Medical Identity Theft
Protect Yourself from Becoming a Victim of Healthcare Identity Fraud
Protect yourself from becoming a victim of medical identity fraud. Learn more about what identity thieves look for, and get tips on how to keep your medical records safe.
Medical identity theft numbers have increased over the last several years. Identity theft involving Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, credit cards and bank account information have been widely reported in the media. Medical identity theft can be costly. Even worse, healthcare identity fraud can affect your physical health. Learn more about medical identity theft to avoid becoming a victim.
How Medical Identity Thieves Use Your Information
Medical identity thieves use your healthcare records in a number of insidious ways. Criminals use your health insurance information to receive hospital treatment, obtain prescription drugs and get discounted doctor visits. In addition, medical identity thieves use information obtained from healthcare records to file phony insurance claims to get big payouts from health insurance companies. And sometimes the criminals are in the medical profession, doctoring your medical files in order to over-bill insurance companies.
The Dangers of Medical Identity Theft for Victims
There are a number of dangerous consequences for victims of medical identity theft. Financial losses caused by healthcare identity fraud can severely impact your credit history. Unpaid medical bills will go into collections and it can take months or years to clean up your credit report. Altered healthcare records may result in an incorrect treatment or diagnosis for a condition you don’t have. Incorrect information in your files from medical identity theft and fraud may even result in problems obtaining a job.
Tips to Avoid Becoming a Medical Identity Theft Victim
- Always review bills, notices and statements received from doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies to avoid becoming a victim of medical identity theft.
- Avoid becoming a medical identity theft victim by immediately reporting incorrect information to the appropriate parties. Make sure the treatment detailed in your healthcare records jibes with treatment you actually received. Double-check types and dates of treatment on the statements.
- Protect your health insurance card the same way you protect your credit cards and bank account information to avoid becoming a victim of healthcare identity fraud. The card can be used to obtain prescription drugs or treatment in a hospital or doctor’s office and needs safeguarding.
Order Your Free Healthcare Records from the Medical Information Bureau
Prevent medical identity fraud by reviewing your healthcare records. The Medical Information Bureau compiles information from several hundred health insurance companies to provide a free annual report to consumers in the U.S. If you have applied for disability, life or health insurance in the last seven years, you can order a copy of your Medical Information Bureau report by calling 1-866-692-6901. Review your report for mistakes or unusual entries - they may indicate healthcare identity fraud. If anything seems awry in your healthcare records, immediately contact the appropriate insurance company.
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