in-the-wallet
Medical ID Theft Tricky to Notice and Resolve
US News and World Report takes a look at medical identity theft in its latest issue. Medical IDT still a small fraction of reported identity thefts, but then again 250,000 cases of fraud should’t be qualified as tiny. Again, the problem is finding out how and when your med ID has been compromised. With your information spread out through several providers or facilities, it can be difficult to know if you are at risk. If you live in California, the trend-setter for identity theft consumer rights, your health provider legally has to notify you. Many states don’t have laws requiring consumer notification for compromise of medical records. Also creating complications in tracking down fraud, privacy legistlation that protects others from seeing our medical information can make it difficult from accessing our own personal records.
But the cost isn’t just borne on the victims or the health insurance companies paying out fraudulent claims. Like fraud from traditional identity theft, the cost for fraudulent purchases of goods & services often gets reverted back to the merchant, or hospital in this case, to swallow the costs. In the end though, we all pay through higher insurance premiums and healthcare costs.
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