It’s likely you’ve heard of identity theft – if someone steals personal information such as your social security number, or driver’s license number or even a credit card number, it gives them the ability to establish a false identity using all your information. From racking up credit card purchases that get billed to you, to dipping into your own bank accounts, it can get expensive and complicated. It can take months or years to regain your own identity. It’s a headache – or even a nightmare.
A possibly bigger identity problem lurks – and this one can have dire consequences for both your pocketbook and your health. It's your medical identity -- someone steals your insurance information, and begins to make doctor’s appointments, get medical tests – even surgeries – in your name. Reports cite 200,000 cases of medical identity theft each year.
Consider These Consequences of Medical Identity Theft
- Suppose the person who steals your medical identity is discovered to have a disease or condition you don’t have? AIDS, or cancer, or Alzheimers or Parkinsons disease or any other life-long diagnosis -- when you later seek medical assistance, that problem would show up on your records, and your care would be affected.
- Perhaps you have a diagnosis of a chronic disease or condition that the imposter doesn't have, so you don't get the treatment appropriate to your health.
- Suppose you apply for life insurance, and you get turned down because they think you have Alzheimer's disease or cancer.
- Even something as simple as a blood test can have negative consequences if the imposter’s blood type gets recorded, and it’s different from your blood type.
- It can mean you won’t be hired for a job, since some companies check medical records prior to hiring.
- The impact to your credit record, and the legal costs of recovering your own identification could be huge since the medical bills would end up coming to you, and you would be expected to pay for them.
As you can see, the long term ramifications of medical identity theft can have devastating consequences. But there are some fairly easy ways to be sure they won't happen.
What Can You Do to Avoid Medical Identity Theft?
- Begin by keeping all paperwork containing any personal information regarding your medical care, including your insurance information. That won’t protect all your personal information, but it’s a start. If you don't feel it's important enough to keep, then shred it before you dispose of, or recycle it.
- To protect your medical insurance information, carefully review any paperwork provided by the doctor’s office or your insurance company to make sure you were the recipient of any of the described services.
- When you make a doctor appointment, ask them to verify the last visit you made, just to double check that you, and not someone else pretending to be you, has been to see your doctor.
- If you are tempted to keep any of your medical records online (PHR = personal health records), think it through carefully. There are a number of well-known web providers who would love nothing more than your medical records so they can sell your information to advertisers. There is no security there. There are also some good programs out there, too, but you need to be discerning.
- Be constantly vigilant to be sure no one else is pretending to be you. Ask questions as necessary and never be afraid to double check billing and testing details.
Your life may depend on it.
