Medical
identity theft can kill you | | |
| "The
definitions that are being used to compile these statistics are overbroad," he
says. "I'm not saying it isn't a problem -- it just is a problem that the average
person isn't likely to encounter. HIPAA has actually made dealing with such problems
worse because people can't get their medical files corrected, which is just ridiculous."
In
Dixon's opinion, "one person being victimized by medical identity theft is a problem
and something we need to be concerned about." Protecting
yourself
Because HIPAA protections are riddled with loopholes, there
is only so much you can do to protect yourself.
 |
Experts recommend that you: |
|
| |
|
1.
View your medical records. Request a copy of your medical records or go
to your health providers and ask to see them, says Cindy Smith, a managing director
at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. HIPAA requires health care providers to either supply
you with the requested records within 30 days or ask for more time. If they deny
your request, they must state the reason in writing. 2.
Shred documents. These days, shredding junk mail is merely common sense.
If you're concerned about medical identity theft, shred any health care and/or
insurance documentation that you aren't retaining. 3.
Protect your mail. Putting your mail out for the neighborhood letter carrier
to pick up is "an invitation to identity thieves," says Steve Weisman, author
of "50 Ways to Protect Your Identity and Your Credit: Everything You Need to Know
About ID Theft, Credit Cards, Credit Repair and Credit Reports." At the very least,
deposit your outgoing mail directly in mailboxes. Better yet, get a post office
box and pick up all your mail there. "It isn't completely secure -- postal employees
have been involved in identity theft -- but it's more secure than getting your
mail at home," he says. 4.
Restrict access to your ID. Consumers accede to requests to view their
driver license or other IDs far too readily, says Judd Rousseau, chief operating
officer of Identity
Theft 911, a company that offers identity theft resources for consumers and
businesses. "If someone wants to see your driver's license or needs your Social
Security number, question them," he says. "Don't give potential thieves access
to your identity." 5.
Confidential communications. Health privacy laws allow consumers to request
that their providers limit communications about their health care and health care
records to third parties. Unfortunately, HIPAA doesn't require health care providers
to comply with such a request, but "it's worth a try," Kugele says.
6. Access records
online. If your insurance allows it, opt to get insurance
billing statements and other notifications online and discontinue
paper mailings, says Eduard Goodman, chief privacy officer of Identity
Theft 911. "Many people think that doing things online is riskier
than the mail or whatever, but it's not," he says. "Encryption and
security protocols make it much safer to do business online." If
you can't eliminate paper statements, periodically check online
to see what's been going on with your account.
7.
Disclosure limitations. One possible way around HIPAA loopholes is requesting
confidential communications by alternative means, Kugele says. "This is primarily
designed to protect battered spouses and other victims of abuse, but perhaps it
could be used to limit someone's ability to change your mailing address." Your
recourse
The World Privacy Forum has an FAQ section for victims of medical
identity theft at www.worldprivacyforum.org.
Experts recommend that you get copies of medical, pharmaceutical,
dental and other health insurance records so that you can reconstruct the steps
the medical identity thief took while using your benefits. Once you're aware of
where the thief received health care in your name, you can request copies of medical
records and get them corrected. The World Privacy Forum's
FAQ contains several sample letters you can use to request copies of your medical
records and the steps you can take to try to get your records corrected and amended.
In terms of the financial consequences, fact sheets at the
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse provide tips on getting your credit report corrected
and following up with bill collectors and other creditors: Identity
Theft: A Guide for Victims and Criminal
Identity Theft: What to Do If It Happens to You. | 
