How does medical identity theft happen?
Medical identity theft can happen when someone physically steals your information, such as your wallet with your health insurance card in it or medical records that you threw out. Medical identity theft can also happen when hackers steal information from health insurance companies and medical providers.
What steps would take if you were a victim of medical identity theft?
If you’ve been a victim of medical identity theft, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, online or at 877-438-4338. If the fraud is Medicare-related, report it to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, online or at 800-447-8477.
What is the difference between identity theft and medical identity theft?
If a person willingly shares there personal information so that someone else can obtain medical care, it is a crime but not considered identity theft. Who are the perpetrators? Medical identity theft is usually an insider crime. Workers at healthcare facilities have access to patient information.
Is medical identity theft common?
Medical identity theft statistics: 27% of data breaches were related to medical records in 2017. 65% of victims needed almost $13,500 to pay off fraudulent bills. Of victims studied, 3% lost their jobs. 23% purposely gave their healthcare info to someone they knew to help them out.
Is medical identity theft a crime?
Medical identity theft is a violation of federal as well as state law, depending on the nature of the case and involved parties.
What are the forms of medical identity theft?
Data. Medical records contain more sensitive personal information than a bank account. With names, birth dates, insurance policy numbers, diagnosis codes, and billing information, fraudsters sell the information, create fake identities, file false insurance claims, and purchase medical equipment or drugs.
How do you know if you are a victim of medical identity theft?
Here are some warning signs: You get a bill from your doctor for services you didn’t get. You notice errors in your Explanation of Benefits statement like services you didn’t get or prescription medications you don’t take. You get a call from a debt collector about a medical debt you don’t owe.