Health insurance is intended to ensure access to essential treatments it has also become a lucrative target for scammers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

In February of this year all of which will be charged to your account.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The most distressing part is how some people discover they have been affected. Some face tax or mortgage fraud these individuals never underwent those procedures. Their medical IDs were stolen and used by someone else.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

It's not just individuals at risk; manipulative organizations can exploit your medical information for fraudulent billing schemes. They submit false claims for medical services you never requested resulting in $2.75 billion in false billings to federal programs. Medical fraud is a serious and prevalent issue!<\/p>\r\n\r\n

How to Identify If You Are a Victim<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Here are 10 indicators that your medical ID may have been stolen and is being exploited by cybercriminals:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

1. Unexpected Medical Bills:<\/strong> Receiving invoices for medical services you never received is a significant warning sign.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

2. Collection Notices:<\/strong> Being approached by debt collectors for unpaid medical bills that don't belong to you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

3. Errors in Medical Records:<\/strong> Discovering inaccuracies in your medical records or unfamiliar medical histories.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

4. Insurance Issues:<\/strong> Having your health insurance claims denied because your benefits have been exhausted or being told you've reached your coverage limit despite not utilizing the services.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

5. Notification from Your Insurance Provider:<\/strong> Getting alerts from your health insurance provider about claims or services that are unfamiliar to you.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

6. Unknown Accounts:<\/strong> Finding new health insurance accounts or medical records in your name that you did not create.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

7. Discrepancies in Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB):<\/strong> Your EOB statements from your insurer list medical services you did not receive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

8. Being Denied Insurance:<\/strong> Facing difficulties in obtaining life or health insurance due to medical conditions listed in your records that you do not have.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

9. Calls from Medical Providers:<\/strong> Receiving calls from doctors or medical facilities about appointments or follow-ups for treatments you never had.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

10. Unfamiliar Prescriptions:<\/strong> Getting notices about prescriptions being filled in your name that you did not authorize or receive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

1. \r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n

   How Can You Prevent Becoming A Victim\r\nOf Medical ID Fraud?<\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   Don't\r\nbecome the next medical ID theft victim. Here are a few steps you can take to\r\nprotect yourself:<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Check For Health Care Breaches:<\/span><\/strong> Use a searchable database <\/span><\/u> to find out if your health care\r\ninformation has been compromised.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Secure Your Records:<\/span><\/strong> Store paper copies of medical\r\nrecords in a safe or lockbox to prevent unauthorized access. If your health care\r\norganization's system is compromised and records are lost you will be glad you did this.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Shred Documents:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Shred any documents with\r\npersonal information before disposing of them.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Monitor Your Medical Records:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> Regularly request and review your medical records from your health care\r\nproviders and look for unfamiliar treatments diagnoses or other discrepancies.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Review Insurance Bills: <\/span><\/strong>Carefully review explanation of benefits\r\n(EOB) statements from your insurance provider for any services you did not\r\nreceive and question unfamiliar or unclear charges. Contact your insurer immediately if you see any charges or services\r\nthat you don't recognize. <\/strong>Afterward report any billing errors to the\r\ncredit bureaus at <\/span>IdentityTheft.gov<\/span><\/a><\/span>.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Dispose Of Prescription Labels:<\/span><\/strong> Remove labels from empty\r\nprescription bottles before discarding them! These labels can contain\r\ninformation that can be used to steal your identity.
   \r\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \u25cf <\/span><\/span><\/span>Monitor Your Credit:<\/span><\/strong> At <\/span>AnnualCreditReport.com<\/span><\/a><\/span> you are able to get three free\r\nreports a year to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

   \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n

   Health\r\ncare will always be around and will also always be a target for hackers.\r\nAttacks on hospitals