| We are all aware of the rampant crime of | | | | will not report it immediately like they will |
| Identity | | | | a credit card. As thethief continues to rack |
| | | | up bills for illegitimate expenses the |
| Theft. And if you are one of the millions who | | | | problem becomestwofold, not only in |
| have had this happen to you andhave had to | | | | fraudulent charges being billed against your |
| unravel the tangles of trumped up credit card | | | | medical insurance policy, but thethief may |
| charges and worse,then you know how | | | | confuse your medical history with their own, |
| destructive this crime can be. But health | | | | by ordering tests andmedications that you do |
| insurers like Blue | | | | not require. This can have a serious impact |
| | | | on yourfuture healthcare. |
| Cross and Blue Shield are reporting a rise in | | | | |
| a new spin on the crime. Medical | | | | But perhaps more insidious is when the theft |
| | | | occurswhen you use your health insurance |
| ID Theft; and it can have devastating | | | | benefits legitimately at the office of |
| consequences not only on your finances | | | | amedical provider and that information is |
| butalso on your health. | | | | lifted by an unscrupulous employee andsold on |
| | | | the open market. Many hospitals and HMO's are |
| Many people with healthinsurance fail to | | | | implementing plans tofight Medical ID Theft, |
| realize that their insurance card is as | | | | in the meantime if you want to be sure your |
| valuable, maybeeven more valuable then their | | | | informationhas not been hijacked, ask you |
| credit card. When it comes to paying for | | | | healthcare provider for the most recent copy |
| medicalexpenses, depending on the limits of | | | | ofyour medical records, and ensure that all |
| your policy, a valid Blue Cross Blue Shield | | | | of the procedures, treatments andhistory of |
| | | | your conditions are indeed yours. Check all |
| Card can be like holding a platinum Amex Card | | | | of your billsmeticulously and look for any |
| with A Million-Dollar creditlimit. And if you | | | | fraudulent charges. And protect your Health |
| are not aware of this be assured that thieves | | | | |
| and unscrupulousmedical providers certainly | | | | Insurance numbers and ID Cards just as you |
| are. According to Byron Hollis, The National | | | | would your credit cards and Social |
| Anti | | | | |
| | | | Security Number. |
| Fraud Director with the Blue Cross and Blue | | | | |
| Shield Association, "It's an oldproblem that | | | | If you suspect you have been a victim of |
| people are becoming more aware of..." | | | | Medical ID |
| According to the World Privacy | | | | |
| | | | Fraud first contact your Insurance Company |
| Forum since 2002 it has received more than | | | | and ask to speak directly to their |
| 20,000 complaints of Medical IDtheft, in ever | | | | |
| increasing annual numbers. The most obvious | | | | Anti-Fraud unit, then contact the police, and |
| way that medical IDtheft occurs is if someone | | | | lastly you may want to contactyour medical |
| simply steals your insurance card and begins | | | | provider, but experts agree that since they |
| using itto procure medical services. This can | | | | may be involved in thecrime, it is best to |
| mount up in a dangerous way, becauseagain, | | | | contact them LAST, after the police and your |
| most consumers are just not aware how | | | | healthinsurance company so as not to tip the |
| important a lost insurance card canbe, and | | | | hand of the possible perpetrator. |