September 16, 2024
Health insurance is intended to ensure individuals and families have access to essential treatments, preventive services, and emergency care. Unfortunately, it has also become a target for scammers seeking financial gain.
In February of this year, Change Healthcare experienced a cyber-attack that compromised the data of thousands of healthcare providers, insurers, and policyholders across the nation. It's estimated that up to 50% of all U.S. medical claims could be at risk. Imagine sitting in a waiting room with nine other people; statistically, five of you could become victims of medical identity theft within the year. This kind of fraud has far-reaching consequences, disrupting access to healthcare for countless individuals. Once your medical information is exposed online, identity thieves can exploit it to file false claims, purchase expensive prescriptions, and more—all charged to your account.
The most alarming aspect is how people discover they've been affected. Some face tax or mortgage fraud, while others visit the doctor expecting to schedule a procedure, only to receive a rejection letter from their insurance provider. The letter claims they've exhausted their benefits due to multiple procedures, which they never actually had. Their medical ID was stolen and used for someone else's treatments.
The threat isn't limited to individuals. Deceptive organizations can also misuse your medical information for fraudulent billing schemes. They submit false claims for services you never requested or received, collect the payouts, and leave you with the bill. In July, 193 defendants, including 76 medical professionals, were charged for their involvement in various healthcare fraud schemes totaling $2.75 billion in false billings to federal programs. Medical fraud is a serious issue!
How Do You Know If You're A Victim?
Here are 10 signs your medical ID may have been stolen and misused by cybercriminals:
1. Unexpected Medical Bills: Receiving bills for medical services you never received is a major red flag.
2. Collection Notices: Debt collectors contact you for unpaid medical bills that aren't yours.
3. Errors In Medical Records: Inaccuracies in your medical records, such as treatments you never had or incorrect diagnoses, are warning signs.
4. Insurance Issues: Health insurance claims are denied because your benefits are maxed out, despite not using the services.
5. Notification From Your Insurance Provider: Alerts about claims or services you don't recognize can indicate fraud.
6. Unknown Accounts: Discovering new health insurance accounts or medical records under your name that you didn't create.
7. Discrepancies In Your Explanation Of Benefits (EOB): EOB statements list medical services you didn't receive.
8. Being Denied Insurance: Difficulty obtaining life or health insurance due to medical conditions you don't have.
9. Calls From Medical Providers: Receiving calls about appointments or follow-ups for treatments you never had.
10. Unfamiliar Prescriptions: Notices about prescriptions filled in your name that you did not authorize or receive.
How Can You Prevent Becoming A Victim
Of Medical ID Fraud?
Don't
become the next medical ID theft victim. Here are a few steps you can take to
protect yourself:
● Check For Health Care Breaches: Use a searchable database, like this one, to find out if your health care
information has been compromised.
● Secure Your Records: Store paper copies of medical
records in a safe or lockbox to prevent unauthorized access. If your health care
organization's system is compromised and records are lost, altered or unable to
be accessed, you will be glad you did this.
● Shred Documents: Shred any documents with
personal information before disposing of them.
● Monitor Your Medical Records: Regularly request and review your medical records from your health care
providers and look for unfamiliar treatments, diagnoses or other discrepancies.
● Review Insurance Bills: Carefully review explanation of benefits
(EOB) statements from your insurance provider for any services you did not
receive and question unfamiliar or unclear charges. Contact your insurer immediately if you see any charges or services
that you don't recognize. Afterward, report any billing errors to the
credit bureaus at IdentityTheft.gov.
● Dispose Of Prescription Labels: Remove labels from empty
prescription bottles before discarding them! These labels can contain
information that, believe it or not, can be used to steal your identity.
● Monitor Your Credit: At AnnualCreditReport.com, you are able to get three free
reports a year to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.
Health care will always be around and will also always be a target for hackers. Attacks on hospitals, doctors' offices and other medical facilities will continue. It's important that you are taking proactive measures to protect yourself. We can help you find out how you're at risk or if you've been the victim of a data breach. To book your Call with Our CEO, call us at 201-719-7000 or click here.
