How Patients Can Stop Themselves From Becoming Victims Of Medical Identity Theft
A person’s medical information is sensitive, which is why scammers continually seek to obtain that information. If scammers are able to obtain a person’s medical information, they can quickly find that person’s Social Security number, pertinent personal information, addresses, and their diagnoses. Once a person’s medical file has been compromised, they could be at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. They could also become a blackmail victim.
Scammers are using creative ways to try to acquire a person’s health records. The most common occurrence is a security breach, though there have been some occasions where someone may access the health records and then use them for their own purposes. While data breaches may occur sometimes, they are different from actual identity theft. Identity theft occurs when a scammer uses a person’s information to gain access to different medical services. The Better Business Bureau also has some great insight on how to spot it and what to do.
An identity theft victim could find themselves getting billed for health care procedures that they were never involved in. Their insurance benefits could get taken away. If the victim has their medical information mixed with the scammer’s, that could potentially lead to major problems, including death. In order to prevent themselves from being a victim of medical identity theft, here are some things that patients should be aware of.
Always Ask Questions
Patients should constantly speak with their health care providers about their security. They should consult with their insurance company and hospital. Hospital staffers should be able to inform people about the hospital’s cyber security team and some measures that the hospital is taking to ensure that every patient’s information is secure. To learn more intricate details, patients can ask their insurer about more information concerning the providers who are a part of their medical plan.
Monitor Anything That Appears Strange
People should monitor their medical identity in a similar fashion to how they monitor their financial statements. Look at any bills, receipts, and documents that are sent through the insurance provider. Patients should pay close attention to their insurer’s Explanation Of Benefits form. Look for anything on the form that appears strange or “out of the blue” and ask questions. Once the EOB form becomes compromised, a person’s medical accounts are at risk. Patients should look to confront the problem before it gets bigger. Patients may start receiving calls from debt collectors or they could get a medical collections notice on their credit reports. In the most severe cases, a patient may be denied insurance.
In the event that a patient has their medical identity stolen, they should request copies of their medical records, while also consulting with The Federal Trade Commission. Research has shown that changing health records can be a complex process. Patients should speak with their insurance provider or employer for assistance. Patients can also contact the Identity Theft Resource Center, as well as one of the major credit reporting bureaus; Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion.
Monitor The Technology
In today’s current technological era, many healthcare companies are relying on the internet to enhance the patient experience. While online, patients should carefully read any service agreements before moving forward. A vendor may take a patient’s information and share it with unauthorized parties. When patients check their health care information over the internet, they should make sure that they have strong passwords and secure user names. As always, save these passwords and user names in a file so you have them ready anytime you need them. This also prevents loss of recall and the toll of having to remember important password and username data. Patients should avoid using public computers and public WiFi networks. Patients could have their data intercepted. Patients should wait until they are able to use their home computers before looking at their healthcare records. Patients should avoid sharing important information about their health on their social media accounts. Scammers and hackers may monitor social media pages to try to steal confidential information.
Conclusion
Although medical identity theft is a real risk in today’s cyber world, there are preventable measures you can take to dramatically reduce your personal exposure to this potential headache. Constantly monitoring your credit reports and medical records ensures that you notice anything fishy that may pop up at anytime. If you do become a victim, noticing abnormalities early can help clear up the situation before it becomes a complete snowball. Action sooner than later always prevails and helps to minimize the damage.
