WirePOLITICS: Attorney general warns about medical identity theft

Tom Waring, the Wire

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane is warning consumers about medical identity theft, a type of fraud that has grown significantly over the last two years.

Medical identity theft occurs when someone falsely uses another individual’s name or health insurance information to receive medical care. This results in contamination of the medical record with erroneous information, which could put the victim’s health at risk.

“Medical identity theft is one of the most intrusive and costly types of fraud,” Kane said. “Once you become a victim, it’s a painstaking process to unravel the incorrect bills and inaccurate medical records.”

Kane encouraged consumers to watch for these warning signs of medical identity theft: receipt of collection information for a medical debt you do not owe; receipt of a bill or paperwork regarding a medical procedure you did not receive; denial of insurance coverage because of false information in your medical record; and notification from your insurance company that you have reached your benefit limit.

Kane also urged residents to take proactive steps to prevent their personal and medical information with these strategies: keep copies of your medical and insurance information in a safe place; shred old health cards and medical paperwork; review your medical bills and paperwork carefully and verify that they correlate with the care you received; be cautious if you are offered “free” services in exchange for your health insurance information; never share your personal medical or health insurance information with anyone unless you can verify their identity.

Consumers who suspect they may have been a victim of medical identity theft should contact the Office of Attorney General’s Health Care Section Helpline toll-free at 877–888–4877.