How Can Thieves Steal Your Medical Identity?
When you think of identity theft, likely the first image that pops in your head is that piece of plastic in your wallet. Credit cards have certainly become the mainstay of compromised identity, and for good reason. They are a direct link to money and the ability to accumulate a lot of it in a short period of time. Bank information usually is just as common to most people when it comes to identity theft.
But, with the vast amount of information out there, limiting your chances of being affected by theft can be easy if you know what you are doing. What about medical identity theft? Have you ever thought about that? It’s likely that you haven’t, but there might be need to be concerned.
Medical identity Theft
So, what is medical identity theft? It is a little different from what you may be used to. Medical identity theft is where a thief uses your identity to acquire personal information for the purpose of obtaining medical services, drugs, and, sometimes, an attempt to scam an insurance provider.
Initially, this may not seem like something that can harm you as much as a stolen credit card or bank information, but it can. Everything done in your name in the healthcare industry stays with you. If you have ever been given prescription medication, it will be in your file. You can expect to pay for high medical expenses incurred under your name. You can also be subject to misdiagnosis if someone checked themselves into the hospital under your name. While these scenarios might seem scary, there are ways to prevent compromising your medical identity.
Tips
Medical identity theft statistics from the FBI estimate medical fraud to be around $234 billion! Of that, 30.9 billion is attributed to medical identity theft. Surprised? If you know anything about identity theft you shouldn’t be. It is everywhere, but like credit cards and personal financial information, medical identity theft can be managed. Use these tips to protect yourself.
Secure personal information: When you need to give your insurance information, make sure you do it under a secure website, or quietly in an office so people can’t overhear you.
Shred unneeded documents: If you don’t need your medical records, then shred them. Most of these documents are now becoming available online, so if you don’t need it, shred it.
Don’t email personal information: This one almost seems unnecessary to mention--almost. Just like email scams, be careful what you are sending and to whom. If you need to give this information to a relative, it would be best to do it in person, if possible.
Review medical claims and insurance benefits often: Don’t only review them often, but also thoroughly. Know the reason you went to the doctor, what procedures were done, and question anything you are not sure about.
Prevention
Learning how to prevent identity theft, in whatever form it comes in, is important. Identity theft in any form is not very different, whether it occurs through credit cards or medical. While you may not be able to stop thieves, identity theft detection is a strength anyone can work on and develop into a proactive approach to protecting your finances and name.
Obtain a copy of your credit report, preferably from the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). Look over your report at least yearly, preferably monthly, if you are trying to rebuild your credit or if you frequently visit the doctor. This will allow you to see any unpaid medical expenses, as well as information about where the expenses are originating.
Like anything, if you suspect identity theft report it immediately to the three main credit bureaus, the company reporting unpaid medical bills, and the Federal Trade Commission. Don’t think you can simply ignore these problems and deal with them later, or hope they will simply disappear. They won’t
Be diligent in your review of medical bills and insurance documents. Medical identity theft might harm you in ways you may not have thought of before. You may be paying for someone else’s hospitalization and putting yourself in jeopardy as those bills pile up. Be diligent in protecting yourself, and proactive in preventing theft from continuing.
