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ArticlesAreaMedial Insurance Policies and Medical ID Fraud
Submitted by Didier on Friday Apr 27, 2007 and viewed 944 timesTotal Word Count: 564
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We are all aware of the rampant crime of Identity Theft. And if you are one of the millions who have had this happen to you and have had to unravel the tangles of trumped up credit card charges and worse, then you know how destructive this crime can be. But health insurers like Blue Cross and Blue Shield are reporting a rise in a new spin on the crime. Medical ID Theft; and it can have devastating consequences not only on your finances but also on your health.
We are all aware of the rampant crime of Identity
Theft. And if you are one of the millions who have had this happen to you and
have had to unravel the tangles of trumped up credit card charges and worse,
then you know how destructive this crime can be. But health insurers like Blue
Cross and Blue Shield are reporting a rise in a new spin on the crime. Medical
ID Theft; and it can have devastating consequences not only on your finances but
also on your health.
Theft. And if you are one of the millions who have had this happen to you and
have had to unravel the tangles of trumped up credit card charges and worse,
then you know how destructive this crime can be. But health insurers like Blue
Cross and Blue Shield are reporting a rise in a new spin on the crime. Medical
ID Theft; and it can have devastating consequences not only on your finances but
also on your health.
Many people with health
insurance fail to realize that their insurance card is as valuable, maybe
even more valuable then their credit card. When it comes to paying for medical
expenses, depending on the limits of your policy, a valid Blue Cross Blue Shield
Card can be like holding a platinum Amex Card with A Million-Dollar credit
limit. And if you are not aware of this be assured that thieves and unscrupulous
medical providers certainly are. According to Byron Hollis, The National Anti
Fraud Director with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, "It's an old
problem that people are becoming more aware of…" According to the World Privacy
Forum since 2002 it has received more than 20,000 complaints of Medical ID
theft, in ever increasing annual numbers. The most obvious way that medical ID
theft occurs is if someone simply steals your insurance card and begins using it
to procure medical services. This can mount up in a dangerous way, because
again, most consumers are just not aware how important a lost insurance card can
be, and will not report it immediately like they will a credit card. As the
thief continues to rack up bills for illegitimate expenses the problem becomes
twofold, not only in fraudulent charges being billed against your medical insurance policy, but the
thief may confuse your medical history with their own, by ordering tests and
medications that you do not require. This can have a serious impact on your
future healthcare.
insurance fail to realize that their insurance card is as valuable, maybe
even more valuable then their credit card. When it comes to paying for medical
expenses, depending on the limits of your policy, a valid Blue Cross Blue Shield
Card can be like holding a platinum Amex Card with A Million-Dollar credit
limit. And if you are not aware of this be assured that thieves and unscrupulous
medical providers certainly are. According to Byron Hollis, The National Anti
Fraud Director with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, "It's an old
problem that people are becoming more aware of…" According to the World Privacy
Forum since 2002 it has received more than 20,000 complaints of Medical ID
theft, in ever increasing annual numbers. The most obvious way that medical ID
theft occurs is if someone simply steals your insurance card and begins using it
to procure medical services. This can mount up in a dangerous way, because
again, most consumers are just not aware how important a lost insurance card can
be, and will not report it immediately like they will a credit card. As the
thief continues to rack up bills for illegitimate expenses the problem becomes
twofold, not only in fraudulent charges being billed against your medical insurance policy, but the
thief may confuse your medical history with their own, by ordering tests and
medications that you do not require. This can have a serious impact on your
future healthcare.
But perhaps more insidious is when the theft occurs
when you use your health insurance benefits legitimately at the office of a
medical provider and that information is lifted by an unscrupulous employee and
sold on the open market. Many hospitals and HMO's are implementing plans to
fight Medical ID Theft, in the meantime if you want to be sure your information
has not been hijacked, ask you healthcare provider for the most recent copy of
your medical records, and ensure that all of the procedures, treatments and
history of your conditions are indeed yours. Check all of your bills
meticulously and look for any fraudulent charges. And protect your Health
Insurance numbers and ID Cards just as you would your credit cards and Social
Security Number.
when you use your health insurance benefits legitimately at the office of a
medical provider and that information is lifted by an unscrupulous employee and
sold on the open market. Many hospitals and HMO's are implementing plans to
fight Medical ID Theft, in the meantime if you want to be sure your information
has not been hijacked, ask you healthcare provider for the most recent copy of
your medical records, and ensure that all of the procedures, treatments and
history of your conditions are indeed yours. Check all of your bills
meticulously and look for any fraudulent charges. And protect your Health
Insurance numbers and ID Cards just as you would your credit cards and Social
Security Number.
If you suspect you have been a victim of Medical ID
Fraud first contact your Insurance Company and ask to speak directly to their
Anti-Fraud unit, then contact the police, and lastly you may want to contact
your medical provider, but experts agree that since they may be involved in the
crime, it is best to contact them LAST, after the police and your health
insurance company so as not to tip the hand of the possible perpetrator.
Fraud first contact your Insurance Company and ask to speak directly to their
Anti-Fraud unit, then contact the police, and lastly you may want to contact
your medical provider, but experts agree that since they may be involved in the
crime, it is best to contact them LAST, after the police and your health
insurance company so as not to tip the hand of the possible perpetrator.
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