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The public has armed itself against the dangers of identity theft. While identity thieves can steal individuals money, ruin their good credit and cause years of aggravation and stress, an alternative form of identity theft, medical identity theft, can actually be life threatening.

Medical identity thieves to steal and abuse other people's personal information such as name and card account numbers without the consent of the person and usually without their knowledge.

The Scary Truth About Medical Identity Theft

Your medical and insurance records to follow, and if you incorrect information about your medical data, you risk when you are treated in the future. Doctors can make decisions about your treatment and medication on the basis of a fictitious medical history and this can endanger your health. Not to mention that the insurance companies have found false "pre-existing conditions."

As more and more medical communities rely on electronic records, the information rather follow on a larger scale, and some believe that this development makes it easier to more medical data.

What can a thief with your medical identity?

Medical identity thieves may use other people to get medical care, prescription article or fraudulent medical claims.

An identity thief without medical insurance, surgery or medication your information can get what they want and let you know, you and your insurance will receive the bills.

Some medical identity thieves used exclusively by money. Thieves can collect large amounts of money, even millions of dollars by making these false medical claims.

Do not ignore medical billing and insurance statements

Do not assume a medical bill or insurance statement for services you do not get is just a mistake. It could be the first sign that someone has stolen your medical identity.

Joe Ryan, a Colorado resident, has a hospital bill for over $ 40,000 for surgeries and treatments he never received. That was no billing error. An ex-CON had Ryan's medical identity to check into the hospital and a comprehensive medical care. Two years later, Ryan was still trying to undo the damage to his medical data.

You can not learn more about medical identity theft from an invoice. Brandon Reagan, stationed in California, learned that his medical identity had been stolen in South Carolina, when his mother cried and told him he was suspected to result in a car theft. Reagan had lost his wallet in South Carolina and a thief used his military id and license to test drive a car and then steal. In addition to Ryan on a wanted list, the thief also Ryan's medical identity to the hospital on several occasions, in order for the treatment of injury and kidney stones. The medical bills were close to $ 20,000.

Even if the identity thief was arrested, Reagan was a nightmare. His medical records in South Carolina were full of false information and his tax refund check was because of unpaid hospital bills in his name.

Sketchy rights and statistics on Medical Identity Theft:

Laws dealing with medical identity theft is still not thoroughly and consistently from state to state. Many federal laws designed to protect the confidentiality of actually making it harder to access and correct your own medical data. Wide-ranging investigations into medical identity theft are just at the beginning, but in 2005 there were more than 8 million victims of identity theft and three percent, 249,000 of those affected medical identity theft.

Pam Dixon, executive director of the World Privacy Forum warns, "" Medical identity theft causes terrible damage, both financial and physical. "

How to protect yourself from medical identity theft?

- Get a copy of the medical data for comparison in the event that they are endangered in the future.

- Every year a list of payments made for medical services from the insurance company.

- Check the explanation of benefits (EOB), as defined by your insurance carrier to ensure their accuracy.

- Check your credit report at least once a year for any unusual unpaid fees.

- Research and report suspected accounting or medical insurance statements.

Protect your identity is more important than ever. It is not only your money, time and credit, which is at risk if your medical identity is stolen, your health could be at risk.