7 ms·

is this an early april fools joke? every card in my wallet either needs to be used as a physical object (i.e. swiped, hole-punched) or is there for an emergency

by bgruber 14y ago

is this an early april fools joke? every card in my wallet either needs to be used as a physical object (i.e. swiped, hole-punched) or is there for an emergency situation (health insurance, 2-factor-auth don't-have-my-phone codes). I really don't understand what this is for.

gk1 14y ago
I don't carry a wallet. For the past four years I've been carrying just a money clip with cash, ID, and one credit card. You mentioned health insurance cards, and this would be a good way for someone like me to have my insurance info on hand.
- jvdh 14y ago
  The useful thing about a physical insurance card is that everybody can read it when you're unresponsive and in need of help. A smartphone app is not going to be able to replicate that. Only thing you could do is change your lock screen to include this kind of data (and/or a pointer).
  - jessriedel 14y ago
    Do people honestly still believe this trope about the hospital needing your physical insurance card when you're unconscious? That they downgrade your emergency care if you don't have the good insurance? This is not a thing that happens. The physical card is so you have the info in a difficult-to-lose form when you go to a doctor's appt, check into the ER with a broken bone, etc.
    - jack9 14y ago
      > Do people honestly still believe this trope about the hospital needing your physical insurance card when you're unconscious? That they downgrade your emergency care if you don't have the good insurance? This is not a thing that happens. You are correct. However, in an emergency room, time matters and mistakes happen. I suppose mistakes due to holes in information could be equated to a lower quality of care, since you get similar results. Someone giving me a common antibiotic like Tetracycline will kill me (that's just for starters on the list of personal perils). Unless they have the first page of my very thick historical charts or electronic medical record up on the screen with the allergies up at the top, I have a low chance of surviving when I'm unconscious.
  - brechin 14y ago
    Plus... many places want to scan/photocopy your insurance card. I'm not sure how that would work from a smartphone screen.
- Goronmon 14y ago
  I don't carry a wallet. For the past four years I've been carrying just a money clip with cash, ID, and one credit card. That's splitting hairs a bit isn't it? You are still using an object that serves the same purpose that a wallet does.

by bgruber 14y ago

gk1 14y ago

I don't carry a wallet. For the past four years I've been carrying just a money clip with cash, ID, and one credit card. You mentioned health insurance cards, and this would be a good way for someone like me to have my insurance info on hand.

jvdh 14y ago
The useful thing about a physical insurance card is that everybody can read it when you're unresponsive and in need of help. A smartphone app is not going to be able to replicate that. Only thing you could do is change your lock screen to include this kind of data (and/or a pointer).
- jessriedel 14y ago
  Do people honestly still believe this trope about the hospital needing your physical insurance card when you're unconscious? That they downgrade your emergency care if you don't have the good insurance? This is not a thing that happens. The physical card is so you have the info in a difficult-to-lose form when you go to a doctor's appt, check into the ER with a broken bone, etc.
  - jack9 14y ago
    > Do people honestly still believe this trope about the hospital needing your physical insurance card when you're unconscious? That they downgrade your emergency care if you don't have the good insurance? This is not a thing that happens. You are correct. However, in an emergency room, time matters and mistakes happen. I suppose mistakes due to holes in information could be equated to a lower quality of care, since you get similar results. Someone giving me a common antibiotic like Tetracycline will kill me (that's just for starters on the list of personal perils). Unless they have the first page of my very thick historical charts or electronic medical record up on the screen with the allergies up at the top, I have a low chance of surviving when I'm unconscious.
- brechin 14y ago
  Plus... many places want to scan/photocopy your insurance card. I'm not sure how that would work from a smartphone screen.
Goronmon 14y ago
I don't carry a wallet. For the past four years I've been carrying just a money clip with cash, ID, and one credit card. That's splitting hairs a bit isn't it? You are still using an object that serves the same purpose that a wallet does.