ice cream store to get a chocolate ice cream cone. On the counter there were cards saying join our birthday club. You fill out your name, address, birthday, and telephone number. Then on your birthday you are entitled to a free cone. An Air Force recruiter came in and was talking to a coworker about how the Selective Service came up with this idea to get information on prospective inductee’s by giving the kids free ice cream cones while getting their personal information for free. Sure enough, when I turned 16, I received a notice from the Selective Service to register for the draft.
Now, years later when I turned 50, I got a mailer from AARP informing me that I am eligible to become a member. I was shocked and amazed that they were able to find me; not to mention to know when I had turned 50. After all, I didn’t fill the Baskin Robbins card nor any other card that I can recall.
The bottom line is this, the moment you are born, you are attached with strings that will follow you throughout the rest of your life. It is just that now, we have computers that can make those strings last your life time. Just last week, Ford Motor Company called me to request my e-mail address just because I stop in a dealership to have my car checked out and I failed to give them my e-mail address. Lucky for them I didn’t answer the phone because I would have told them where to go and how to get there. It was none of their business and there was a reason why I didn’t want to give out my e-mail address, junk e-mail comes to mind.
You are warned not to give out any of your personal information. You get assurances that the information that you are compelled to surrender will remain safe and will not be sold or used by third party agencies. Well, we have seen lately how well are private our information is really maintained. You even hear that the Federal Tax agency, IRS will not share any information about you to any other agency. Yet when I had a problem with the IRS; it was only to be followed up with the State Tax Board also inquiring as to why I had my problem with the IRS. I know damn well that the IRS talks to the State Tax Board, otherwise, how would the State know that the IRS and I had a tax problem?
Trust no one for any reason. Any information that is given, written down, put into the computer, or submitted by you or others will follow you for life. Even the three credit card bureaus try to trick you into updating the information that they have on you. Who can dish out the more accurate information on you? Who can dig a bigger hole for you to fall in, the credit bureaus or yourself?
To fix this problem is to go back to the old school ways. Pay cash for everything. You must save your money until you can get what you need or want. Otherwise, you will have to dance to their tunes and give out your personal information and have it follow you for the rest of your life.
YOUR PRIVATE INFO IS AT AN ARMS REACH. I GET EMAILS THAT HAVE MY FULL NAME. HOW DO THEY GET THAT? YOUR IDENITY IS EVERYWHERE.ON THE INTERNET. THATS WHERE YOUR FOUND. HACKERS CAN GET YOUR IP ADDRESS AND GET ALL YOUR INFO FROM YOUR ISP PROVIDER. WHAT ME WORRY. I’M ON MEDICARE. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TO ME. NOT A DAMN THING.
This sounds like some marketing companies are selling the companies a bogus scam. Yes, they can tell what you buy but they don’t know what you are doing with the purchase. For instance I could buy some wine but that doesn’t mean I am drinking it. I could be using it to cook with essentially cooking out the alcohol. I can steam hotdogs in beer no alcohol there. I can buy coconut oil but that doesn’t mean I am eating it. I might be putting in on the dog’s rash.
What do they do with families one person could be a vegetarian the other into decoupage using a lot of flour for making art? The point is they are wasting their time and money trying to figure out what you are eating and the results could be complete failure because they don’t have the time or resources to unravel every person’s usage of products they buy. It is a great idea if you are drumming up business to survive in the marketing world but a disaster if you think the data is any good. Sit back and watch the dummies spend their money for nothing.
I hate it that anyone buys and sells my personal information. I think I will cancel the cards I have and apply again in a fictitious name as you suggested. Thank you for telling the truth about this scam!
I’m still waiting for the temporary income tax to end. LOL
Hmm, here again it requires my email address!!! More junk email? I certainly hope not. I get so much junk Email now that I can’t even erase it fast enough to get the ones that are important to me.
I am with you Jennifer. Also My Dad waited his entire life for the “temporary” drivers license to be removed!! He said, “Yes, they ended the temporary $.50 driver’s license and made it a dollar. Well Now it is at least $25 here in Washington. So much for temporary anything. And they keep wanting the citizens here to fall for a “Temporary” income tax!! They have tried multiple ways to get that through, so far, it hasn’t worked. Hopefully, people are aware of their meaning of Temporary!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for this information. I will change my purchasing habits when using any store reward card, this also has me thinking about not using checks or credit/ debit cards. From now on CASH on many items!
Frank, it’s always good to hear from
you and the different things you keep us updated on. I really appreciate all you do.Keep in touch!
Thanks,
David
Don Ludgate…get a grip. Insurance companies have always spread the risk amongst the “good and the bad” and for what reason. Well, think about this. In the health field those who are dedicated to their health will pay the premium but not use the benefit. So they are “overcharged”. Those that subscribe to less healthy lifestyles will use the benefit but not pay their share of the premium because of their “lifestyle”. But the Insurance company ultimately will benefit because they will raise the premium if and when their profit margin dwindles and who ends up getting the least advantage…the healthy lifestyle person. Incidentally, our gov’t uses a similar program called “taxation” where the benefit will be many of the “food stamp, welfare recipients” who pay nothing and many never have paid anything.
I GOT VERY ILL AND FOUND OUT I HAVE 3 INCURABLE VIRUS’S IN MY BRAIN. I HAD TO GO ON FOOD STAMPS FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT WAS VERY HUMILATING FOR ME TO HAVE TO BE ON WELFARE.
I try my best to use cash every chance I can. We have became a cashless society. I own a business and always pais cash when possible for inventory. With in the last year, all of my vendors no longer accept cash. Pretty said when cash is not acceptable.
The Freedom Fight starts with each of us. High tech has been such a marvel, it’s so hard to resist. Pull out that credit card, get those discounts…especially on gas! I liked writing one check for all those purchases, but guess I always knew cash would be a better idea. Even wonder about the ATM? Ever been given that look at the bank when withdrawing cash or moving a matured cd?
just and example of “Big Brother”. I gave my son some money to purchase things for a house that he plans to build for me. I had two ladies that I had never seen before come to see if I was being abused by my son, because of those purchases. They had been told BY MY BANK that I was using my money in ways that they thought was suspicious.
Within the last couple of months, Shaws Super markets have discontinued there cards. Could this be to stay a head of the curve? Maybe they saw it coming, and did not want to scare people away.
WOW! I had no idea. I knew there was a gimmick behind those cards. But the insurance companies. That is so not right. How is that legal? A false name, huh. Good idea. Thanks.
YOU STILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM YOUR REAL PHONE NUMBER, OR IT WONT WORK. I TRIED.
No, I don’t think they should sell our information, but they will anyway. There are still some stores that don’t use loyalty cards. I would patronize them whenever possible, and tell the management that you appreciate the fact that they offer competitive prices without the hassle of having to use a card. Using a fake name may work as long as you always pay with cash. If you pay with a check or credit/debit card, your personal information will still be linked to your order. For the occasional purchase that you really want to keep private, you can go to a store where you don’t regularly shop, and pay cash.
Aloha Frank,
Thanks for the information. Our lack of knowledge will kill us….thanks
Usually you have the option of clipping the coupon or going online and reserving it, I usually opt for the coupon though I never realized they could use this against me. Often I only reserve it in case I want the item and never get there. Good info
Wow…everytime I think I have heard it all, there is another corner of my life big brother is into! :(
This is over the top, but so is spying on citizens and allies…
Sounds like more Marxism/communism
What happened to ‘Land of the Free’??? We have become ‘Home of the Brave’ because just conducting everyday functions leaves us in peril of losing the freedoms that we assumed we had. It’s a whole new world & I find it very distasteful for stores to offer us something while going behind our back & eroding those freedoms.
I am sure they are selling the info to more than insurance companies. However at my age I figure I will be long gone before i have any problems. And besides if the groceries wouldn’t make the food that is good for you so darn expensive we would all be eating better. In one breath they say we should not be eating canned food, in the next they warn of all the dangers of being sure you know exactly where the fresh is coming from and who is growing it. so go figure
Let’s just say that I haven’t signed up for any rewards cards lately and don’t intend doing so.
I had thought it a great idea until, while taking a marketing class–or may be it was business survey, I don’t remember for sure–our professor informed us that while we were enjoying “discounts”, the store was racking up all sorts of information about..how to market to us more. In the store’s eyes, the 5% will be worth it because they may more effectively “cater” to your needs. Ie. Even without selling info to anyone–which I suspect they also do–they learn how to persuade you to spend more money.
Of course, it is a trivial coding challenge to link your fictitious loyalty card to the card(s) you use for payment. All captured in the same transaction. Cash is king.
I can understand that the more an insurance company can identify your health risk the better they are able to adjust the premium to fit the risk. I do not blame them for wanting to have the lowest risk possible and thus make a huge profit. But whatever happened to the original plan of spreading the risk among the good and bad risks and equalizing the cost more evenly for the benifit of all not just the insurance company?
There isn’t much profit in it.
That is pretty horrible and a terrible abuse to more of our liberties.
Frank
Thank you for the heads up about these supermarket loyalty cards. I will follow your recommendations and pass it along to every one I know.
And to answer your question: Its definitely not worth getting the 5% discount to have the grocery store give up you personal information to these insurance companies. I think its appalling and against the law. It is certainly against or Constitutional Rights!
Michael
I think this is wrong to share our information with anyone else. We would probably not be affected, insurance-wise, because we don’t buy any junk food, but it’s still no one else’s business. I may quit using their store cards.
No they should not sell any information to any one. To much big brother going on these days.
I believe this could easily happen having worked in health care for many years.
I guess if you voluntary give them the info I guess it’s OK. I would be more concerned if the big Pharma got this info so that they could push more high profit drugs.The drugs would be to mask the effects of us eating such a lousy diet!