Privacy policy

Information Collected About You
Personal Information
If you choose to register or update an existing member account with the Website or access certain functionality on the Website, you may be required to submit personal information. “Personal Information” means information that we can use to identify or contact you, such as your name, address, telephone number or email address. You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the personal information that you submit to the Website. Inaccurate information will affect your experience when using the Website and tools and our ability to contact you as described in this Privacy Policy. If you intend to provide a personal medical history as a part of your profile, please consider a unique user name which does not contain your name. Also, please understand that if you post a photo/video/personal information, it becomes public information, and Hearplace cannot ensure that such material will not be distributed by third parties who view the Website. Also, you may request that such content is removed from the Website after posting but Hearplace cannot ensure that the content has not already been disseminated by third parties. Hearplace cannot be held liable for such dissemination.

By registering for the Website, you agree to grant to Hearplace an unlimited license to utilize any content you post to the Website in any way it sees fit. Registration includes, but is not limited to photos and videos.

Protection of Information

Hearplace’s physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards meet or exceed federal standards regarding the protection of customer information. We also require contractors who work with Hearplace to adhere to strict privacy standards. However, no security system or system of transmitting data over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we use commercially reasonable efforts to protect your Information, Hearplace cannot ensure the security of our services, the means by which information is transmitted, or any information provided to Hearplace and to any third-party through or in connection with the Website. Any information, including Personal Information, you provide is at your own risk.

Notice of Privacy Practices – HIPPA

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA), this notice describes how health information may be used and disclosed and how you can access your protected health information. Please review this notice carefully.

Hearplace is dedicated to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information (“PHI”). In conducting its business, Hearplace may create records regarding you and the services provided to you. Hearplace is required by law to maintain the confidentiality of PHI. Hearplace also is required by law to provide you with this notice of its legal duties and the privacy practices used to maintain your PHI.

The terms of this notice apply to all records containing your PHI that are created or retained by Hearplace. Hearplace reserves the right to revise or amend this Notice of Privacy Practices. Any revision to an amendment to this Notice will be effective for all records that Hearplace has created or maintained in the past, and for any of your PHI records created or maintained by Hearplace in the future. Hearplace will post a current copy of its Notice of Privacy Practices on the Website at all times, and you may request a copy of our most current Notice of Privacy Practices at any time.

If you have questions about this Notice of Privacy Practice, please contact Hearplace at contact@Hearplace.com.

Hearplace may use your PHI in the following ways:

Hearplace may use your PHI to accurately identify the hearing aid best suited for you. Those who work for Hearplace, including, but not limited to, technicians and assistants, may use or disclose your PHI to assist others in your treatment. Additionally, Hearplace may disclose your PHI to others who may assist in your care. Finally, Hearplace may also disclose your PHI to health care providers for purposes related to your care.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the services and items you may receive from us. For example, Hearplace may contact your health insurer to certify that you are eligible for benefits and we may provide your insurer with details regarding your treatment to determine if your insurer will cover your hearing aid. Hearplace may also use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment from third-parties that may be responsible for such costs. Also, Hearplace may use your PHI to bill you directly for services and product(s). Hearplace may also disclose your PHI to other health care providers and entities to assist in their billing and collection efforts.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI to operate its business. For example, your PHI may be used to evaluate the quality of care you received from Hearplace or to conduct cost-management and business planning activities. Hearplace may disclose your PHI to other health care providers and entities to assist in their health care operations.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI to inform you of potential hearing aid options or alternatives.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI to inform you of health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI when it is required to do so by state, federal and local law, rule, or regulation.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI under the following unique circumstances:
Public Health Risks. Hearplace may disclose your PHI to public health authorities that are authorized by law to collect information for (i) reporting problems with products and devices; and/or (ii) notifying individuals if a product and/or device they may be using has been recalled.
Health Oversight Activities. Hearplace may disclose your PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. Monitoring activities may include investigations, inspections, audits, surveys, licensure and disciplinary actions; civil, administrative and criminal procedures or actions; or other activities necessary for the government to monitor government programs, compliance with civil rights laws and the health care system in general.
Lawsuits and Other, Similar Proceedings. Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI in response to a court, regulatory or administrative order, if you are involved in a lawsuit or other, similar proceeding. Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI in response to a discovery request, subpoena or other lawful processes by another party involved in the dispute, but only if Hearplace has made an effort to inform you of the request and to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
Law Enforcement. Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI if requested by a law enforcement official (i) regarding a crime victim in certain situations if Hearplace is unable to obtain the person’s agreement; (ii) concerning a death believed to be the result of criminal conduct; (iii) in response to a warrant, summons, court order, subpoena or other, similar legal process; (iv) to identify and/or locate a suspect, material witness, fugitive or missing person; (v) in an emergency, to report a crime, including the location and/or victim(s) of the crime, or the description, identity or location of the perpetrator.
Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI if you are or were a member of the U.S. or foreign military forces and if required by the appropriate authorities.
Workers’ Compensation. Hearplace may use and disclose your PHI for workers’ compensation and other similar programs.
You have the following rights regarding the PHI maintained by Hearplace:

Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that Hearplace communicates with you about your PHI in a particular manner or at a certain location. To request a type of confidential communication, you must make a written request to Hearplace specifying the requested method of contact, or the location where you wish to be contacted. Hearplace will accommodate reasonable requests; you do not need to give a reason for your request.
Requesting Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction in Hearplace’s use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations. Additionally, you have the right to request that Hearplace restrict its disclosure of your PHI to only certain individuals involved in your care or the payment for your care, such as family members and friends. Hearplace is not required to agree to your request; however, if we do agree, we are bound by our agreement except when otherwise required by law, in emergencies or when the information is necessary to treat you. To request a restriction in Hearplace’s use or disclosure of your PHI, you must make your request in writing to Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com). Your request must describe clearly and concisely (i) the information you want to be restricted; (ii) whether you are seeking to limit Hearplace’s business use, disclosure or both; and (iii) to whom you want the limits to apply.
Inspection and Copies. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI that may be used to make decisions about you, including patient medical records and billing records. You must submit your request in writing to Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com) to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI. Hearplace may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing, labor, and supplies associated with your request. Hearplace may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain limited circumstances; however, you may apply for a review of its denial. A licensed health care professional chosen by Hearplace will conduct reviews.
You may ask Hearplace to amend your PHI if you believe it is incorrect or incomplete, and you may request an amendment for as long as the PHI is kept by or for Hearplace. To request an amendment, your request must be made in writing and submitted to Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com). You must provide the reason for your request for amendment. Hearplace may deny your request if you fail to submit your apply for and the reason supporting your application in writing. Hearplace may also deny your request if you ask to amend PHI that in its opinion is accurate and complete; not part of the PHI kept by or for its business; not part of the PHI which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or not created by Hearplace, unless the individual or entity that created the PHI is not available to amend the information.
Accounting Disclosures. All of Hearplace’s customers have the right to request an “accounting of disclosures.” An “accounting of disclosures” is a list of certain non-routine disclosures Hearplace has made of your PHI for purposes not related to treatment, payment or operations. Use of your PHI as part of the routine business practices of Hearplace is not required to be documented. For example, the billing department using your information to file your insurance claim. To obtain an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com). All requests for an accounting of disclosures must state a period, which may not be longer than six years from the date of disclosure and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request within a 12 month period is free of charge, but Hearplace may charge you for additional lists within the same 12 month period. Hearplace will notify you of the costs involved with additional requests, and you may withdraw your request before you incur any costs.
The right to a Paper Copy of this Notice. You are entitled to receive a paper copy of Hearplace’s Notice of Privacy Practices. You may request a paper copy at any time by contacting Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com).
Right to File a Complaint. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. To submit a complaint with Hearplace, submit your complaint in writing to Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com).
Right to Provide an Authorization for Other Uses and Disclosures. Hearplace will obtain your written authorization for uses and disclosures that are not identified by this Notice and otherwise permitted by law. Any authorization you provide to Hearplace regarding the use and disclosure of your PHI may be revoked at any time in writing. After you revoke your authorization, Hearplace will no longer use or disclose your PHI for the reasons described in the authorization.
If you have any questions regarding this Notice of Privacy Practices, please contact Hearplace Privacy (contact@Hearplace.com).

Registration
Access to some interactive tools, services, and products on the Website may be limited to users who have registered. Hearplace will not make any use of your information in addition to this Privacy Policy unless you provide such additional consent in connection with the specific tool at the time you submit Personal Information in order to use the tool.

Newsletters & Emails to You
At registration and at various times as you use the Website, you will be given the option of providing us with Personal Information to receive recurring informational/promotional content via email from Hearplace. When you sign up for our email newsletters on the Website or at any time, you can choose to opt out of receiving additional promotional newsletters from Hearplace or our Sponsors.

You can unsubscribe from a newsletter by:

Following the directions included at the bottom of the bulletin.
Logging in to the Website and unchecking the newsletters you no longer wish to receive.

Community, Health Communities, Blogs and Other Public Forums
The Web site features several community areas and other public forums where users with similar interests can share information and support one another or where users can post questions for experts to answer. We also offer online discussions moderated by healthcare experts. Our communities are open to the public and should not be considered private.

Any information, including personal information you share in any online community area including a chat room, or forum is by design open to the public and is not private. You should think carefully before posting any personal information in any public forum. What you post can be seen, disclosed to or collected by third parties and may be used by others in ways we cannot control or predict, including to contact you for unauthorized purposes. As with any public forum on any site, the information you post may also show up in third-party search engines.

If you mistakenly post personal information in these areas and would like it removed, you can send us an email to contact@Hearplace.com to request that we remove it.

Non-Personal Information
Even if you do not register with or provide any personal information to Hearplace, we collect non-personal information about your use of the Website. Non-personal information means information that we cannot use to identify or contact you. We may also acquire non-personal information about our users from external sources. While you may use some of the functionality of the Website without registration, many of the specific tools and services on the Website require that you register an account.

Cookies and Web Beacons
We collect non-personal data about your use of the Website and your use of other web sites through the use of Cookies and Web Beacons. “Cookies” are small data files that are stored on the hard drive of the computer you use to view a web site. Every computer that accesses the Website is assigned a different cookie. “Web Beacons” are graphic image files imbedded in a web page typically used to monitor activity on a web page and send back to its home server (which can belong to the host site, a network advertiser or some other third party) information from your browser, such as the IP address, the URL of the page on which the beacon is located, the type of browser that is accessing the site and the ID number of any Cookies on your computer previously placed by that server.

What Choices Do I Have?
Updating/Removing Your Information
If you do not want your Information used by Hearplace as provided in this Privacy Policy, you should not register as a member on the Website. You can also update any personal information you have submitted by contacting us at contact@Hearplace.com.

How Information Collected About You Is Used
The company uses information collected by Hearplace about you to:

administer your account,
provide you with access to particular tools and services,
respond to your inquiries you send to us and to send you administrative communications about the Website,
obtain your feedback about the Website or our offerings,
statistically, analyze user behavior and activity including how frequently areas of the site are visited and how many emails are received and opened, and
conduct research and measurement activities, including those described below.

With Whom Do We Share Your Information?
Except as described in this Privacy Policy or as specifically agreed to by you, Hearplace will not disclose any personal information it gathers from you through the Website. We may only release personal information to third parties: (1) to comply with legal requirements such as a law, regulation, search warrant, subpoena or court order; or (2) in special cases, such as in response to a physical threat to you or others, to protect property or defend or assert legal rights.

Disclosures to Hearplace Operations and Maintenance Contractor

Hearplace contractors sometimes have limited access to your Personal and Non-Personal Information in the course of providing products or services to Hearplace. These contractors include vendors and suppliers that provide us with technology, services, data analysis, research, advertising and marketing assistance and content for the operation and maintenance of the Website. We contractually require that our operations and maintenance contractors: 1) protect the privacy of your personal and non-personal information consistent with this Privacy Policy and 2) not use or disclose your personal or non-personal information for any purpose other than providing the limited service or function for the Website.

Disclosures to Third Party Web Sites

Certain content, services, and advertisements offered to you through the Website are served on, or contain links to, web sites hosted and operated by a company other than Hearplace. Hearplace does not disclose your information to these third party websites without your consent, but you should be aware that any information you disclose to the other web sites once you access these other web sites is not subject to this Privacy Policy. Hearplace does not endorse and is not responsible for the privacy practices of these third party websites. You should review the privacy policy posted on the other web site to understand how that third party website collects and uses your information.

How Do We Secure and Retain Your Information?
We take reasonable security measures to protect the security of your information. Despite Hearplace’s efforts to protect your information, there is always some risk that an unauthorized third party may find a way around our security systems or that transmissions of your information over the internet may be intercepted.

We will retain your information as long as your account is active or needed to provide you services. At any time you can remove your information or instruct us to remove it. Hearplace will also retain your Information as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes and enforce our agreements.

Contacting Hearplace About Your Information or Privacy
Please send us an email by using the Contact Us link at the bottom of every page of our site if you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or the personal information we maintain about you.

You can also contact Hearplace at:

Hearplace.com
30 N Gould STE 7896
Sheridan, WY 82801

United States (U.S.)

Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to change or modify this Privacy Policy or any of our tools or services at any time, and any changes will be effective upon being posted unless we advise otherwise. If we make any material changes to this policy, we will notify you by notice on this website before the change becoming effective. We encourage you to periodically review this site for the latest information on our privacy practices. If you do not accept the terms of this Privacy Policy, we ask that you do not register with us and that you do not use the Website.

Incorporation of Privacy Policy

The Hearplace Privacy Policy, posted on this Website, is incorporated in its entirety and by reference into these Terms of Use.

Complete Agreement

Except as expressly provided in a particular “legal notice” on the Website, these Terms of Use and the Website Privacy Policy constitute the entire agreement between you and Hearplace concerning the utilization of the Website and Content.