| You haven't had any real health problems nor | | | | Imagine discovering incorrect information in your |
| have you stepped foot in an emergency room | | | | medical files during a doctor or hospital visit. This |
| lately. Having said that, I'm sure you would be | | | | definitely poses a bigger risk than the finances. |
| surprised to learn that you owe thousands of | | | | The medical records may now contain vital |
| dollars worth of emergency-service medical bills | | | | information like blood type, allergies, prescription |
| because you weren't protecting your identity. | | | | drug use or a history of disease that is just plain |
| That's what happens when you're a victim of | | | | wrong. In an emergency, doctors could treat you |
| medical I.D. theft. You're advancing in life and | | | | based on this false information. That's why |
| decide to purchase a car. When you apply for a | | | | experts are calling this "The killer crime of our |
| car loan, you then discover debts on your credit | | | | century." |
| report for emergency room visits at places in the | | | | When medical identity theft fraudulent charges |
| country you've never been. | | | | remain unpaid and unresolved for years, it could |
| It turns out that you're a victim of a fast growing | | | | permanently damage your credit rating. Under the |
| crime known as medical identity theft. | | | | federal law known as Hipaa, the Health Insurance |
| Recent federal data states more than 250,000 | | | | Portability and Accountability Act, you are entitled |
| Americans a year are victims of medical identity | | | | to a copy of your medical records but you may |
| theft. This number continues to increase. Some | | | | have to pay a large fee for them. |
| experts say because of the increased use of | | | | Worse, Hipaa privacy rules can actually work |
| electronic medical records systems built without | | | | against you. Once your medical information is |
| extensive safeguards. | | | | intermingled with another person's information, |
| An uncountable number of people does not yet | | | | you may have a difficult time accessing your files. |
| know they are victims. They may not know that | | | | The privacy law states that the thief's medical |
| their medical information has been interfered with | | | | information now contained in your records must |
| for months or even years until, as in many | | | | be kept confidential too. |
| documented cases, it shows up in collections on a | | | | When you're able to correct a record in your |
| credit report. | | | | doctor's office, the flawed information may have |
| While you're unaware that your medical identity | | | | been passed on to dozens of other health care |
| has been stolen, your insurance company may | | | | providers and insurers. You now have the |
| continue to pay the fraudulent claims without your | | | | responsibility of tracking down and resolving these |
| knowledge. You're likely to learn of the fraud only | | | | errors on your own. Be proactive and have |
| when trying to make a legitimate claim and the | | | | professionals on your side when protecting your |
| insurance company notifies you that you've | | | | identity. |
| reached your lifetime cap on benefits. | | | | |