I am not trying to scare you. I am simply stating a fact. Medical identity theft is a crime that is just as rampant as credit card fraud but is not as publicized. I can't provide any clear explanation why that is so. Maybe because there are no significant monetary variables involved other than the medical insurance and claims that may have been otherwise claimed by the plan holder, or maybe because it is simply not as interesting as credit card fraud.
Unlike regular credit card fraud, medical identity theft can seriously put your life in jeopardy. Your health will be compromised and your life expectancy can be shortened. It may sound funny but that's actually a fact when we speak of medical identity theft. Also, unlike regular identity theft, there is no clear step that an individual can take to prevent this type of crime. This makes medical identity theft harder to prevent.
Let's try to define what medical identity theft is. According to New York Times, medical identity theft can take place if an individual's name and social security number are utilized so that another patient can receive expensive care. In this instance, the bills may show up on the credit report and if the victim (the owner of the insurance or medical information) is vigilant enough, he or she may be able to stop the crime before it get worse. When your insurance information is stolen, it can allow another person to receive care on your policy.
Another common case of identity theft is when your medical information is thieved by a hospital or lab facility employee. These pieces of information are then sold to identity thieves who then use them for fraudulent claims.
If you read identity theft articles, you will notice that most advice or safeguards that are mentioned in the articles simply tell you to shred your documents like credit card bills and bank account statements. When you become victim, you can put a credit freeze on your name by contacting the credit bureaus and have them notified of your plight. This way, you will be immediately notified if another person tries to open a new account under your name or if there are any significant changes in your credit report.
It is entirely different with medical identity theft. There are no bureaus or agencies that controls and monitors all medical records. You can't put a credit freeze on your insurance because credit freezing is only done on credit reports. When you go for a doctor's check up, you fill out a new patient or a medical claim. When you do so, you are always asked to provide your social security number. This piece of information is very delicate because your social security number is your lifeline. It can open more doors for an identity thief so it they will be able to access it, then they can wreak total havoc in your life.
The employees who will handle your information may be trustworthy but very few can resist the temptation of huge bucks for a very minimal effort.
Tina L. Douglas is a skilled writer from California. With numerous experiences in the field of writing for several financial institutions, she is greatly qualified across a variety of economic issues. Her notable pieces of writing involve best identity monitoring [http://bestidentitymonitoring.com/] and best id theft service [http://bestidtheftservices.com].
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tina_L_Douglas/506723
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