Could identity thieves be using your personal and health insurance information to obtain medical treatment, prescription drugs or even surgery? Could dishonest people working in a medical setting be using your information to submit false bills to insurance companies?
The answer is a resounding yes. Medical identity theft is a newer twist on identity theft, but it can, just like regular identity theft, affect your finances, your credit and take a toll on your health.
But how would you know if your personal, health or health insurance information has been compromised?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims of this type of theft typically receive a bill for medical services they didn’t receive, are contacted by a debt collector regarding medical debt they don’t owe, find unauthorized medical collection notices on their credit reports, are told by their insurance carriers that they’ve reached their limit on benefits when filing a legitimate claim, or are denied insurance because their medical records show a condition they don’t have.
The most worrisome part about this type of theft is that a thief will use your information to get care, and this creates a record which could be mistaken for yours. This could include a different blood type or inaccurate medication information, which could put your life in jeopardy.
While there’s no fool-proof way to prevent medical identity theft, there are some steps you can take to minimize your risk.
• Verify a source before sharing information. Don’t give out personal or medical information on the phone or through the mail unless you’ve initiated the contact and you are sure who you’re dealing with. Be cautious about “free” health services or products from providers who require you to give them your health plan information.
• Safeguard your medical and health insurance information. If you keep copies of these records, make sure they’re secure. Be on guard when you use the Internet, especially to access accounts or records related to your medical care or insurance. If you are asked to supply your Social Security number, ask why it’s needed and how it will be kept safe, and whether it will be shared. If online, look for Web site privacy policies and read them thoroughly. Look for a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL that begins with “https.” Remember that e-mail is not secure.
• Treat your trash carefully. To thwart medical identity theft, shred your insurance forms, and prescription and physician statements. Destroy the labels on your prescription bottles and packages before you throw them out as well.
If you think you’ve become a victim of medical identity theft, order a copy of your credit reports and check them thoroughly. Check your health statements to be sure the statements match the care you received. You should also request a copy of your medical records. You have a right under HIPAA to obtain your records and correct errors in your medical and billing records.
By keeping a vigilant eye on your information and your records, you can reduce your risk of falling victim to medical identity theft. To protect all of your personal information, call LifeLock today. LifeLock will monitor to be sure your information isn’t used to ruin your good name, and if your information is compromised, LifeLock will help restore your credit.
