If you are concerned about the privacy of your health information, you should discuss such restrictions with your providers because of the complicated nature of medical records and medical billing. For example, a patient who wishes to conceal a diagnosis of diabetes may pay for an appointment with a specialist out of pocket to keep it from an insurance company while also using insurance to obtain insulin or test strips. Even without disclosure of the diagnosis, the patient's record clearly indicates the underlying condition. Similarly, if a patient does not make a promised payment, a provider can attempt to obtain it through the patient's insurance, thereby overriding the restriction.