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Medical Identity Theft – Messing With Your Money And With Your Health

Medical identity theft occurs when thieves use your personal and health insurance information fraudulently. They either use it themselves to obtain medical treatment or drugs or sell the information, making you their latest identity theft victim.

What about the health workers themselves? Several identity theft articles have pointed to the fact that much of the time that your personal information gets out, it’s because of a dishonest or careless medical profession employee.

Now, before you start looking up that identity theft lawyer, you may want to continue reading. Learn how you can at least try to prevent identity fraud using your personal information.

Medical Identity Theft Causes More To Get Sick Than Your Body

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the national consumer protection agency, you may be a victim of medical identity theft as well as criminal identity theft, if:

• you get a bill for medical services you didn’t receive;
• a debt collector contacts you about medical debt you don’t owe;
• you order a copy of your credit report and see medical collection notices you don’t recognize;
• you try to make a legitimate insurance claim and your health plan says you’ve reached your limit on benefits; or
• you are denied insurance because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.

Let’s say an id thief with Type A blood, stole your medical file and went for treatment of their hepatitis. Everything goes fine until the bill arrives at your doorstep. Problem number 1.

You have a serious car accident and need a blood transfusion. Your blood type is now listed as Type A, but in reality, it’s really Type O. Problem number 2. Do you see where this could be headed?

What Are The Blogs Saying?

Healthcare Technology News: Data Breaches and Medical Identity …

“Fraud resulting from exposure of health data has risen from 3% in 2008 to 7% in 2009, a 112% increase (Javelin Strategy and Research); Nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims of medical identity theft with an estimated total …

Publish Date: 05/04/2010 0:00

http://news.avancehealth.com/2010/05/data-breaches-and-medical-identity.html

Medical Identity Theft on the Rise – Medical Billing And Coding …

Medical identity theft can take several different forms. Perpetrators may obtain the names and social security numbers of victims and use the information to receive emergency medical care. Stolen insurance information, including member …

Publish Date: 06/12/2009 18:27

http://www.medical-billing.com/blog/security/pid-129/medical-identity-theft-on-the-rise/

Blue Cross recovers $15 million in fraudulent claims during 2009 …

“ We are seeing a lot more schemes that involve types of identity theft that don’t involve individual getting credit cards, but where you have billing records stolen from large doctors’ offices. ” … that don’t involve individual getting credit cards, but where you have billing records stolen from large doctors’ offices,” Anderson said. Once the fraud “masterminds” have the billing records, Anderson said they make up fake medical files and file false insurance claims. …

Publish Date: 05/27/2010 7:25

http://www.idtheftdailynews.com/articles/92680/blue-cross-recovers-15-million-in-fraudulent-claim/

Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog: Watch Out for Medical Identity …

ID theft The Web Nurse Blog reports that medical identity theft is on the rise. Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses your identity for health insurance or treatment reasons and in the process, changes your medical records …

Publish Date: 04/28/2010 7:00

http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/trusts_estates_prof/2010/04/watch-out-for-medical-identity-theft.html

Id theft Protection Is A Must In This Modern Day And Age

It’s clear, from studying the identity theft facts, medical id theft cannot be prevented, its losses can only be mitigated when caught in time. A company website you may want to look over is that of the Identity Theft Shield. They have been tried and proven and they were built on a solid foundation.

Just looking for general information on identity fraud or want to enroll in a medical identity theft protection package? Visit the Identity Theft Shield website.