Prevent medical identity theft

Financial identity theft can leave your wallet hurting and your credit history in chaos. Medical identify theft—someone using your personal information to get medical care—can do that and more. “Not only may you get bills for services you didn’t receive, but incorrect information can appear in your medical records, with devastating consequences,” says Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum.

The crime, which affects an estimated 250,000 Americans each year,may be on the rise. “There’s a huge demand, not only among criminals who sell prescription drugs on the black market or submit false health insurance claims, but also people who just can’t afford health care,”Dixon says.

Medical identity theft often starts with an employee in a hospital or doctor’s office who sells stolen information to organized crime rings. People might not find out that they’ve been victimized until they get a bill for care they never received or are denied health insurance coverage because of a medical problem they don’t have. To protect your medical identity:

• Share health insurance information only with trusted providers.
• Monitor the explanation of benefits you receive from insurers, and get a summary each year of all the benefits paid in your name. Contact the insurer and provider about charges for care you didn’t receive, even if you don’t owe any money.
• Keep copies of your health-care records in case of a dispute.
• Check your credit history for medical liens.
• Demand that your providers and insurance company correct errors or remove false information in your medical records.
• If you think you’ve been a victim, file a police report and send copies to insurers, providers, and credit bureaus.

Visit the World Privacy Forum for more information.

Comments

[fannie davis]

another tip is tear labels from old presciptions