Medical Identity Theft
You may have heard about it in the news; Medical identity theft is on the rise
in terms of frequency and impact. Medical identity theft is a variation
of identity theft where one’s personal information is fraudulently used
to obtain medical services including treatment, healthcare products, or
pharmaceuticals.
The consequences of medical identity theft can be staggering and
severe. Incorrect medical information in your file could impact your
insurance premiums or ability to obtain disability or life insurance. It
could even compromise your health care.
Warning signs that you’ve been a victim of medical identity theft
include: getting bills for medical treatments you didn’t receive,
getting collection notices for medical bills you don’t owe, or having an
insurance application or claim denied due to a condition you don’t
have.
If you think you may have been a victim of medical identity theft,
contact your health plan and insurance provider immediately. Begin by
requesting a record of your medical benefits and care history and
comparing their notes with the services you know to be true (this is a
request you can make at any time). Once you can prove that medical
identity theft has taken place, file a police report with as much
information as you have. A police report can a valuable tool in
disputing medical charges that you aren’t responsible for.
Also, now that you know your information has been compromised, be
sure to check your bank and credit card statements and credit report for
activity and accounts you don’t recognize. Unfortunately, once your
information has been leaked, it’s impossible to be certain that it’s not
in use.
Richard Figley
Independent Associate
614-395-2313
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