53 - Insurance debit cards that reveal health history

Here's a short piece from an article in Eweek.com. Bigger brother or convenience?

"Patients covered by UnitedHealth Group will soon receive patient identification cards that they can use as debit cards for medical expenses and that doctors can use to access patients' personal health information electronically.

The new cards, which will carry the MasterCard logo, can be swiped like a credit card at a doctors' office or other certified health provider. But in addition to providing payment, the cards can be used to confirm eligibility for services and provide access to personal health information at the point of care."

Link - Patients