Does PerYourHealth Store Payment Information Securely?
Understanding how PerYourHealth handles your payment information is crucial for privacy and security. This comprehensive guide explains data storage practices, security measures, and how you can control your payment information when using PerYourHealth.com for medical bill payments.
PerYourHealth Data Storage Overview
PerYourHealth.com operates as a healthcare payment processor, which means it must balance convenience with strict security requirements. The platform handles sensitive financial and medical information, requiring robust data protection measures that comply with both healthcare (HIPAA) and financial (PCI DSS) industry regulations.
Unlike typical e-commerce sites, PerYourHealth must consider patient privacy alongside financial security. This dual responsibility influences how payment information is stored, accessed, and protected. The platform is designed to process payments efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of data protection.
What Payment Information Is Stored
PerYourHealth may store different types of payment information, depending on your choices and system configuration:
Payment Method Details
What's stored: Last 4 digits of cards, card type (Visa/Mastercard), expiration date
What's not stored: Full card numbers, CVV security codes
Purpose: Display saved payment methods for future use
Bank Account Information
What's stored: Bank name, last 4 digits of account number, routing number (sometimes)
What's not stored: Full account numbers, online banking passwords
Purpose: Enable ACH transfers and recurring payments
Billing Information
What's stored: Billing address, name on card/account
What's not stored: Sensitive personal information beyond what's needed for payment
Purpose: Address verification and fraud prevention
Payment History
What's stored: Payment dates, amounts, confirmation numbers, method used
What's not stored: Full payment method details in history logs
Purpose: Account management and receipt generation
Security Technologies Used
PerYourHealth employs multiple layers of security technology to protect payment information:
Tokenization
How it works: Full payment details are replaced with secure tokens (random strings of characters)
Protection: Actual card numbers never stored on PerYourHealth servers
Benefit: Even if data is breached, thieves get useless tokens instead of real card numbers
End-to-End Encryption
How it works: Data encrypted from your browser to the payment processor
Protection: Information unreadable during transmission
Benefit: Prevents interception of payment data during processing
Secure Data Centers
How it works: Payment information stored in encrypted, access-controlled databases
Protection: Physical and digital security around data storage
Benefit: Multiple layers prevent unauthorized access to stored data
Fraud Detection Systems
How it works: Real-time monitoring of transactions for suspicious patterns
Protection: Identifies and blocks potentially fraudulent transactions
Benefit: Adds layer of security beyond just data protection
Controlling Your Payment Information
You have control over how PerYourHealth handles your payment information. Here's how to manage your data:
Privacy Settings and Preferences
PerYourHealth typically offers privacy settings that affect how your payment information is used:
Auto-Fill Options
Setting: Enable or disable automatic filling of saved payment information
Security impact: Auto-fill is convenient but reduces manual verification
Recommendation: Disable on shared devices, enable on personal devices
Receipt Preferences
Setting: Choose email receipts, paper receipts, or both
Privacy impact: Email receipts create digital records of your payments
Recommendation: Email for convenience, paper for maximum privacy
Communication Settings
Setting: Control payment reminders, marketing communications, account alerts
Privacy impact: More communications mean more stored contact information
Recommendation: Enable only essential payment-related communications
Data Retention Policies
Understanding how long PerYourHealth keeps your payment information:
Active Payment Methods
Retention: Kept as long as you have them saved in your account
Removal: Immediately deleted when you remove them
Access: Only accessible to you when logged into your account
Payment History
Retention: Typically kept for 3-7 years for tax and legal purposes
Access: Available in your account history for your reference
Deletion: May not be deletable due to legal requirements
Expired Payment Methods
Retention: Usually removed automatically after expiration
Notification: You'll typically be prompted to update before expiration
Cleanup: System may purge expired methods periodically
Account Closure
Retention: Payment history may be retained even after account closure
Legal requirements: Healthcare billing requires record retention
Access: Limited access after account closure
Review your PerYourHealth account settings to control how your payment information is stored and used.
Manage Account SettingsSecurity Best Practices for Users
Follow these practices to maximize security of your payment information:
Don't Save Payment Methods on Shared Devices
Never save payment information on computers, tablets, or phones that others can access. Always enter payment details manually on shared devices.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
While PerYourHealth typically uses account numbers rather than passwords, any associated login credentials should be strong and unique from your other accounts.
Monitor Payment History Regularly
Review your payment history frequently to ensure all charges are legitimate. Report any suspicious transactions immediately.
Secure Your Email Account
Since payment confirmations go to email, secure your email with strong passwords and two-factor authentication to protect payment information.
Use Secure Networks
Only access PerYourHealth from secure internet connections. Avoid public WiFi when making payments or managing payment methods.
Understanding Tokenization
Tokenization is a key security technology that protects your payment information:
What Tokenization Does
Instead of storing your actual credit card number, PerYourHealth stores a token - a random string of characters that represents your card. When you make a payment, the token tells the payment processor which card to charge without revealing the actual number.
How It Protects You
If someone hacks PerYourHealth's database, they find tokens instead of real card numbers. These tokens are useless outside the payment system and can't be used to make fraudulent purchases.
Token vs. Encryption
Encryption scrambles data that can be unscrambled with a key. Tokenization replaces data with something completely different. Both provide protection, but tokenization is considered more secure for payment data.
Real-World Example
Your card number 1234-5678-9012-3456 becomes token XYZ789ABC456. The payment system knows XYZ789ABC456 means your card, but hackers only see the meaningless token.
Compliance and Regulations
PerYourHealth must comply with multiple regulations that protect your payment information:
PCI DSS Compliance
Requirement: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards
What it means: Strict requirements for handling card data
Protection: Regular security audits, encryption requirements, access controls
HIPAA Compliance
Requirement: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
What it means: Protection of health information including billing data
Protection: Privacy rules, security rules, breach notification requirements
State Privacy Laws
Requirement: Various state laws protecting consumer data
What it means: Additional protections beyond federal requirements
Protection: Data breach notification, consumer rights to data deletion
What to Do If You're Concerned About Data Storage
If you're worried about how PerYourHealth stores your payment information:
Don't Save Payment Methods
Always choose to enter payment information manually rather than saving it for future use. This eliminates stored payment data from your account.
Use One-Time Payment Methods
Consider using prepaid cards or virtual card numbers for medical payments. These can be used once and discarded, reducing long-term data storage.
Contact Privacy Department
If you have specific privacy concerns, contact your healthcare provider's privacy department. They can explain their data handling policies and address your concerns.
Request Data Deletion
In some cases, you may be able to request deletion of certain data. This depends on legal requirements and your provider's policies.
Future Trends in Payment Security
Payment security continues evolving. Expect these developments in PerYourHealth and similar platforms:
Biometric Authentication
Fingerprint or facial recognition for payment authorization, reducing reliance on stored data.
Advanced Tokenization
More sophisticated token systems that provide even better security for payment data.
Blockchain Integration
Distributed ledger technology for payment processing could reduce data storage needs.
AI-Powered Security
Artificial intelligence for fraud detection and anomaly detection in payment processing.
Staying Informed:
Payment security technology evolves rapidly. Stay informed about new security features and best practices by reviewing your account settings periodically and following security recommendations from your healthcare providers.