| Many people with health insurance fail to realize | | | | not require. This can have a serious impact on |
| that their insurance card is as valuable, maybe | | | | your future healthcare. |
| even more valuable then their credit card. When it | | | | But perhaps more insidious is when the theft |
| comes to paying for medical expenses, depending | | | | occurs when you use your health insurance |
| on the limits of your policy, a valid Blue Cross Blue | | | | benefits legitimately at the office of a medical |
| Shield Card can be like holding a platinum Amex | | | | provider and that information is lifted by an |
| Card with A Million-Dollar credit limit. And if you are | | | | unscrupulous employee and sold on the open |
| not aware of this be assured that thieves and | | | | market. Many hospitals and HMO's are |
| unscrupulous medical providers certainly are. | | | | implementing plans to fight Medical ID Theft, in the |
| According to Byron Hollis, The National Anti Fraud | | | | meantime if you want to be sure your |
| Director with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield | | | | information has not been hijacked, ask you |
| Association, "It's an old problem that people are | | | | healthcare provider for the most recent copy of |
| becoming more aware of..." According to the | | | | your medical records, and ensure that all of the |
| World Privacy Forum since 2002 it has received | | | | procedures, treatments and history of your |
| more than 20,000 complaints of Medical ID theft, | | | | conditions are indeed yours. Check all of your bills |
| in ever increasing annual numbers. The most | | | | meticulously and look for any fraudulent charges. |
| obvious way that medical ID theft occurs is if | | | | And protect your Health Insurance numbers and |
| someone simply steals your insurance card and | | | | ID Cards just as you would your credit cards and |
| begins using it to procure medical services. This | | | | Social Security Number. |
| can mount up in a dangerous way, because again, | | | | If you suspect you have been a victim of Medical |
| most consumers are just not aware how | | | | ID Fraud first contact your Insurance Company |
| important a lost insurance card can be, and will | | | | and ask to speak directly to their Anti-Fraud unit, |
| not report it immediately like they will a credit | | | | then contact the police, and lastly you may want |
| card. As the thief continues to rack up bills for | | | | to contact your medical provider, but experts |
| illegitimate expenses the problem becomes | | | | agree that since they may be involved in the |
| twofold, not only in fraudulent charges being billed | | | | crime, it is best to contact them LAST, after the |
| against your medical insurance policy, but the thief | | | | police and your health insurance company so as |
| may confuse your medical history with their own, | | | | not to tip the hand of the possible perpetrator. |
| by ordering tests and medications that you do | | | | |