Avoiding medical identity theft


Purchase, NY - HIPAAConsultant.us suggests the following steps to avoid medical identity theft :

KEEP TRACK OF INSURANCE CARDS Although you need to carry your insurance information with you in case of an emergency, you need to be as careful with it as your ATM, credit or Social Security card. Report lost or stolen cards to your insurer immediately. Never lend your card to a friend and never give your insurance information over the phone.

SCRUTINIZE THOSE STATEMENTS Every time a medical claim is made, the insurer sends you an “explanation of benefits statement.” Check carefully for unusual charges for treatment you do not remember getting. If you are not sure where the charge is coming from, call your insurer and ask for the name and address of the provider. Since sophisticated thieves know how to redirect your explanation of benefits to a fake address, ask your insurer for an annual itemized list of all claims billed to you. Fraudulent claims that may not have appeared on your explanation of benefits should show up on this list.

CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT Do it regularly. Unpaid hospital or doctor bills that have gone to a collection agency will eventually show up on your credit report. You can get a free annual copy of your report from all three credit reporting agencies at annualcreditreport.com.

GET COPIES OF MEDICAL RECORDS Do it routinely. Each time you go to the doctor or hospital, request a copy of your medical records and keep them in a safe place at home. That way, if someone does steal your information and your medical records are altered, you’ll have the “before” copies. These documents will make it much easier to prove you are who you say you are when you report the fraud. They will also help when trying to correct files.

AVOID OFFERS OF FREE SERVICES This is a common ruse for fraudsters. Better to have routine screenings like blood pressure and blood sugar tests done through your physician’s office.

To learn more about this and how HIPAAConsultant.us can help, please feel free to contact us via email at service@infosecpro.com