Medial Insurance Policies and Medical ID Fraud

We are all aware of the rampant crime ofthey will a credit card. As thethief continues to
Identityrack up bills for illegitimate expenses the problem
Theft. And if you are one of the millions whobecomestwofold, not only in fraudulent charges
have had this happen to you andhave had tobeing billed against your medical insurance policy,
unravel the tangles of trumped up credit cardbut thethief may confuse your medical history
charges and worse,then you know howwith their own, by ordering tests andmedications
destructive this crime can be. But health insurersthat you do not require. This can have a serious
like Blueimpact on yourfuture healthcare.
Cross and Blue Shield are reporting a rise in a newBut perhaps more insidious is when the theft
spin on the crime. Medicaloccurswhen you use your health insurance
ID Theft; and it can have devastatingbenefits legitimately at the office of amedical
consequences not only on your finances butalsoprovider and that information is lifted by an
on your health.unscrupulous employee andsold on the open
Many people with healthinsurance fail to realizemarket. Many hospitals and HMO's are
that their insurance card is as valuable,implementing plans tofight Medical ID Theft, in the
maybeeven more valuable then their credit card.meantime if you want to be sure your
When it comes to paying for medicalexpenses,informationhas not been hijacked, ask you
depending on the limits of your policy, a valid Bluehealthcare provider for the most recent copy
Cross Blue Shieldofyour medical records, and ensure that all of the
Card can be like holding a platinum Amex Cardprocedures, treatments andhistory of your
with A Million-Dollar creditlimit. And if you are notconditions are indeed yours. Check all of your
aware of this be assured that thieves andbillsmeticulously and look for any fraudulent
unscrupulousmedical providers certainly are.charges. And protect your Health
According to Byron Hollis, The National AntiInsurance numbers and ID Cards just as you
Fraud Director with the Blue Cross and Blue Shieldwould your credit cards and Social
Association, "It's an oldproblem that people areSecurity Number.
becoming more aware of..." According to theIf you suspect you have been a victim of Medical
World PrivacyID
Forum since 2002 it has received more thanFraud first contact your Insurance Company and
20,000 complaints of Medical IDtheft, in everask to speak directly to their
increasing annual numbers. The most obvious wayAnti-Fraud unit, then contact the police, and lastly
that medical IDtheft occurs is if someone simplyyou may want to contactyour medical provider,
steals your insurance card and begins using ittobut experts agree that since they may be
procure medical services. This can mount up in ainvolved in thecrime, it is best to contact them
dangerous way, becauseagain, most consumersLAST, after the police and your healthinsurance
are just not aware how important a lost insurancecompany so as not to tip the hand of the possible
card canbe, and will not report it immediately likeperpetrator.